This thread is to educate people on how they can order vehicles themselves without involving a third party, who may likely escape with your hard earned money.

This is strictly a guide and requires that you pay attention to detail.

I started ordering vehicle myself in 2009 when I saw a Chevrolet express van on eBay. The transaction was successful and I never looked back. I have ordered both high end and low end cars. Ordering vehicle is something you can do yourself with extra-caution.

The first step is identifying the type of vehicle you want to buy, either cars with minor/major (salvage) accidents or with a clear title. This will inform your choice of dealers or site to visit for your purchase.

Following is finding trusted dealers that will not disappear with your money. This is where people get skeptical but it is easy and difficult at the same time depending on your person. www.cars.com is one of the biggest website where you can find pool of dealerships across the USA. The site has review for every dealer registered on it.

For starters, www.cars.com or eBay (auto) section are two sites you can deal with to prevent loss of your money. eBay has a refund policy in case of fraud if you complete your transaction on the site while cars.com has reviews for dealers and you can make your choice based on reviews you read.

Once you settle for the site to use, locate dealers that are not far from city with seaports like New Jersey/New York, Maryland, Atlanta, Florida etc. Don't make mistake of buying in the West Coast as California law does not allow for shipping of vehicles on Ro-Ro vessels. The best bet is buying in the East coast (North-South)

When you see a vehicle that you like and you have read the reviews of the dealer to be satisfied, go to the dealer's website to get the sales department contact number or send an email to make enquiry about the vehicle. The listed price most times are without some other fees like dealer fees, documentation fee etc. FOr out of state buyer, you don't pay tax on your purchase. Irrespective of the price quoted, it is subject to negotiation.

Once agreement is reached, he will email you documents to sign and will ask for deposit on the car prior to wiring the full amount. Deposit will be charged on your card to put the car on hold.

You can either ask the dealer to organise inland transport to the port for shipping or contact truckers. There are many site you can get that done. For sea shipping, you can use google to search for shipping agents and compare price or you contact a popular shipper here on Nairaland.

The process is easy, exciting and full of fun to do it yourself. SInce I have been ordering, I have never been sold a bad vehicle neither have I lost money. I have bought cars as high as $85k and as low as $1200.


Drop any question you have and I will gladly answer it.

Well done Bellong,

Following

This is interesting menh....

how do u clear the vehicle in Nigeria

trendphemmy:
how do u clear the vehicle in Nigeria

Very good one. I guess people are just too lazy to do the research themselves. If you would throw your money at something at least know the person is legit or you go the hard and sweet way of doing it yourself.


As for your question. Your shipper does the clearing. All you have to do is search for the car you want, buy it, pay for the charges to get to your shipper. You can sit back an allow your shipping company do the clearing. You would just have to pay them for the expenses.


Edit. Note the bolded. I was wrong. There is a clarification below.

trendphemmy:
how do u clear the vehicle in Nigeria

There are so many genuine clearing agents around that you can use. You can compare prices to pick your choice.

I met the first clearing agent I used on referral. I guess there are many on this board people have been using without any complain.

Hi Bellong

Do you have any tips for buying from mobile.de?

@Skyfall,

I guess that should be a German website. I am not conversant with buying from Europe.

correct thread. been dey research on how to buy cars in japan n usa. which one is more cheaper, buying from usa or japan

I have not bought from Japan before so I can't say which is cheaper.

bellong:
I have not bought from Japan before so I can't say which is cheaper.

how do you avoid being scammed on cars.com? Are there any security measures in place or you just your decisions on the reviews you read? If yes, don't people buyer reviews to influence decisions these days? What about a form Escrow payment to help secure buyer and seller, anyone available?

I888:
how do you avoid being scammed on cars.com? Are there any security measures in place or you just your decisions on the reviews you read? If yes, don't people buyer reviews to influence decisions these days? What about a form Escrow payment to help secure buyer and seller, anyone available?

There are several factors to consider in choosing a good dealer, the reviews is only one of them.

However, the reviews serve as an indication of the type of dealer you want to deal with. I understand some dealers pay people to review them but you can easily identify those paid to make a review. In addition, a dealer with hundreds of review show that it is real.

Then the website with detailed information and also better business bureau registration are other things you check.

In addition, I check the detailed history of the car I want, most have information of the current dealer who put it for sale.
Most times, I prefer buying from big dealers than car sellers.

For payment, you can suggest payment by PayPal, some accept it but I have only used PayPal to pay once. I use telegraphic transfer and I have never been scammed.

I talk to dealers on phone before closing a deal as I get to ask many questions. The aftermath of the discussion always determines my decision.

bellong:


There are several factors to consider in choosing a good dealer, the reviews is only one of them.

However, the reviews serve as an indication of the type of dealer you want to deal with. I understand some dealers pay people to review them but you can easily identify those paid to make a review. In addition, a dealer with hundreds of review show that it is real.

Then the website with detailed information and also better business bureau registration are other things you check.

In addition, I check the detailed history of the car I want, most have information of the current dealer who put it for sale.
Most times, I prefer buying from big dealers than car sellers.

For payment, you can suggest payment by PayPal, some accept it but I have only used PayPal to pay once. I use telegraphic transfer and I have never been scammed.

I talk to dealers on phone before closing a deal as I get to ask many questions. The aftermath of the discussion always determines my decision.

WOW... Thanks so much. I do find it awkward though... I mean just send money like that with no middle body to ensure nothing goes wrong. But I get your point all the same. You also pay the seller shipping money to help you ship the car, right or do you have another different entity that handles that?

