Question for you experienced guys

[GARY F]

I am looking at a 37 Olds in PA. If I am going to buy it and send him a deposit with a check ( OK with him ). I cant go up there to pay him in person and pick up the car.and get the signed title. I would have to get a shipper. How would you handle the final payment and trust him to send the signed title?  Also any suggestions on a shipper from PA to SC. Thanks for your replys

[keiser31]

I would try to find an AACA member on this forum to do the road work for you (if they live nearer to the vehicle).

[Brass is Best]

The best way is to go in person.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2017 by Brass is Best (see edit history)

[Frantz]

Hire an agent or suck it up and go do it yourself. Too many scams happen this way, I can't see the cost of a weekend trip to PA being higher than the cost of risk. 

The dealership idea would work legally, but I don't think you'd find any willing to do it. You couldn't pay them enough to want to be involved in that. Too much liability.

[John_S_in_Penna]

Where in Pennsylvania is the car located, since the 

state is 300 miles wide?  At least a couple of our

Forum regulars are in the Hershey-to-Carlisle area,

which is the south-central portion of the state.

 

The friendly, informal help of an AACA member,

as suggested by Keiser, may serve you well.

[Larry Schramm]

On car purchases, I just go and do it myself to be sure all is correct.  If it is not right, then only one person to blame.

[GARY F]

5 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

Where in Pennsylvania is the car located, since the 

state is 300 miles wide?  At least a couple of our

Forum regulars are in the Hershey-to-Carlisle area,

which is the south-central portion of the state.

 

The friendly, informal help of an AACA member,

as suggested by Keiser, may serve you well.

The car is six mile outside of Pittsburg

[Larry Schramm]

13 minutes ago, GARY F said:

The car is six mile outside of Pittsburg

 

8 hours each way.  One day road trip.

[Marty Roth]

Contract with a qualified antique/collectible appraiser from a known company such as I-Van whose representatives seem mostly to be experienced AACA members/judges -

 

http://www.i-van.org/

 

A modest amount well spent-

I am not associated with this particular company but they have a good reputation-

and I'm sure there are others

[Guest]

As Larry Schramm said 'On car purchases, I just go and do it myself to be sure all is correct.  If it is not right, then only one person to blame."  Three times I helped friends who were far away and needed someone to look at a car.  One came back at me five years later because the engine developed a timing cover leak that required the engine to be removed to fix, obviously my fault and another was upset because the quarter panel rusted after three years. 

All I would help with now would be to tell the person there is a car here, this is the serial number and it is a certain color.

Go yourself or hire a professional.

My son looked at a Porsche on ebay, contracted with an appraiser in LA, liked the report, bought the car and drove it happily for 11 years.

[jpage]

I too would suggest that you make the trip and take care of it at the point of sale. Also, if you have not seen the car in person, it would be a good time to check it over, you might find something you don't like! A quick trip to a notary and you're done!

[Larry Schramm]

Now an additional item to my earlier comments, I did buy a car on the west coast, BUT I had it looked at by a very good friend that is more than competent and very knowledgeable.  That purchase was the only exception to my rule of looking at it in person and completing the deal.

 

On one of my vehicle purchases I drove from Detroit to Orlando twice to finalize a deal.  Was not very happy about the trips, but pictures that I received the first go round showed the vehicle in a better condition than it was.  First to inspect the car based on the pictures which I declined the buy but offered what I thought was a fair price based on condition.  The owner thought about the offer and tried to sell the vehicle but could sell at the price that they wanted and later called me and I bought the vehicle for what I still feel was a fair offer. 

[SC38dls]

This may be harsh but To me buying  a car this way without knowing the seller or seeing the car and being able to be sure the title matches the vehicle is like buying a bridge that’s advertised! Why not just send a check to the Nigerian Prince that has a pile of gold waiting for you? 

[Mark Shaw]

16 hours ago, Marty Roth said:

Contract with a qualified antique/collectible appraiser from a known company such as I-Van whose representatives seem mostly to be experienced AACA members/judges -

 

 

Doing it any other way than doing it yourself is a gamble for price paid.  More expensive cars make for higher risk transactions.

IMO, hiring a certified appraiser would be the next best way to minimize the risk.

[Larry Schramm]

27 minutes ago, Mark Shaw said:

 

Doing it any other way than doing it yourself is a gamble for price paid.  More expensive cars make for higher risk transactions.

IMO, hiring a certified appraiser would be the next best way to minimize the risk.

 

Mark is who looked at the car for me and met me when I finished the transaction to help load it.    Thanks again.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)