How to Safely buy a car Online

So, you've found what you hope is the car of your dreams, a 2002 Renault Megane. Unfortunately, you discovered online, and it's a little too far away for you to actually get to. Maybe it's on the other side of the country. Maybe it's in a different country all-together. Whatever the case, it's location is a bit of a problem.

Why? Conventional wisdom tells you that to buy a car online is foolish and too risky. You're supposed to drive the car first, have it inspected, and verify all of the information about it before you hand over any money for it. How can you make sure that you aren't purchasing a lemon, aren't buying a stolen car, or are getting the right price when you can't be there in person to see it?

Fortunately, these days, distance can be compensated for, even when you're buying a used Renault, sight unseen. The trick is to use a variety of internet tools and inspecting, shipping, and buying services that will keep you safe and help you avoid any problems. With these tools in hand, you can search from a much larger pool and find vehicles that are often better in price than those in your particular city.

Regional Differences and Cars

One of the biggest advantages of buying a car far away from your current location is the regional differences that play a role in the price of the vehicle. Certain cars will be less in expensive outside of areas where they popular. A Renault, for instance, may be more expensive to purchase in France, where the manufacturer is located, than in another country where Renault vehicles aren't as popularly used. You may be able to save enough on the price to cover the cost of shipping.

Keeping Safe With Online car Purchases

No matter what, buying a car online is going to feel like a risk, because it's not what we've been taught to do throughout history. We're taught to find a car, inspect it, evaluate the information given, test drive it, and only then hand over our money. So how can you feel safe when you want to buy a Renault online?

Begin With Photographs- Almost any online ad you see these days will include photos of the car they are trying to sell. Many, however, aren't composed properly, are taken too far away from the car, or show little more than the exterior. To get the most of the information, only focus on cars that show plenty of photographs and buyers who aren't afraid to capture pictures of high-wear areas.

This doesn't mean you have to necessarily give up on the cars with bad pictures. If you're interested, contact the seller and ask them to provide better photographs of the car. Let them know you want to see everything, from the roof to under the bonnet, to the underneath side of the car. You have to know what's damaged, what's been worn down through years of use, and what you will need to budget for repairs.

As you look, as the sellers if the photos they are offering are current. When looking through ads, consider those that mention imperfections or damage to the car. This can often indicate that you are talking to a seller who will offer you full disclosure and be open and honest during the process.

Get Some Information- Ask for copies of the same information you would require if you were buying the car from someone in your area. Thanks to today's technology, getting copies of this data isn't that difficult. With just a scanner, a fax machine, or an email, you can quickly have copies of the V5C registration certificate, MOT certificate, the VIN number, engine number, and a photo of the logbook. Use all of this information to verify that the vehicle is up-to-date on its MOT, isn't stolen, and hasn't been written-off by an insurance company. You can do all of this via the DVLA website.

When it comes to the VIN number, have the seller take pictures to send you. VIN numbers are often imprinted into the vehicle and can be found under the carpet under the driver's seat, under the bonnet, and on the windscreen.

Get an Inspection- While you may not be there to inspect the car in person, that doesn't mean it can't be inspected by someone you trust. If you have a friend or family member in the area, have them go to look at the car. They can check for signs that the car has been stolen, take it for a test drive, and even check to make sure that all of the information you received from the seller is true and factual.

It's also a good idea to hire a professional to help you. Most professional mechanics take credit cards today, and can accept them over the phone or via their website. Set up an appointment for the mechanic to inspect the vehicle before you make a final decision. They can get under the bonnet and evaluate Renault parts to see if any are damaged or broken. This can be extremely helpful. Even if you decide to go ahead and purchase the car when you know certain car parts are damaged, you'll have the upper hand. You'll be able to check to see what the new Renault parts will cost and the price of the repair.

In addition, having a mechanic do a thorough inspection puts you on even ground when it comes to negotiating.

Closing the Deal- Then comes the hardest part- paying for the car and taking possession of it. Unlike when you buy a car in person, there's a certain amount of trust depended upon here. In most cases, you won't want to hand over the money until you have the car, and the seller won't want to hand over the car until they have the money. The best solution is to use a service that can hold the payment in Escrow.

The way this works is the service acts like the middle man. They take your money and inform the seller that the car can be shipped to you. Once you've received the car, the service releases the money to the seller. This way, if anything goes wrong, both parties are protected.

Thinking about buying a car online, sight unseen? Before you do, make sure to use today's technology and services to inspect car parts, evaluate the validity of the car's information, and stay safe when paying. You'll quickly find that buying a car online isn't as hard as you thought.