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5 Tips for Buying a Car Online That Needs Shipping

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   5 Tips for Buying a Car Online That Needs Shipping

The Internet has become the best place to shop for a new or used vehicle. Online car classifieds have made it possible to get the car of your dreams shipped to your home. More dealerships are posting their inventory online. You don't have to visit the dealership if you don't want to. Here are some tips to get you started with your search.

Research the Cars You Want

Due to the increased popularity of online car classifieds, it's easier than ever to shop around for the vehicle you want. You can compare make, model, colors, features, and more. The majority of people who visit a dealership have already done most of their research online. When you're buying a car online, you should do even more research.

Online car resources can help you in the beginning stages of the process. You can learn more about the vehicle you want by watching videos and reading reviews. You'll find out how the car works, and you'll learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the vehicle before you try it out. This additional research will give you an idea of which vehicle is best suited for you.

Narrow Down Your Options

It's important to narrow down your options in the initial stages. Having too many options isn't going to help you make the right decision. You should narrow down your options to around three to five vehicles. This forces you to determine which non-negotiable features you want in a vehicle, and get rid of the things that aren't important to you.

Even having some additional information can help you make a decision. It can lead to questions you never realized. But this can make the decision-making process overwhelming and confusing. If you're having trouble making a decision, a licensed dealer can answer any questions, which will save you time and stress.

Ask All the Right Questions

Create a checklist with all of the questions you have about your vehicle. Keep this checklist nearby when you're communicating with the dealer via e-mail or over the phone. If it's a used vehicle, find out how many owners it's ever had. Find out what the vehicle has mainly been used for?

It's imperative that you ask if it's had any minor accidents or mechanical problems. There's no way to get an honest answer. You can only do what you can by asking this important question. If you know a trustworthy mechanic, have them check out that vehicle to see if it's good.

Take It for a Test Drive

Now it's time to take it out for a spin. Glossy images and tricked out specs are another thing. But you need to see how the vehicle performs. A test drive is going to take you further into your research phase. Sit in the car and notice how you feel. Play around with the controls and take it for a drive to see how it handles traction.

Get a Full Car Report

If you have your eyes on a car or want to cross a few vehicles off your list, get a vehicle history report before you make a decision. This report will give you details about the vehicle's history so you can make the right decision. Most online car classifieds allow sellers to report on the vehicle. Or, you can request that the seller provides you with this additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Car Moving Questions

The hardest thing for people researching car moving companies to understand is that the prices they are getting are not hard and fast gaurantees, but rather ESTIMATES of what one company thinks it will take to get a vehicle moved promptly versus another company's opinion of what it will take. Don't be fooled, there are not carriers committed to take your vehicle at these quoted prices, the company you choose will still have to get to work getting a carrier to commit to move it at the price they quote you.

Your total price breaks down into two parts, the broker's fee (or 'deposit' as everyone calls it) and the carriers fee (your COD amount) Make no mistake about this, EVERYONE YOU ARE GETTING SALES CALLS FROM IS GOING TO BROKER YOUR MOVE. In this industry, there are brokers who try to fool you into thinking that they are the actual carriers and there are an equal amount of carriers who sell themselves on the fact that they have a truck or two but are not being honest about the fact that they broker out 90% of the orders they book. Here is a quick easy way to tell, if a company takes an up front fee, whether they call it a deposit or any other name, they are a broker. Carriers do not take any payment until the vehicle is delivered.

In our opinion, you are crazy to do so. Have you ever been paid up front for the work that you perform for your employer? Why would you pay a fee up front when there are reliable and trustworthy companies like ours that won't ask for it until we provide you with your carriers details?

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will be between one and two weeks. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

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