Safest way to pay for an out of state vehicle?

austinm4x · 07-27-2018, 08:30 PM

Hey everyone and thank you for your time. My search is nearly over. I found my dream car, I'm getting a 3rd party PPI on Monday, and I'll be ready to make the purchase. I am working with a certified BMW dealer under the Penske Automotive Group. They are recommending (but not forcefully) that I do a wire transfer. They also said I could overnight a cashier's check.

Do either of these methods provide me with any type of insurance if the car was to never show up? I understand this is a certified BMW dealer, but obviously the thought has to run through my mind with such an amount of money. Please let me know what the best way to proceed would be. Thank you.

Thescout13 · 07-27-2018, 08:35 PM

As long as you have a contract you should be fine.

austinm4x · 07-27-2018, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

As long as you have a contract you should be fine.

And I get that mailed to me or emailed or?

I'm buying out of state and they are shipping it, so not sure where a contract comes into play, sorry for my inexperience.

Waoudi · 07-27-2018, 08:48 PM

I'm doing the same thing except I'm paying via personal check and they are fedexing me all the paperwork with a return label and then shipping the car. How are you finalIzing the sale? Won't you have the paperwork with the VIN number on it first?

Thescout13 · 07-27-2018, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinm4x

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

As long as you have a contract you should be fine.

And I get that mailed to me or emailed or?

I'm buying out of state and they are shipping it, so not sure where a contract comes into play, sorry for my inexperience.

Either pdf copy or overnight mail is fine.

austinm4x · 07-27-2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waoudi

I'm doing the same thing except I'm paying via personal check and they are fedexing me all the paperwork with a return label and then shipping the car. How are you finalIzing the sale? Won't you have the paperwork with the VIN number on it first?

Interesting, I will propose this. I'm honestly not sure, hence why I am here asking the questions lol I'd rather ask you guys then the people making the sale. Like I said, I have some trust because it's a certified dealer, but I'd prefer to be as informed as possible.

elinstylez · 07-27-2018, 09:20 PM

I used escrow.com for two of my out of state car purchases and both worked out ok.

allinon72 · 07-27-2018, 09:36 PM

Went to my credit union and wired the money. Penske isn't going to steal your money, they are one of the largest dealership networks in the country.

HMM · 07-27-2018, 10:00 PM

I opened a Bank of America account when I bought my truck out of state. I deposited the cash in on Thursday, flew out there Friday morning (TN to TX) and had them give the guy payment. He wanted all cash instead of a check. I was nervous as could be walking 2 blocks with that much cash but he didn't bat an eye when we left the bank. Only way BOA would let me access it the next day out of state was to deposit cash otherwise I would have had to wait a week for a check to clear. They were nice enough to let us use an office to do the bill of sale paperwork.

I never could buy without laying hands on the car first. It was a long 13 hour drive home but I was happy. Good luck with your purchase!

allinon72 · 07-27-2018, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMM

I opened a Bank of America account when I bought my truck out of state. I deposited the cash in on Thursday, flew out there Friday morning (TN to TX) and had them give the guy payment. He wanted all cash instead of a check. I was nervous as could be walking 2 blocks with that much cash but he didn't bat an eye when we left the bank. Only way BOA would let me access it the next day out of state was to deposit cash otherwise I would have had to wait a week for a check to clear. They were nice enough to let us use an office to do the bill of sale paperwork.

I never could buy without laying hands on the car first. It was a long 13 hour drive home but I was happy. Good luck with your purchase!

An insistence on cash is unusual to say the least.

