Buying vehicles, parts, and accessories

Like most product categories on eBay, you can bid on vehicles, parts, and accessories, or buy them at a fixed price. On some listings, you can make the seller a Best Offer. Most Motors listings come with a free vehicle history report, and most vehicle purchases are covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) - opens in new window or tab.

Keep in mind that if you want to bid $25,000 or more, you'll need to provide a valid credit card (your card won’t be charged).

Buying a new vehicle on eBay Motors

We've partnered with local dealers to help you find the new vehicle you want at the price you want. If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, we can help you search for, research, and customize a brand new vehicle from local dealers for a low price.

You can:

• select the make and model you want
• choose whatever options you’d like
• secure a low, no-haggle price for the vehicle you want
• select a local dealer to buy the vehicle from
• contact the dealer to arrange pickup and payment details

How to find new vehicles

Follow these steps to find and buy your new vehicle:

1. Go to eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab.
2. Select the Condition dropdown menu in the Find a Vehicle section and choose New.
3. Select a make and model, and then enter your ZIP code.
4. Select Find vehicle.
5. Select the features you’d like, from exterior color to engine size.
6. Select the vehicle you want and enter your contact information. Your contact information is secure and you’re under no obligation to purchase the vehicle.
7. Print this certificate and contact your local dealer to arrange pickup and payment details.
8. When you pick up your vehicle, present your price certificate to the dealer. 

What you should know

• Dealers will do their best to match the vehicle you built to the vehicles that are available to purchase. If your exact vehicle isn’t in stock, your dealer will help you find a similar car at a similar price
• Our prices don’t include government fees and taxes, finance charges, dealer documentation fees, title and license fees, emission testing charges, or dealer-installed accessories
• You won’t pay for the vehicle on eBay. All financing and payment details will be worked out with the dealer
• If you change your mind about options and features, talk to your dealer to negotiate a new low price for your vehicle
• Contact your dealer with any questions about a vehicle you selected

Paying with Escrow.com

If the seller offers Escrow.com as a payment method, you can pay into a secure escrow account using a credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. Escrow.com will hold onto your payment until you’ve inspected the vehicle, and are happy with the purchase. 

To see if a seller offers Escrow.com as a payment option, check the Seller payment instructions in the Shipping and Payments section of the listing.

Escrow charges a 0.89-3.25% of vehicle purchase price as fee for the transaction.

Here’s how to pay for a vehicle using Escrow.com

How Escrow.com works

Here’s an overview of how Escrow.com works with eBay Motors. 

1. When you buy a vehicle through a fixed price listing, by winning an auction, or when a seller accepts your offer, you'll be redirected to Escrow.com from the eBay checkout.
2. Create your Escrow.com account and deposit the funds to pay for your vehicle.
   • If the purchase price is less than $5,000 you can pay by ACH, credit card, or PayPal
   • If the purchase price is greater than $5,000, you can pay by wire transfer
   • For more information see the Payment options page on Escrow.com
3. Once you start the transaction, the seller is notified.
4. When your funds are secured in Escrow.com, the seller will ship the vehicle to you.
5. When you receive it, you’ll have 2 business days to inspect the vehicle and either accept or reject it.
   • If you accept the vehicle, Escrow.com will release your payment to the seller
   • If you reject the vehicle, you'll be responsible for the cost of shipping it back to the seller
   • For more information, see the Inspection Period page on Escrow.com

Tip
Credit card and PayPal payments can take up to 2 business days to secure into an Escrow account. Bank transfers can take up to 10 business days, depending on your bank.

Tips for buying a vehicle

Buying a new or used car is often a big investment, so it’s good to do some research. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• First, research the type of vehicle and options you need
• Be realistic in your expectations of used or older vehicles—expect normal wear and tear
• Inspect the vehicle in person if you can. If that’s not possible, have a vehicle inspection service - opens in new window or tab visit the vehicle to ensure it’s as described in the listing
• Review the seller’s feedback rating on eBay, and contact the seller with any questions. Don’t bid or buy if they don’t respond to your questions or can’t be reached by email or phone
• Consider the additional costs associated with buying a vehicle, such as insurance, shipping, registration, and taxes

Bidding on vehicles

When you bid on a vehicle on eBay, it’s considered non-binding. However, you shouldn’t bid unless you intend to complete the purchase. Please read our user agreement for details, and learn more about our bidding policies:

• Non-binding bid policy
• Shill bidding policy

Blocked from bidding

Sellers can make their listings unavailable to a specified list of bidders, such as those with low feedback scores. If you’ve been blocked from bidding, you’ll receive an error message saying you’re not allowed to bid on that seller’s listings. This also means that you’re not allowed to bid with another user ID and doing so could result in suspension from eBay.

You can contact the seller to ask them if they'll remove your block.

Vehicle history reports

Many sellers include a vehicle history report from AutoCheck. If they have, you’ll find it in the “Vehicle History Report” tab. If the seller hasn’t provided a report, you’ll have the option to buy one. The report gives you access to important details about used cars. You can see if the vehicle has ever been

• stolen, salvaged, or rebuilt
• turned in under a lemon law
• in a flood or hail storm
• in an accident or fire (if reported)
• a victim of potential odometer rollback
• used as a rental or fleet vehicle
• used as a police vehicle or taxi
• abandoned or forfeited
• reported as having a lien

The report shows the vehicle’s title details, including all ownership transfers and DMV transactions. It also includes an AutoCheck Score, which shows how a vehicle measures up against others of the same make and model. Reports don’t include personal information about the vehicle’s previous owners, such as names and addresses. Learn more about AutoCheck - opens in new window or tab.

