Many people consider the local car dealership or newspaper the only solution to purchasing a car. However, finding a new or used car online and avoiding high-pressure salesman is becoming more common among consumers. How does finding a car online work versus the conventional dealership or newspaper? InfoFAQ has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions when purchasing a new or used car online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Cars Online
What types of websites can I use when shopping for a car online?
The type of website you want to use when shopping for a car online will vary depending on your needs. For classic or specialized cars, you can search on an auction site like ebay.com. For used cars you can search an online car ads web site like autotrader.com. Still other sites will feature classified ads from your area, and are found in your local newspapers website under classified ads. Other sites will try to sell you a car directly, or will list local auto dealers and their available inventory and prices.
What are the advantages to buying a car on an auction site like ebay?
The advantages of an auction site for cars is that you can see cars from all over the country which you may never have otherwise found. Sometimes the price will be lower than similar cars in your local area. The disadvantages are that you cannot always see the car first or drive it. It may be located thousands of miles away. You must also pay for the car and for shipping to your area, oftentimes before you have even seen the car.
How do the websites that sell you a car of your choice work?
These types of websites will have set themselves up as middle men who act as go-betweens with a consumer and an auto dealer. They use their market leverage with the auto dealers to get the cars at a lower price than you could on your own. They then sell it to you at more than their cost, but less than what you would pay at the dealer yourself.
How can I protect myself if I plan to purchase an auto from an online auction?
For large purchases made at online auto auctions, you may want to use an online ‘escrow’ company. They will accept your payment and hold it in escrow. They will then notify the seller that you have paid in full, and release the seller to make the shipment. You will then have to agree that the vehicle was delivered in acceptable condition prior to the funds being released to the seller. Make sure that you use an escrow service that is recommended by the auction website.
If I purchase a car online and it is out of my state, how much will it cost to have it shipped to me?
There are many trucking companies that will ship a vehicle for you. The average cross country rate in the USA is about $1000 for working automobile, and $1500 if the car does not run.
How do online car searches usually work on auctions and classified listing web sites?
Looking for a car is not only easy, but it can be a real time saver too. You will be asked a series of questions like the make, model, and year car you are looking for. You can also narrow your search to look for cars within a specified price range, and in specified areas of the state or country.
How can I find new car listings online as soon as they are put up on the web?
Most used car and auction sites will let you give them information on the types of cars you are looking for, and then setup their system to send you an email when a new listing is received. This can help you get the jump on any really good deals out there. Refer to the car sellers website to learn how to set this up.
Can I find out the blue book value of a car online?
There are websites out there that specialize in giving you a car’s retail and wholesale blue book value. Some of these sites will provide the information for free, while others will ask you to join in order to get the information. This can help you make sure that you are not overpaying for a car online.
Can I find safety related information online about the cars that I am interested in?
There are many websites run by industry, government and consumer groups that publish consumer safety information about new cars and trucks. Just search the web with the name of the vehicle and the words ‘safety rating’.
Won’t an online car search only show me cars that are outside of my area?
Depending on the website, some may have listings from across the country. But with these types of websites, you can always narrow down the search to autos in your own area. It’s a good idea to expand your search a little beyond you local area in case you find a deal worth the drive.
Pierre Auto Centers - A Dodge Chevrolet Ford Auto Car and Truck dealer, specializing in new Dodge Chevrolet Ford and used vehicle sales with on-line purchasing, a pre-owned vehicle database, finance and more.
Voice Broadcasting - SmartVoice provides advanced answering machine detection with the capacity to send hundreds of thousands of calls per hour.
EMR Software - Interview with Dr Cloud EMR about their Electronic Medical Record Software.
Pearl Jewelry - Learn about quality pearls in this exclusive interview with The Pearl Outlet, Inc.
Civil Engineers - Questions answered by The Haaland Group about what makes a good civil engineer.
Mafia Games - In mafia games you find hitmen, bodyguards, and all kinds of thugs working their way up the crime family ranks.
InfoFAQ with Manufacturers
Takamine Guitars - Exclusive interview with Takamine, a world leader of acoustic/electric guitars.
Premium Denim Jeans - Find out why Marc Allison Jeans are considered by some, "the most incredible denim ever felt."
Wireless Memory Cards - Eye-Fi Cards provide Wi-Fi capabilities to digital cameras. FAQ with Eye-Fi.
Unmanned
Aircraft Systems - AeroVironment, Inc. Nasdaq: AVAV provides small UAV aircraft for the U.S. military.
Affordable Home Furniture - Interview with designer, lifestyle expert and television personality Angelo Surmelis
Electric Vehicle Chargers - EV Solutions™ is the largest manufacturer of electric vehicle charging stations.
Medical Safety Products - Exclusive interview with the leading provider in healthcare safety products."
Wood Baseball Bats - Questions and Answers with Viper Bats, a wooden baseball bat manufacturer.
Baby
Bassinets - Find out what characterizes a good baby bassinet in this Pet Beds exclusive interview.
Foldable Water Bottles - Help the enviroment using Sip N Go's foldable, reusable water bottles.
Drum Hardware - Exclusive interview with Gibraltar Hardware the drum set hardware leader.
Gretsch Drums - Exclusive interview with Gretsch Drums, known for their "beautiful sound like no other."
InfoFAQ with Doctors
Optometry - Exclusive Interview with Dr. Summy To Portland's Neighborhood Optometrist.
Cosmetic Dentistry - Exclusive Interview with Dr. Moller of New Image Cosmetic and Family Dentistry.
InfoFAQ with Merchants
Secure Information Organizer - Exclusive interview with Clangistics who created a Family Information Organizer in case of an emergency.
Southern California Wedding -
Prestine country club setting in Southern California with spectacular views. Exclusive interview
with Sherwood Country Club.
Department Stores - Interview with Curacao, the leading department store to the Hispanic community.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
The InfoFAQ editorial staff are qualified professionals who are experienced at researching the Internet for relevant information about merchants, their products, their services, and their industries. The staff is trained to be objective, concise, and informative, helping consumers understand the importance of merchant compliance, consumer safety, privacy, security, fraud protection, and truthful information when shopping on the Internet.
