Does eBay Deliver Cars? | CitizenShipper
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You found what may be just the perfect car for you on, and just before you place your bid, you ask yourself the question — does eBay deliver cars? No. eBay does not deliver cars. And it is your responsibility as a buyer to pick up and deliver your car to the desired location. But don’t let that stop you from getting those wheels! eBay can suggest to you some transportation options that you would need to pay for yourself. If the seller is offering free delivery, beware! It could be a scam. This article outlines how to get a car delivered after buying from eBay.
One of the options you have is, of course, to pick up your car yourself and drive it to your location. This is a good option if the seller is located near your home. That way, you won’t have much trouble with arranging your trip to the seller (be it by bus, train, taxi, or another person driving you to the location). Also, this way you get to thoroughly inspect the car before you take it over, making sure that the car is in the exact state that it was described.
However, if the seller is further away, cross-country, and you can not pick up and deliver your car within several hours, picking up the car yourself may not be the best idea. This would mean that you would have to pay for an overnight stay, which would further impact your budget. Also, driving for a few days can be a pain in the neck. And sometimes, you just don’t have that much time to spare. Likewise, if you have bid on a car, you may not want to drive it long-distance, and expose it to road debris and bad weather. That’s when it is best to opt for a shipping company.
The seller may offer to deliver the car for you or offer to arrange for delivery. This isn’t a bad option. But be wary of being charged additional fees. If the seller lives close and seems reliable it can be a relief to have it delivered. Check their reviews to see if they have provided this option before and make sure the details of insurance and liability are clear.
It’s also really important to consider the status of the car. Is the car registered and roadworthy? Does the car need any repairs before it can be driven? It is best to not have paid for the car in full then rely on the seller to deliver if there are any issues as they may force you to pay for them.
CitizenShipper is a marketplace that connects professional transporters and drivers with people who need items shipped. Once you make a winning bid on eBay, the first thing you need to do is agree with the seller on the pickup date. From there, go to the CitizenShipper listing page, and fill in all the details regarding your newly bought car. You will have to state the make of the car, model, year, its operational condition, your immediate need (you may want to book a transporter immediately, or you can simply start collecting estimates). Additionally, you will enter the pickup and delivery address, as well as the ideal pickup date and delivery date flexibility.
Once your request is in the system, professional and trustworthy drivers will contact you with a quote. Then, it’s up to you to choose a transporter. You can read through several offers, consider their reviews and even discuss details with a driver before needing to decide. Be clear about your requirements and expectations. The more information they have the more personalized the quote can be. Drivers may offer closed or open trailers. See our previous articles about transporting vehicles for more information about this. Once you have decided on a driver confirm the details that your vehicle is in safe hands.
Many drivers have experience with vehicles purchased via eBay and can even offer some advice as to the best way to hand the handover.
When buying a car on eBay — it’s important to take the price of delivery into your overall budget. If your car isn’t able to be driven you may need to pay additional fees for the handling of the car. You will also want to get insurance for your car while it is in transit. Call your regular insurance broker for advice here. Finally, while eBay is a common method to buy a car you still need to be wary of scams or unreliable sellers. Be sure to read the seller’s reviews well before confirming a bid. Pay particular attention to the delivery or handover of the vehicle.
Good luck bidding on your next purchase on eBay and get in touch if you have any questions about vehicle shipping.
Originally published at https://citizenshipper.com on July 9, 2021.