Monteblueem5 · 07-27-2018, 10:56 PM

I did the same had all the paper work sent to me

austinm4x · 07-28-2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monteblueem5

I did the same had all the paper work sent to me

You pay before or after the paperwork? They are looking to have me wire to their account before the paperwork comes Fedex to meet end of the month goal or something of the sort. They are a certified BMW dealer so I suppose I'm just being paranoid, but it sounds a little sketchy.

gary_william · 07-28-2018, 12:30 PM

No paperwork, at least electronically, no money.

stbm5 · 07-28-2018, 02:06 PM

wire transfers are very safe. it would be a federal crime to accept the money then not deliver the property. aka "wire fraud"

you could always do some type of escrow deal. but using a dealership seems very safe to me.

m3jala · 07-28-2018, 04:40 PM

Check out the background of the person, get to know the person (ask about the car, etc), do a PPI with a dealer, write a contract, wire the funds. That's how I did it when I purchased my out of state vehicle.

austinm4x · 07-28-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3jala

Check out the background of the person, get to know the person (ask about the car, etc), do a PPI with a dealer, write a contract, wire the funds. That's how I did it when I purchased my out of state vehicle.

Yup. I have done thorough background checks (it's a BMW dealer under Penske automotive). 3rd party PPI coming on Monday.

When you say write a contract, they write one and submit it to me? It would be nice to see a contract that says exactly what I'm purchasing. I've never done this out of state before. Thank you

m3jala · 07-28-2018, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinm4x

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3jala

Check out the background of the person, get to know the person (ask about the car, etc), do a PPI with a dealer, write a contract, wire the funds. That's how I did it when I purchased my out of state vehicle.

Yup. I have done thorough background checks (it's a BMW dealer under Penske automotive). 3rd party PPI coming on Monday.

When you say write a contract, they write one and submit it to me? It would be nice to see a contract that says exactly what I'm purchasing. I've never done this out of state before. Thank you

Got it. My recommendation was for a private party sale which is what I dealt with. With a dealer I'd check out their yelp reputation and get a third party PPI as you already doing. If you are sending money in advance to getting the car there needs to be a contract which if they are a dealer in my mind they should provide (and you read and agree). Common sense stuff that all makes sense after you go through it. Are you planning to pick up the car in person? If you are maybe you can do a deposit to reserve the car and then just pay when you show after you get the results of the PPI.

Waoudi · 07-28-2018, 07:07 PM

So my paperwork arrived today with a return envelope and I included a personal check for the car. I offered to wire the money but they said to just send a personal check or money order. It's not a large dealership like Penske. They did send me my own copy and I got the carbon copies of what I signed.

SteveinArizona · 07-29-2018, 09:06 AM

I have bought two BMWs from a Penske dealership and they have been very good to work with. I had problems with my first one and they helped me deal with BMW corporate.

Mike 1 · 07-29-2018, 09:31 AM

I'm also in PA. I bought mine in NC. I opened a checking account at PNC. Flew out checked out the car at a BMW shop. Went to PNC,made a transfer with the notary and done.(seller also had an account at PNC).Drove it back,best trip I've had yet.Don't know if this helps,but should be easier with a dealer.

