Buying Long-Distance from a Private Party?

"yitznewton" (yitznewton) 10/26/2015 at 18:27 • Filed to: Car buying

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I’m becoming increasingly interested in a car being offered in Ohio by a private party. Only problem is, I’m in New Jersey.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? I’m trying to understand how this would work without multiple trips out there.

Acquiring the car: get a PPI, send a check or wire, and have him send the title somehow? Escrow?

Getting the car back: shipping? Take a plane?

I can’t go get the title in person without a dedicated trip for that, because I’d need the title in NJ to get plates...

Basically, is there a way to do it that makes any sense?

Nick > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:33

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Rent a car one-way.

HammerheadFistpunch > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:35

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I bought my Land Cruiser long distance from Seattle to Utah. It worked out pretty well but the seller and I both had a relatively high degree of trust in each other. Which is something that you’re going to have to come to terms with one way or another. The most unpleasant part of the entire buying experience was having the car shipped out. Whatever they tell you do not trust a shipper when he says he can have it by such and such a time.

E92M3 > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:38

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I’ve sold 2 cars to long distance buyers who never saw the car in person. There’s companies in most major cities that will do a detailed inspection and send you a report. They both wired the money once the transport truck arrived. It was in my account within 10 mins (before the car was loaded). Then I sent the titles via Fedex to the buyers.

Petsonally I probably would want to see the car with my own eyes, if I liked it go to a local branch to do the wire, and then drive the car home.

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:39

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I would fly down, after getting a PPI from a mechanic of your choice. Not a mom and pop shop, not sellers choice. Ohio vehicles are in the rust belt, and therefore would require extra detail in my mind, including under vehicle images and a mechanic. Most PPI people are NOT mechanics and are glorified picture takers.

TractorPillow > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:39

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Well...it all depends. Hate to say it. I’ve bought 3 cars from out of state. First one was an Elise from FL. The guy was a reputable member with history on LotusTalk. I sent his bank a check to pay off his lien and sent him a check for the difference. I arranged shipping. I did not *GASP* do a PPI. Got lucky, I was only 23 and young and dumb. All I am fine with but should have done a PPI. Felt safe in the risk.

Second car was a classic mini from PA consigned by dealer. This one was easy because I had a PPI done and the dealership did the paperwork and handled the shipping (which they forgot to charge me for, dont tell anyone).

The third car, my current DD a 02 Viper, I said I’m done buying sight unseen and flew from ATL to Houston and met the guy and bought it from him with a swipe of my debit card at his credit union. No PPI again because I felt comfortable looking it over myself and knew what I was getting into. I drove it 700 miles home and it was great.

In the future if I can swing it, I will always fly and drive it home. Easier and more fun. I am dumb for not getting PPI’s though. Next car I will, I swear!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:41

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Any time I’ve done that, I’ve simply gone out there with cash and a trailer and came back with the car and the paperwork.

I’ve sold one once where I sent out the paperwork before the car was picked up by a shipper, but that seemed like a hassle. Ohio to NJ is a day trip...I’d drive out, spend the night, then bring it back the next day.

TractorPillow > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 10/26/2015 at 18:48

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True that. Stay away from companies that advertise PPI services. They’ll take a lot of photos, but they are just independent contractors using the PPI site as a reference system. Go to a shop with good reviews

yitznewton > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 18:56

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What I’m not clear on is, how to get the car some kind of registration to get it back here? NJ doesn’t have any kind of temporary resident registration as far as I know; you need the title in hand at the DMV and they issue you perm plates. Otherwise I would be fine flying out and driving back.

fourvalleys > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 19:13

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Florida was that way too. It’s asinine.

I bought my Miata about 65 miles away, and it took three trips. Florida says they will not issue a resident a temporary tag for a vehicle bought from a private-party. If you’re a resident buying a vehicle, you better have the signed title first so you can register it. If you’re buying a vehicle from a private-party on a Saturday or Sunday, you can’t legally drive the car home until you get your permanent plate and registration on Monday.

The only way you’re supposedly able to get a temporary tag in FL is if you’re from out of state and need one to drive back home (you know, same thing I did, just not across state lines) or if you’re waiting for vanity plates. I suspect there’s also some other way involving the dealership, but that’s not really relevant.

So, um, good luck.

ranwhenparked > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 19:19

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I bought my Town Car in Florida, and I live in Delaware. I just planned my summer vacation around it. Drove down there with a friend from work in his truck, bought the car, and drove it back up.

If it hadn’t checked out, or if I hadn’t been able to make a deal with the seller, I would have just flown home.

As far as the paperwork thing goes, I brought a bill of sale with me, filled out as much as I could, and the seller filled out the rest after we did the deal. We also had to fill out and sign the back of the title certificate. Those two documents, plus proof of insurance, were all that was needed to get a temporary tag, which allowed me to drive it north.

To buy the car, I just paid cash.

1111111111111111111111 > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 19:29

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https://m.soundcloud.com/stevelehto/so-…

JGrabowMSt > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 19:30

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Get in contact with the owner, and discuss your options for transporting the vehicle using a reputable auto transport company. Have the title be stored in the car, and be sure to get insurance on the vehicle prior to it being loaded on the trailer. You do not need to own a car in order to insure it, in fact, all you really need in order to insure a vehicle is the VIN.

But as Hammerhead very plainly said, you need to have a very high level of trust with the seller. It’s super difficult to establish that with a complete stranger, but if you’re both open to it, it can work out quite well.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > yitznewton 10/26/2015 at 19:53

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Where in Ohio?

yitznewton > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 10/27/2015 at 13:46

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Columbus