Where the information comes from

AutoCheck uses a vehicle’s unique 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to determine its history.

AutoCheck gathers report information from hundreds of data sources, including

• State Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• auto auctions
• canadian Motor Vehicle Departments
• consumer protection agencies
• auto dealers
• other state agencies

All data acquired from these sources meet the federally mandated Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and/or other industry guidelines.

About the AutoCheck score

The AutoCheck Score is a rating that evaluates all of a vehicle’s history data using one score, which is based on a 100-point scale for each vehicle.

The AutoCheck Score is determined by the following:

• The age of the vehicle at the time of the report
• The number of miles on the vehicle given at the time the report was run
• The vehicle class as reported by Automotive News. This list of vehicle makes and models is published annually and is recognized as an industry standard. Examples of vehicle classes include “Sport utility, entry level” and “Mid-range cars, standard.”
• The number of owners the vehicle has had
• The vehicle’s use and history (things like taxi use, accidents, and theft history impact the score)

Shipping vehicles

The buyer typically makes shipping arrangements and pays the costs associated with picking up or shipping the vehicle. Check the seller’s description to see if additional shipping options are offered.

To get information on shipping a vehicle, select Shipping and payments in the listing. You’ll see estimated quotes based on your location and the location of the vehicle.

We’ve partnered with uShip to make it even easier to get your vehicle shipped – at an affordable rate. Once you’ve found a vehicle you’re interested in, you can quickly get a quote for shipping it with uShip. You can also book your uShip delivery when you’re ready to pay. Find out more about how to ship a vehicle through uShip.

eBay Motors protection programs

We have a range of resources and purchase protection programs to help ensure a smooth transaction and provide peace of mind when you buy a vehicle.

Inspections and reports:

• Vehicle inspection - opens in new window or tab: Catch easily missed details with a 150-point vehicle inspection report
• Vehicle history report - opens in new window or tab: Get the facts about a pre-owned car before you buy it

Payment and financing:

• eBay Motors Security Center - opens in new window or tab: Get information on how you can protect yourself from scams and fraudulent activities
• eBay Motors Financing Center: We can help you secure a loan for a vehicle by connecting you to a number of financial partners that offer vehicle financing options. You can also try the following:
  • Check the listing you’re interested in to see if the seller offers financing options
  • Select the Financing tab in the listing for payment options. Then enter the amount you want to finance and your state of residence to get information about finance companies and a payment calculator for an estimate of your monthly payments

Making a deposit:

Making a deposit is a normal part of purchasing a vehicle, motorcycle, or even a boat. eBay Motors enables sellers to offer deposits and buyers to make a deposit during an online transaction. A deposit solidifies the commitment between buyers and sellers by serving two purposes:

• The seller is assured that the buyer is committed to completing the purchase.
• The buyer can feel confident that the vehicle will not be sold to another individual.

How Does it Work?

Sellers specify a deposit amount during the listing process. Sellers can require an immediate deposit of up to $500 or up to $2,000 on a standard deposit from the winning bidder at checkout

Tip
Vehicles offered on Craigslist, AutoTrader, or other online sites are not eBay transactions, even if they claim to be. If you’re bidding on a vehicle on eBay, it will appear in the Bids/Offers section of My eBay - opens in new window or tab. If you suspect a potential scam, let us know by emailing spoof@ebay.com.

Purchase protection for vehicles:

Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) - opens in new window or tab is included in most vehicle purchases and covers up to $100,000 or the vehicle’s purchase price, whichever is lower.

Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) Overview

• VPP provides protection at no additional cost for certain losses associated with fraud, such as non-delivery of the vehicle, undisclosed title defects, and certain undisclosed vehicle defects when your purchase meets the VPP eligibility and coverage requirements
• An independent service provider will work with eBay to determine whether you have suffered a loss that is reimbursable by the VPP program and what that reimbursement amount would be
• VPP is not an insurance policy, a warranty, or a solution for buyer’s remorse. You should perform due diligence when considering the purchase of any vehicle
• Restrictions apply. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and coverage restrictions - opens in new window or tab

Purchase protection for parts and accessories:

Most purchases are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in new window or tab.

Buying parts and accessories

If you’re buying a part or accessory, check the product specifications and read the seller’s description carefully to make sure the item is compatible with your vehicle.

Here's how to find compatible parts:

1. Go to eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab and go to the Find Parts and Accessories section.
2. Select your vehicle’s year, make, and model, or enter keywords such as product or brand name.
3. Select Find Parts.

    

You can add your vehicle to “My Vehicles” so you don't have to re-enter its details the next time you need a part.

Follow these steps to add a vehicle:

1. From the Motors page, select Find parts for my vehicle- opens in new window or tab under “My Garage.”
2. Choose your vehicle type and select your vehicle’s year, make, and model from the drop-down menus.
3. You can add optional details and a photo. You can also choose whether the information is public.
4. Select Save Changes.
5. Next time you want to find parts, select Find parts for my vehicle - opens in new window or tab on the Motors page.

Tire Installation Services

When you purchase tires from a participating seller on eBay, you can choose to add the cost of installation to your purchase.

When you do, you can pick from our network of trusted eBay installation partners. When the purchase is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email from us with the details of your order and your tires will be shipped directly to the installer you selected. You’ll then receive a second email directly from your installer with information on how to schedule an appointment with them.

You need to bring a photo ID and a copy of your confirmation email to your appointment with the installer.

Tip
Some tire shops are not equipped to install very large or specialty tires. If you can’t find a local installer for the tires you need, contact the seller before making your purchase.