07-27-2018, 08:30 PM	#1
austinm4x Enlisted Member 19 Rep 37 Posts Drives: M4 ZCP Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Safest way to pay for an out of state vehicle? Hey everyone and thank you for your time. My search is nearly over. I found my dream car, I'm getting a 3rd party PPI on Monday, and I'll be ready to make the purchase. I am working with a certified BMW dealer under the Penske Automotive Group. They are recommending (but not forcefully) that I do a wire transfer. They also said I could overnight a cashier's check. Do either of these methods provide me with any type of insurance if the car was to never show up? I understand this is a certified BMW dealer, but obviously the thought has to run through my mind with such an amount of money. Please let me know what the best way to proceed would be. Thank you.
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07-27-2018, 08:35 PM	#2
Thescout13 Brigadier General 4995 Rep 4,980 Posts Drives: '20 F80 M3CS, %E2%80%9818 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: California iTrader: (0)	As long as you have a contract you should be fine. __________________ Wife's Car: 2020 X4M Competition, Alpine White on Black Alcantara and Biege Current Car: 2018 F80 M3CS, SMB, DCT, ZEC, MPE Recently Departed: 2020 F87 M2C, LBB, ZEC, 6MT (Euro Delivery Aug. 29, 2019, totaled by an idiot in a Camry who then ran from the scene) Wife's Prior Car: 2018 F80 M3, Yas Marina Blue, DCT, Black 19s, Carbon Structure Anthracite Cloth/Leather Combination, Driving Assistance Package (Euro Delivery Oct. 9, 2017)
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07-27-2018, 08:48 PM	#4
Waoudi Private First Class 25 Rep 194 Posts Drives: '17 X5 MSport, '16 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	I'm doing the same thing except I'm paying via personal check and they are fedexing me all the paperwork with a return label and then shipping the car. How are you finalIzing the sale? Won't you have the paperwork with the VIN number on it first?
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07-27-2018, 09:20 PM	#7
elinstylez Captain 270 Rep 604 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	I used escrow.com for two of my out of state car purchases and both worked out ok.
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07-27-2018, 09:36 PM	#8
allinon72 Brigadier General 5077 Rep 3,849 Posts Drives: 20' M2C, 23' X1 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (3)	Went to my credit union and wired the money. Penske isn't going to steal your money, they are one of the largest dealership networks in the country.
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07-27-2018, 10:00 PM	#9
HMM Private 38 Rep 92 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	I opened a Bank of America account when I bought my truck out of state. I deposited the cash in on Thursday, flew out there Friday morning (TN to TX) and had them give the guy payment. He wanted all cash instead of a check. I was nervous as could be walking 2 blocks with that much cash but he didn't bat an eye when we left the bank. Only way BOA would let me access it the next day out of state was to deposit cash otherwise I would have had to wait a week for a check to clear. They were nice enough to let us use an office to do the bill of sale paperwork. I never could buy without laying hands on the car first. It was a long 13 hour drive home but I was happy. Good luck with your purchase!
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07-27-2018, 10:56 PM	#11
Monteblueem5 Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 284 Posts Drives: 13 m5 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Brooklyn ny iTrader: (0)	I did the same had all the paper work sent to me
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07-28-2018, 12:30 PM	#13
gary_william Private First Class 332 Rep 169 Posts Drives: 2013 128i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Vancouver, WA iTrader: (0)	No paperwork, at least electronically, no money.
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07-28-2018, 02:06 PM	#14
stbm5 Captain 444 Rep 690 Posts Drives: 2018 M5 DG Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: 72211 iTrader: (0)	wire transfers are very safe. it would be a federal crime to accept the money then not deliver the property. aka "wire fraud" you could always do some type of escrow deal. but using a dealership seems very safe to me.
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07-28-2018, 04:40 PM	#15
m3jala Captain 546 Rep 765 Posts Drives: Jet Black 2013 BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Tysons Corner, VA iTrader: (0)	Check out the background of the person, get to know the person (ask about the car, etc), do a PPI with a dealer, write a contract, wire the funds. That's how I did it when I purchased my out of state vehicle.
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07-28-2018, 07:07 PM	#18
Waoudi Private First Class 25 Rep 194 Posts Drives: '17 X5 MSport, '16 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	So my paperwork arrived today with a return envelope and I included a personal check for the car. I offered to wire the money but they said to just send a personal check or money order. It's not a large dealership like Penske. They did send me my own copy and I got the carbon copies of what I signed.
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07-29-2018, 09:06 AM	#19
SteveinArizona Brigadier General 3102 Rep 4,210 Posts Drives: BMW 530e Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Greater Phoenix iTrader: (0)	I have bought two BMWs from a Penske dealership and they have been very good to work with. I had problems with my first one and they helped me deal with BMW corporate.
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07-29-2018, 09:31 AM	#20
Mike 1 Private 5 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4MR Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Erie, Pa iTrader: (0)	I'm also in PA. I bought mine in NC. I opened a checking account at PNC. Flew out checked out the car at a BMW shop. Went to PNC,made a transfer with the notary and done.(seller also had an account at PNC).Drove it back,best trip I've had yet.Don't know if this helps,but should be easier with a dealer.
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