Anyone ever use an escrow service for buying a car sight unseen? Looks like there are a couple that deal with cars specifically. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has and how it worked out.

 

You'd first have to get the seller to agree to that, and I don't think that's a given unless he's had it for sale for a while and is getting desperate to get it sold. When I sell a car, it doesn't leave my driveway unless I have cash in hand.


How would it work using an escrow service, anyway? You give the agent the money, the seller gives the title and the car to the agent, and when he has everything, he gives you the car and the title, the seller the money, and everyone goes home happy?

 

I know you can hire inspectors to look at a car for you, especially in large metropolitan areas. There's no reason a seller would have to know that the inspector is acting on behalf of someone else. I've considered doing this when I see an Olds in WA, MD, CA, etc. I would hate to fly or road trip across the country and find out the car is a lemon.

 

What difference does it make if the seller knows that the person looking at the car is inspecting it for someone else? This happens regularly. Does the seller want to sell the car or not? But the question was about escrow services, not inspections.

 

Right you are Jaunty.

 

Yes, I used an escrow service, once. I was leery about an ebay 66 Cutlass convertible in CA, so I offered to buy if he would agree to escrow. That means I bid/bought the car, sent the money to escrow company instead of the seller. The car was shipped to Ohio and I was not happy, the guy had been less than truthful. So I wanted out of the deal. No problem, but I loose my initial deposit, I must pay shipping back to the seller. Then the seller got to inspect for shipping damage when he received the car back in CA, which I would be responsible for. So I just kept the car and chalked it up to a learning experience.
I agree with others, if you have any doubt about what you are buying get an inspection, get the inspector to take many pictures of all the things you are concerned about. They do a good job, I have been on both ends of inspections. I had one done on a car in Boston MA, and I had an inspector come to my house to inspect a car I had for sale. I did actually know the inspector, a real nice local car guy who also had an auto shipping company. I had no worries as the car I was selling was A+++ condition, and the inspector agreed. But the guy who ordered the inspection did not buy it, I sold it at the Auburn Auto Auction the next spring for much more than I wanted for it.
IMO, Inspections are a real good thing. Escrow has some good some not too good. I would have a car inspected again, I would definitely not use escrow again.