Buyng a car internationally & safely?

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E9Aus

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Hi there. I'm in Australia and it looks like I'm about to buy my first E9 after years of searching. (muted joy, it won't be real until it's in my garage!)

It just so happens it's in the USA (yes it's RHD). I have spoken to the seller several times and he seems legit, and one of the well heeled E9 guys on this forum has kindly gone and checked the car out for me and given it the thumbs up. I even did a paid inspection by a specialist which came up pretty good so I'm generally happy that the car is the right one at the right price. The seller has even held on to the car for me on a small deposit that I sent so that I can get all the inspections done so he has been generous with his patience and time.

So now it comes time to sending the money! This is where I'm nervous. It's easy to send the money over the internet, that's not the problem, it's my worry that the seller will do the right thing and get it to the port and loaded onto the ship that I will book (as arranged as part of the deal) and send the car I am expecting in the condition it is in at present, or even send it at all. He's a dealer with a website and it seems some history but you never know!

Essentially I don't want to be ripped off and lose my cash. I don't think I will, he seems genuine, but I'm just trying to do what I can to be sure. It's a lot of money to send to someone on the other side of the world with a "promise" to send a car in return. He will send me the paperwork immediately once the deal goes through so I'll have that.

So I'm trying to find a way to do the transaction safely with some kind of guarantees I'll get what I have paid for. There is always ESCRO but I think the seller will want his money up front.

I believe there are companies who can arrange this kind of thing, does anyone have any that they can recommend?

Any other ideas? I'd appreciate feedback from anyone with experience in these things.

Many thanks to all in advance!
 
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You're basically looking for a shipping agent to make all the arrangements for you. It may be possible for them to arrange payment to the seller upon delivery as a third party.

Get all the paperwork you need so you can get your car titled properly. I would suggest going or finding out what happens once it hits the port and how it's released. You're going to have to figure your taxes since there's two ways to do so.

One other way is to go to a transport company where you are and get a quote for them to arrange it from the US versus the other way here. That way they will know what paperwork the car needs to be released in OZ.

Good luck and report back.
 
c-mon buy a plane ticket and pickup the car and drive it to the shipper.
Welcome to the states!
 
Stan said:
From Australia!? Might find a decent parts car form the price of that ticket!
Click to expand...

I'm flying SFO -> SYD next week for $1500. Given that 1US$ ~+ 1AU$ right now, I'd imagine you could fly to almost anywhere in the US from Melbourne for about that much money. If you're investing a significant amount in a vintage car, that amount is reasonable not only for insurance that you don't just get completely screwed out of your cash, but that the car is in the condition stated, etc.

If you can't spare the time from work or otherwise can't afford to come to the US, I'd definitely try the third party escrow agent suggestion below. You should be able to find shippers willing to do this for a small charge. Alternatively, depending on where the car is located, find a friend or friend-of-a-friend to help out and at least trade the cash in person for the car.
 
That is what it cost me to fly from Buffalo to Idaho when I got mine. Took almost as long as Australia too!. I don't know if I could handle a flight from Australia to Eastern US. Seems to me if the inspection is postively thumbs up, an Escrow service must be available.
 
Cheers!

Hey, thanks to everyone for their inputs. Looks like the safest way to go is ESCROW, I wouldn't have the time or the money to fly to the USA right now.

Great inputs and some great leads there, mucho respecto to you all in this forum for being the helpful bunch of blokes that you are!

I've just gotta overcome this niggling feeling that the surface rust in the firewall is probably not that "surface" after all. That is the deal breaker for me that I'm swinging on.

I'll let you all know what happens when and if it ever does! Cheers all.
 
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