The car shopping and buying process has dramatically changed in just a few years. Transactions typically handled in person are happening online more frequently, with consumers preferring to skip the showroom. eBay Motors is on the cutting of this trend. It is a popular auction site to take advantage of good deals on new and used cars. With over 5 million vehicles sold on the website to date, eBay can be a reliable tool when searching for a new ride.

But when shopping here, you run the risk of getting ripped off just as you would at any other online store. Thankfully, there are a few simple guidelines to avoid scammers. Let’s look at what makes eBay Motors different from other places to buy a car online.

eBay Motors is car shopping made easy

eBay is a trusted site that has been in business over 25 years. Based in California, the company sells everything imaginable to consumers around the globe. In 2000, vehicle sales became part of the marketplace, and eBay Motors formed. Since then, it’s been a reliable place for buyers and sellers to convene.

Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace also list used cars for sale. But few to no regulations ensure fair and honest transactions on those platforms.

eBay Motors eliminates the risk of unethical business practices and questionable forms of payment. The platform offers secure payment methods, relies on user feedback, and offers Vehicle Purchase Protection for consumers’ peace of mind.

Every transaction is secure

Every vehicle sold on eBay Motors comes with Vehicle Purchase Protection. If a consumer becomes a victim of fraud, eBay covers the car’s value up to $100,000.

You must make the purchase directly through the website to receive the coverage. The plan doesn’t cover maintenance problems, but it gives you protection against undisclosed issues. You’re also insured if the vehicle is a no-show.

All purchases on the site must go through the financing center and PayPal. When you bid successfully and win an auction, you must pay the balance within an agreed amount of time. The site also helps with financing a loan if necessary.

Use eBay Motors feedback scores to vet sellers

As of this writing, there are more than 118,000 active listings on eBay Motors. A search engine helps potential buyers by filtering the make, model, price, color, and year. For car shoppers unsure of what they want, they can search by category. Classics, SUVs, and hybrids are just a few common types of cars to explore. 

However, proceed with caution before hitting “Buy It Now.” 

Every user has an overall feedback rating that reflects that person’s buying and selling transaction history on the site. Looking at a seller’s feedback is essential to determine other consumers’ experiences. Some users have a 100% rating, and those are the sellers you want to deal with.

The key to confirming sellers’ legitimacy is ensuring their feedback scores reflect their customers’ experience. A seller might appear great if customers have given high ratings for low-ticket items. So make sure a user has current positive feedback for selling cars and not just low-priced products.

Be wary of sellers who don’t have a feedback score. Analyzing seller feedback before deciding to move forward with the purchase will reduce your risk of running into fraudulent activity.

Buying a car totally online is still a daunting process. There is always the nagging feeling that you’re going to get ripped off. However, eBay Motors is doing more than most sites to help consumers avoid scams.