Featuring Barbara
The Salt Lake Tribune

"The Salt Lake Tribune"   August 27, 2007

Like many people who shop online, Martin Monks of Sandy has purchased an array of fairly inexpensive items such as books and gifts from Web merchants.

But a car? Monks said he has never really entertained the idea of buying something so expensive via the Internet without seeing it in person - not until his daughter totaled his 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage.

"I just can't stand going to car lots," Monks said. "And I do like buying stuff online. So I thought I would give it a try."

Monks joined the ranks of consumers worldwide shopping on Web sites such as eBay Motors or Auto Trader, lured by a larger selection and the resulting opportunity to get a car in the best possible condition at the best price.

A fan of online auctioneer eBay, Monks went to the company's eBay Motors Web site. After checking with Carfax for any hidden problems in the ownership history of a 2005 TrailBlazer listed for $16,900, he made a bid of $16,000 to a Utah dealership. The only glitch: the smell of cigarette smoke when he opened the door of his new car for the first time.

"We aired it out and we're OK with it," he said. "It turned out really, really well."

While some use the Internet only to locate a car they will then go see in person, a growing number of people like Monks are handling every aspect of the purchase online - seeing their car for the first time when they go pick it up or have it delivered.

There are a number of steps consumers can take to ensure the process goes smoothly and that their vehicle meets their expectations.

A Carfax report is a relatively inexpensive way to help prospective buyers determine, among other things, if the car they want to buy has been in a severe accident or was registered in a county declared a flood disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A report also can verify that an odometer has not been tampered with, and how many owners and what type of owner - an individual, police department or car rental agency, for example - had the car and for how long.

Such reports are not all-inclusive or foolproof, but they are one of the best ways to ensure you don't end up with a lemon.

Like Monks, Graham Gallacher, general sales manager for National Auto Plaza in Sandy, bought his 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo without a personal inspection, from a dealership located through www.autotrader.com. He, like Monks, obtained a Carfax report on the vehicle, but also went a step further by searching for a car "certified" to be in good used condition by a manufacturer as an added measure of safety.

According to Edmunds Inc., which tracks the automotive-retailing industry, certified used vehicles are supposedly thoroughly inspected by a dealership specializing in that particular make of vehicle. Used cars also can simply come with an extended warranty from any dealership, but most of the time these warranties do not come with a thorough inspection.

Some online sites offer additional assurances. Ebay Motors, for example, offers a Vehicle Purchase Protection program with up to $20,000 of coverage against fraud and material misrepresentations. It's included in most transactions at no cost.

Barbara Terry, eBay Motors "auto expert," said buyers should take a look at seller feedback ratings before bidding. Ebay provides buyers an opportunity after each transaction to rate sellers. You can quickly get an idea if the seller makes people happy - or not.

Buyers also can hire a company to examine a car before they commit to buying it sight unseen. Ebay can help buyers find a company to do such an inspection in most major cities. The site also can help buyers find a shipping company if they need their car delivered.

Last year, Terry said, a car sold on eBay every 2 minutes. Now a car is sold on the Web site every 52 seconds. "Since 2000, over 2 million vehicles sold on eBay," she said. "That makes a huge statement in itself."

To check out a used car online, order a title report from www.carfax.com. Cost is $24.99 for one report or $29.99 for 30 days of unlimited reports. Similar reports also are available at www.AutoCheck.com. Such reports can tell you if a vehicle was in an accident or whether it was in a flood or registered in an area that flooded.

- By Lesley Mitchell

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