In your experience, does doing it yourself makes the whole process cheaper? I guess so but when compared to cars coming into or from Cotonou, which is cheaper or are they same prices as those sold at Cotonou ?

Thanks for taking your time out to explain this process.

I888:


WOW... Thanks so much. I do find it awkward though... I mean just send money like that with no middle body to ensure nothing goes wrong. But I get your point all the same. You also pay the seller shipping money to help you ship the car, right or do you have another different entity that handles that?

In your experience, does doing it yourself makes the whole process cheaper? I guess so but when compared to cars coming into or from Cotonou, which is cheaper or are they same prices as those sold at Cotonou ?

Thanks for taking your time out to explain this process.

I have a shipping company that handles both the inland and ocean shipping.

It is not only about being cheap but buying with confidence. You have the detailed history of the vehicle you are purchasing. Most of the cars in Cotonou are salvage/lemon cars repaired by those importers. That is why you can get it cheaper. Some are not repaired well which creates constant issues for the innocent buyers.

I have never had issue with any of the cars bought and I really do get good deals.

bellong:


I have a shipping company that handles both the inland and ocean shipping.

It is not only about being cheap but buying with confidence. You have the detailed history of the vehicle you are purchasing. Most of the cars in Cotonou are salvage/lemon cars repaired by those importers. That is why you can get it cheaper. Some are not repaired well which creates constant issues for the innocent buyers.

I have never had issue with any of the cars bought and I really do get good deals.

hmmm... interesting to know. Thanks so much!

I888:
hmmm... interesting to know. Thanks so much!

Welcome bro

Hi,

Good job with the thread.

I am looking for somebody with one or two cars in Texas that they want to ship so we can consolidate together in one container, I have two vehicles on ground and may add one more this week.

Will you or anyone you know be interested so we can load up with other items?

Thanks

I don't really like shipping from Galveston because of the clearing cost in Lagos. Where they dock in Lagos attracts higher clearing cost despite its same custom. The craziness of Nigeria's peculiar situation.

However, if I see someone who has shipment in Texas, I will let you know.

Hihi

would you recommend auction export?

Nice.
Is this still possible considering the present economic situation?

kenawo:
Hihi

would you recommend auction export?

Auction export is not totally bad. However, most of their displayed vehicles are salvage.

The company is only an auction broker not a dealer in real sense.



@dljbd1,

Nothing is impossible as long as you have your money to pay.

What is your recommended number of reviews per seller/dealer that will determine whether to contact them or not?

2sexynet:
What is your recommended number of reviews per seller/dealer that will determine whether to contact them or not?

There is no rule of thumb on the number of reviews needed. However, for caution sake, I take between 30 - 50 as minimum and with at least 4.8/5 star rating.

Hello. I just came across your thread and its very educative enough.however what shipping line do you use mostly and you can recommend cos their clearing fee differs I use grimardi and sallum lines but their fees are higher nowadays.
What website do you use to check the vin history of the cars before you buy them from cars.com

classichsy:
Hello. I just came across your thread and its very educative enough.however what shipping line do you use mostly and you can recommend cos their clearing fee differs I use grimardi and sallum lines but their fees are higher nowadays.
What website do you use to check the vin history of the cars before you buy them from cars.com

The two shipping company you listed are actually about the cheapest. The clearing fee depends on where the ship berths. It is cheaper to clear in Tin can than Apapa port, I don't know why it is like that. Nigerian factor, I guess.

I use Carfax, it is a paid service, pay dealer fee and you can get quite a number of checks. Sometimes, I asked the dealer to supply the car history before entering a negotiation.

Ohk. Do you have your office in lagos and where? I did like to stop by your office before wkend to enquire more information from you which is beyond typing on here.
I look forward to the address.

bellong:


The two shipping company you listed are actually about the cheapest. The clearing fee depends on where the ship berths. It is cheaper to clear in Tin can than Apapa port, I don't know why it is like that. Nigerian factor, I guess.

I use Carfax, it is a paid service, pay dealer fee and you can get quite a number of checks. Sometimes, I asked the dealer to supply the car history before entering a negotiation.

classichsy:
Ohk. Do you have your office in lagos and where? I did like to stop by your office before wkend to enquire more information from you which is beyond typing on here.
I look forward to the address.

You can send me a PM.

bellong:


You can send me a PM.

I think it would benefit all if the questions are asked here. Imagine everyone taking their questions offline: I am sure this thread wouldn't be as educative as classichsy described it.

Just my thought!

I have a question. The images here is a car found on a classified site, a reputable one where transactions take place face to face after you indicate interest. That is you meet the seller and conclude. The car is Nissan Maxima 2006 and I love it.

Well it is in Los Angeles and I am complete green hand when it comes to cars/shipping, so my question goes thus.

This car cost just $1544 which I believe I can afford should I work hard to earn some dollars.

which port is closest to Los Angeles and how much will it cost me to tow it there?

how much will it likely cost me ship from the port to Nigeria?

How much will it cost me to clear it in Nigeria?

Sorry, if I ask too much.

^^^^ It is not economically reasonable to buy cars in California because the state does not permit RoRo shipping of vehicles. To ship cars from California, you have to put in a container. Except you buy four cars, and pay for a full container, one car will be expensive.

Find the same car in states like Florida, New York, Maryland.. in short the Eastern coast.

What killed this thread Belong?
Good morning

uchman:
What killed this thread Belong?
Good morning

Exchange rate..