Anyone have experience buying/selling a car overseas?

I would get a 4th party in this so if someone doesn't come through this 4th party might help,have you asked any dealers like bmw or others if they have dealt with overseas shipping?

 

I sold my Ducati 1098S, with a trailer, to someone in the Czech Republic. His friend met me and inspected the bike here in Florida. Deposit was made through PayPal. I accompanied the friend (third party) to his bank (fourth party) where they wired the money to my account. At the bank eveyone's ID was presented, no worries at all. When the funds cleared I delivered the bike, by then the buyer was in town to take delivery.

Bottom line? Conduct the business at their bank.

 

Be very very careful

In Europe this is not unknown as a classic scam that involves a fake cheque which is only discovered by the bank after the car has been handed over leaving the vendor without car or money

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195241

 

What country is your buyer coming from?

Many countries in Europe have abandoned checks LONG ago. Personally, the last time I wrote a check must have been 18 years ago. It's all electronic these days.

Having said that, bear in mind that your buyer will be just as anxious as you are. For him to wire a large amount of money to someone who might not even own that Ferrari is pretty nerve wrecking too! So I can understand his wish to have the shipper at least see that a Ferrari is getting handed over before he's releasing the money.

If his friend is indeed in town, he can verify that there is at least a car to be shipped. But still, if he were to wire the money then, he'd still not be sure that you would drive the car to that port. So all in all, using the shipper to arrange the handover (keys versus check) doesn't sound too weird to me....

Hans

 

I just sold my 308 to a guy in Brazil (I'm in the US), full payment has been made thru paypal and wire transfer, so I guess I'm covered. I'm about to send the title today. I have a bill of sale and he has good feedback on ebay so I feel confidant that everything is cool.
Good luck.

 

Wire transfer only. Cashier's check could be a scam. PERIOD.

 

I wouldn't release anything until the funds clear and are in your account.

 

+1000 Cashiers checks from an int'l buyer is always fishy.

 

Cashiers checks ALWAYS take 10 to 14 days to clear. Happened to me on both sides of selling and buying with different banks so I know it is true.

I always thought it was an automatic guaranteed transfer once presented. Not true. Wire Transfer is the only verifiable way to "instantly" have funds dropped in your account so that you can hand the title over that day.

I sold my 911 to a buyer in Oregon. He flew in with a cashiers check and drove back. It was deposited into my bank. They informed me about the 10-14 day rule. I sent the title to him via fed-ex after it had cleared.

No problems, but unless it's a wire, I'd hold onto the title until you are sure. That way if the cashiers check is fake, and they are out there, then you still have the title to deal with your insurance or the authorities.

If the buyer is using a cashiers check, they should understand the time to clear and work with you so both parties are protected.

Robb

 

Hi rgamoras.

I've just bought a 308 QV in SC. I'm from Spain and the transaction has been done under eBay. I've made the payment in 2 separate parts, through a bank wire transfer. There are several problems like the transfer needs almost 3-4 days to be completed. The money needs 3-4 days to be transferred from the bank in Europe to the USA bank. You must pay attention because not all the US banks accept European transfers. This situation is very hard for the guy that is waiting the money!
Another question is that the buyer sends the funds without any proof. Maybe you can show to him some car shots from another guy... And it's easy to made a fake Certificate of Title or Car License with Photoshop... It's a risky way to do business because you don't have 100% warranty about the transaction. It's risky for the seller and for the buyer, so both are scared at the same time...
Don't accept cheques. If you're a buyer, don't pay by Western Union, pay by Paypal por money wire, because they're trackable.
Under eBay the feedback is a good way to judge if a guy is "clean" or not.
I've tried my forwarding agent to do the second half of the payment, but he doesn't want to take any responsability about the money... so is another risky part!
Well. I've made the second payment without receiveing any "proof". Only the eBay feedback was my warranty -it was a very stressfull operation for both parts-. You need a little bit of faith to complete the transaction...
Finally everything was OK, but the delay on the money wire transfer and to receive the "real car proofs" for the buyer have been a problem.

 

I sold a car to a fellow in Germany. He sent a PayPal deposit and then had a broker/shipping company handle the pick up and payment. I verified the company [in Miami] and when I received the cashiers check [from a US bank, also in Florida] I went to my bank, verified the funds were indeed good and the bank manager released the funds.

It can be a hassle but a lot safer then depositing a MO and have it turn up bad a month later...which I had happen in the past and it sucks

If you have access to a reputable agent it's worth the money.

 

I just sold my 911 on Ebay to a fellow from Germany. He has excellent feedback.
He requested my name , address and bank acount #. He claims that he will wire the funds.
Is it safe to give out my acount # to a stranger???
I have no experience in this matter. I was thinking of opening a new acount, just to get the funds and then close it.
Please help-
Thanks-
Eddie Jelley

 

If you have the abilty to open a sepperate account for that purpose it sounds like a good idea...as long as they can't access any other info. They usually require more info than he is requesting, i.e. routing number, etc.

BTW...I have been told wires can be reversed

 

Hey Rich,
Why do you think that a 3rd party would be any more trustworthy?
The gentleman buying my Porsche has communicated rather well so far....
I will consult my bank on Thursday morning. I'll let everyone know my bank's response.
When I bought my 911, I wired the funds to Vegas and it was nerve racking to say the least.
I'm so thrilled to finally have my 308, that I guess a little grief is certainly worth it!

 

I also just sold my 6,000 mile 1977 308 GTB to a person in Brazil and had no trouble at all. I used a broker out of Florida that had the car picked up at my house by his driver. He did all of the title and paper work for the deal, and I was paid in one day. If you would like the contact information let me know.
Brian

 

Went to the bank, The advisor told me that it is perfectly safe to receive a wire transfer and give the acount #.
She also felt that opening a separate acount for this purpose was a better idea. So, I did.
Now I guess I'll just wait..............................
Heck, I waited 20 years for my 308 !