I’ve been involved with two eBay Motors car purchases. Both of the cars purchased via eBay Motors had quirks I wasn’t quite prepared for. The first purchase was for a reasonably new Chevy Suburban. The second for a much older Nissan 240SX I’m in the process of restoring. The actual buying process went smoothly in both cases, the sellers were up front about the condition of the car, but driving off with a car you’ve never seen in person has its share of potential issues. Here are a few things to have on hand when you pick up your eBay Motors purchase.
Bring a Friend – if possible, don’t pick up your car alone. Have a friend convoy with you in a second car, so you have a ride if anything goes wrong.
Replacement Car Battery -it’s very common for cars purchased on eBay to sit for extended periods of time and even if the seller starts the car regularly, the battery can go bad. Pick up a new battery at Costco or Wal-mart before you get your eBay Motors purchase.
Replacement Air Filter – even if a car is in great working order, the air filter is something commonly overlooked in vehicle maintenance. Car air filters are cheap and you’ll need a new one eventually anyway. Better to make sure your car is can breathe when you get it than run into problems later.
Replacement Light Bulbs – used cars often have a bulb missing from one of the rear lights. This is easy for the seller to overlook. You can go to the local Autozone and pick up the bulbs you need for you car, which will make you less likely to get pulled over while the car is in transit and other motorists will see you making your drive safer.
Quart of Oil – two quarts might be even better, although you’d better give negative feedback to anyone who can’t keep the oil topped off on a car they just sold you.
Coolant – a gallon of premixed coolant from the local gas station comes in handy if the fluid levels are low in your newly acquired radiator.
Spray on Tire Patch – a tire with a slow leak may not be noticeable at the time you pick up your car. Check the pressure on all tires at a nearby gas station before heading up the road, but be prepared with some spray on tire patching solution if one of the tires has a slow leak.
Wrenches, Screwdrivers and Tools – having an extra car battery, replacement light bulbs and other add-ons is only useful if you have tools with you to do the necessary repairs. Make sure you know whether the car uses metric or English sizing for things like bolts and plan to have a few wrenches, screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, and other assorted tools on hand.
Roadside Assistance Plan – for things you can’t easily fix, an active AAA membership or other roadside assistance plan is a great method of last resort. Chances are you won’t need it and things will go smoothly as you’re driving your new ride home, but having roadside assistance is one of the best safety options you can have when taking an unknown car for its first long drive.
Having said all this, it may look like I’m trying to discourage you from buying a car on eBay Motors in the first place. Quite the contrary; eBay is a great place to find the right car you’re looking for as long as you know what to expect and plan for the unexpected. I’ll likely buy more cars on eBay in the future.
