| Thanks to the internet, we have grown accustomed to | | | | addition to sending cash through the mail, which the |
| doing many, many things online. In the past, you might | | | | seller may conveniently never get, there are other |
| have done your Christmas shopping online, but you can | | | | scams you want to be on the lookout for. Some |
| do so much more now. In fact, you can even buy used | | | | scammers try to sell vehicles they never have. What |
| cars online! If you are interested in doing so, please | | | | they do this actually steal pictures from legitimate car |
| keep reading on for some helpful dos and don'ts. | | | | listings online! You go to pay often by mailing cash, |
| DO see if you can see the car in person. When we | | | | check, or a money order and they up and disappear |
| use the phrase "buy used cars online" we often think | | | | with your money. Another scam is the car shipping |
| of paying through an online method like PayPal. If at all | | | | scam. To prevent you from realizing right away that |
| possible, don't actually buy your car online but rather | | | | they don't actually have a car for sale, they arrange to |
| use the internet has a helpful buying tool. There are a | | | | have the vehicle transported to you. By the time most |
| lot of scams that surround for sale vehicles on the | | | | buyers catch on, the so-called seller is long gone with |
| internet. You want to ensure that the vehicle actually | | | | your money. |
| exists and then make sure your money is being wisely | | | | DON'T forget that buying a car online (whether you |
| spent on a quality car that runs great. If possible, do all | | | | actually pay online or not) is just like buying a car |
| your research online and communicate with the seller | | | | locally. If you cannot physical test drive a vehicle, still do |
| via email, but make your final purchase decision in | | | | additional research. Closely examine pictures, read the |
| person and after you have seen the car and taken it | | | | listing multiple times for clues, do a value check on the |
| for a spin. | | | | Kelley Blue Book website, read reviews from experts |
| DON'T send cash through the mail even if you are | | | | and owners, and then do a check to see if the vehicle |
| only paying $500 for an old clunker. Cash through the | | | | in question has even been the subject of a recall. |
| mail is one of the oldest online scams. The seller gets | | | | Basically want you want to do is ensure that you if do |
| your money, but some scammers will claim it never did | | | | buy a car, your money is wisely being spent. |
| arrive; therefore, they don't need to handover | | | | DO consider using a desktop car finder. These |
| possession of the car in question. Whether you buy a | | | | applications make it easier for you to find new and |
| car online, from a dealer, or from a local owner selling | | | | used vehicles for sale because they search hundreds |
| their vehicle, know that a check is always your best | | | | of car buying websites for you at once! You can |
| and safest method of payment. | | | | literally find your dream car and shoot off an email to |
| DO familiarize yourself with other car buying scams. In | | | | the seller in less than 5 minutes! |