Buying from private seller advice.

[fujack19]

I am going to be looking at a 1987 Westfalia in a couple of days, and if it is what it looks to be I will be purchasing it. I took out a car loan from my bank, and they said that they would give me a check payable to the seller. I have told the seller this, and he does not have a problem with it, but says he would like to keep the car until the check clears. I have never purchased from a private seller, and this has me worried because he will have the money, the title, and the car while I wait in hope he gets back to me when the check goes through. What do you think? What should I do to cover myself?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Sorry if this type of thread exist already, but I did try to look for one.

[PopTopDreamer]

When I have bought privately (numerous times over the years) I have paid with a bank draft or certified check made out to the seller. You could even go to the bank together to have one issued. I wouldn't feel comfortable having them hold on to the check and the vehicle until it clears. I might consider leaving a small cash deposit to hold the vehicle while arranging payment, if the seller seemed honest and the transaction was going to be completed promptly.

[EverettB]

Yes, it should be a certified check, this means it is a check that is guaranteed by the bank. You can meet at the bank and they can verify it's real and complete the transaction.

Unfortunately there are a lot of problems these days with check forgeries so the seller may be concerned about that or he may be concerned about waiting until all the funds are in his account, which can still take a day or 2.
(Based on some Google'ing I just did)

Alternatively you could:
- Do a wire transfer and he will have his money within a day, often within hours depending on the bank
- Go to your bank branch in his town and get cash and hand it over there.

If he won't go for that you should get a bill of sale as a receipt, indicating you have paid for the vehicle and noting the mileage and any conditions you want to impose. For instance, once you pay it should not be driven or used in any way and stored in a garage or other safe location

Either way you should be getting a bill of sale for the transaction with the normal simple information like date/mileage/VIN/signatures
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[fujack19]

Thanks for the advice! So when I give him the check for the vehicle I should get a bill of sale at the same time. That would help if there are any disputes about the purchase, and the paper trail with the check would help also. We could go to his bank and cash the check? It doesn't have to be mine? My bank does not have any branches where I live unfortunately.

[Q-Dog]

Bring a certified check from your bank. Meet him at his bank and they will verify the check is OK on the spot.

Do not give him money and leave the vehicle with him.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[fujack19]

OK, so the bank we go to could ease his mind about the check. In that case should we sign it over to me right there?

[hitest]

[fujack19]

Man, Iraq wasn't this stressful. Does everyone go through this every transaction? Or does paying with a check complicate it more?

[Q-Dog]

Personal checks create problems, but there should be no issues with a bank check. If it will ease the sellers mind, the bank is a good place to do the transfer. Like Hitest says, sign over the title when the money changes hands. In any of these transactions it is a good idea to have a witness.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[OB Bus]

I prefer to meet the seller at AAA (where I do my car reg transactions) with the cash or cashier's check in hand. The seller signs the pink, I fill it out and the AAA clerk inputs the data. Once the paperwork shows "clear" (no liens, etc.) I hand the seller the money and we are both on our way.
This worked every time until I bought the 67 Single Cab. Selller did not trust cashier's checks and wanted cash. I did not want to carry over $10K of cash in my pocket. Seller lived close to the AAA but 10 miles from my Credit Union. The solution we worked out was for us to go to AAA first and do the title transfer. So then I had the pink in hand. Then we went to the Credit Union where I withdrew the cash and had them count it out to the seller.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.
People deserve the Government they voted for.

[Globespotter]

Definitely should be a Bank Draft, Cashier's Check or Certified Check - all good as cash if not forged.

My last two VW's bought were - $1000 PayPal Deposit followed by balance in Cash when I picked up the vehicle and the second - a PayPal Deposit followed by a Bank Draft on pickup.

Saying you are using a check makes people think it is personal and needs to clear the bank.
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1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382

[hitest]

It's been a couple days- how did you buy your vanagon? Did it go just fine?
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[fujack19]

Yeah, it went very well. I just handed over the check yesterday, and I will pick up my 1987 Westfalia on Saturday. I had him call my bank while I was there to verify the funds. I just got the title, and registration taken care of about an hour ago. When I pick it up Saturday I am also driving to a VW mechanic right away to get the fluids changed, and such. Anything I should know about my new purchase that a seasoned VW veteran would know?

[PopTopDreamer]

How did pick up go?

[fujack19]

It went great. Felt good driving it. Ill pick it up from the shop on Tuesday then I can really get into it, and make it my own.

[PopTopDreamer]

That's great!!

[hitest]

Great to hear all went well. With regard to your new purchase- your choice of VW veterans could and should vary greatly. I'd concentrate on the vanagon forums, particularly H2O threads, for items with which to look.

For years I had and tremendously miss an '87 syncro 7 seater. I Sold it for lack of thesamba.com back in the 90s. I take comfort in knowing my lack of resources that led to me finally selling can be attributed directly to Everett!
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