The popularity of online auction sites – most specifically eBay – has risen in recent years as people begin to use the Internet to find low-cost alternatives to expensive purchases. Once upon a time, buying much-needed equipment necessitated a trip to the shops, where choice was often greatly limited and the end result was that the shopper had to pay a premium for a much-needed item.

It is hard to say now, but when eBay really took off a few years ago there cannot have been many who would have imagined that it would be used so regularly and as freely as it is to sell cars. Nonetheless, there are plenty of people who are happy to put their cars up for auction on the Internet – saving on commission as they do so – and just as many who are keen to buy this way. But there are some legitimate concerns you should take into account if you are planning to buy a car in this way.

EBay gives you the capability to ask the seller questions about the item for sale. By posing the right questions, you can learn a lot about the car and the seller. You should always request the right to see and test drive the car before parting with your money – a car that looks splendid from the outside can have internal defects that you had no way of foreseeing. It is important in this respect to make sure all of your questions are answered before you buy a car on eBay – but there is no need to assume that the seller is disreputable. The likelihood is that they just want to sell a car their way.