AssTyme

So in this day in age with all of the fraud and nobody can trust anyone... what is the ideal way for a out of state transaction to transpire ?

I plan on going to my bank and getting/paying with a cashier check but the owner says he will mail me the title when the check clears.

Normal ? Better way ?

Bat66

I would find a local bank in the area and we both would go to the bank verify the CC and finalized the transaction and leave with my car and title. I'm sure if you purchase a CC from for instance Chase there is a chase in his area to. Just me

ruxvette

Where are you and where is the car? Are you not going to pick up the car?
I have met buyers at their bank/credit union, done the transfer, got the title and gone.
If you are not going it presents a different challenge. Talk to your banker...if there is a branch in the sellers area perhaps the transaction can be consummated at the branch with the seller turning over the title to your banker and them mailing it to you. I suspect, however, the seller has a lien so it will have to be done at his lender.
In any case, I would not be comfortable with a "title's in the mail" transaction.
I'm sure others will chime in...
This guy just bought one 900 miles away and having it shipped. Contact him:
Need more Grand Sport advice (Multi-page thread 1 2) beersngars

clearwaterms

can you wire him the money? Wire fraud is a federal offense and it is bank to bank so he would have to provide you his routing / account information. Also the money clears instantly.

have you seen the car in person? have him email you a copy of the title to verify the VIN, address, etc. is the same and that it is free and clear of liens. You could even go a step further and ask him to take a picture of the car with the title in the same photograph (this would show that he is in possession of both) If you have not met the person this is difficult, but still.

ebay has a buyer guarantee that protects buyers, perhaps you can process the transaction through ebay. They have a way you can do a private auction. It will cost you a few hundred bucks but the cost of security is never free.

Ebay escrow
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/escrow.html

Private
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/private.html

Additionally, consider an escrow service, several exist. They will hold your money and the title of the car and insure the transaction.
https://escrow.com/services/vehicle-escrow.aspx

lastly, fly out there, go to a branch of your bank that is in his city, conduct the transaction - you could have the bank hand him cash if you so choose and then take the title and arrange to drop the car off at your shipper / drive it home.

vertigogo

I have bought three cars from out of state, and transferred the money through my bank each time. As stated above, this creates a strong paper trail that law enforcement can follow if the seller doesn't follow through. You can also use an escrow company, but there is significant cost to that. I try to get a feel for the honesty of the seller. I wouldn't buy a car from someone I couldn't trust anyway, so if I'm willing to buy the car without seeing it in person, I'm willing to make a bank transfer.

beamg5

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Gee, how very nice of him to send you the title after the (Cashiers) check clears - baloney !!

Dealing with an out-of-state dealer is very simple..........I've done it three times in the last decade, COD - and each time, they either trailered or drove the car to me, whereupon, I inspected it carefully, drove it, and only then..........signed the usual paperwork prior to handing them a check.

If I were dealing, like yourself, with an out-of-state individual seller, I wouldn't consider issuing a check prior to an "on-site" inspection, test drive, and the immediate surrender of a "clear" (no lien) title, signed off by the seller. Then, and only then would I produce the payment !!

In short, plan on making a trip to the owner's home or business to pick up the car, or negotiate a mid-point where both of you can meet to wrap up the transaction !!

It's a dman shame things have to be like this, but although there's a 99% chance your seller's word is good - but it's simply not good business to risk that 1% chance he/she might either be a hustler, or possibly misrepresenting the product !!

'Ya just can't be too careful, my friend !!

Gary

vertigogo

Actually it's not baloney. Counterfeit cashier's checks are a big problem today, when any crook can use a good printer to make them. The only way I'll accept a CC when selling a car is to go with the buyer to the bank that issued the check and have them cash it for me right there. Otherwise, I ask for Franklins. (Yes, cash can be counterfeited, too, but it's considerably more difficult.)

And many buyers don't want to go to the car, because the cost in lost work time, airline ticket, hotel, etc., can't be justified.

xlr8nflorida

I always go to the car and inspect and drive it.

I pay with a wire transfer once title is signed and no lien. If I'm selling, I expect wire transfer.

That is the safest method with a paper trail.

Don-Vette

Bring cash.

4SUMERZ

For a private sale. the best and safest way is to meet at his/her bank to transfer the money. If he has a loan on it, then the bank will take that money owed to them before signing over the title.
Make sure that there is no lien on the car if you pay cash for it without going through their bank.

I've bought cars from a dealer over the internet and bank transferred the money to their account. Once they received the money, they titled it in my name, got the temporary plates, sent the paperwork required to be signed through e-mails, and I flew in and drove it home.It's pretty foolproof when done at a GM dealer, 99.9999% of the time.

Good luck