Since we are not regular car people, we usually don’t want regular cars which means that there won’t be three of the models you want right down the street so travel is almost mandatory.
A basic how to do it properly, what paperwork to grab, what to look for, because odds are you will only get one look at it, what to bring with you and if you’re driving it back what to put into the car to make sure you don’t get stranded.
Could come in real useful.
I suppose I could do this, but I also bought the car from a dealer, so it’ll be a bit different.
You can write about it but it doesn’t have to be on your exact scenario, but you can definitely describe it as one of the potential options of buying a car that’s far away.
You’re the only one that has experience with it and can really talk about that sort of purchase. I however have had experience with driving down and towing the car back, and driving down and driving the car back. Unfortunately me not thinking about it really I had to end up going to the NYC twice because I went on a Sunday to begin with (DMV closed). I also had experience with people in that state checking the vehicle (SV) out for me for a small fee before I had to drive all the way out there to check it out. (one guy did it for free, other was like 10$). It’s cheaper to pay that to a person that pay for gas for going 3 states there and back + time consumed.
You can easily tie in the shipping aspect somehow after just generally describing the proper way of purchasing a car. “On the other hand if the car is extremely far away…” or “to save yourself some headache” and such!
I’ve done this numerous times… Driven back with plates/reg, driven back with “borrowed” plates, registered at DMV near vehicle, used triple AAA to tow a long distance for another vehicle. Almost every scenario except towing myself.
I’m pickin’ up a car tomorrow as I said, this one with plates / reg as the owner was nice enough to mail me the title. If we can take pics I can try and make something of it?!
See many ways but I wonder what’s the best and the most cost effective?
Driving down there alone is obviously out of the question, because then you cant drive the car back.
Ideally you shouldn’t have to involve another person, even though it’s a good idea to have a friend near by at the time, but that can be avoided by meeting in a public place or such.
One of the things that should be mentioned is bring as little personal information and materials with you as possible.
So options:
Dilemmas…
Checking the vehicle out without being there.
Options :
-Ask the seller to take insane amount of covered pictures (list of specific areas would be made so it can be copied and pasted in the future, to ask the seller).
-Find locals to the area, especially the people that enjoy the same vehicle if it has a fan following and see if anybody wants to check it out for you.
-Ask for vouches of other online deals or for an ebay account
Going down there alone
-have full plans to go back home without the vehicle
-take train/bus/plane to get there
-have AAA card, jumper cables, make sure the car has a spare for driving it back
Going down there in your car and a friend
-less issues but involves an entire other person
Other issues as mentioned
“borrowed” plates, local dmv’s (must be a weekday in the morning), towing the vehicle.
Could get interesting.
One of the items is to fill it up as soon as you leave because you never know how well the gauge works and nobody likes to sell a car full of gas.