Wow! What a bunch of questions! You do need answers, and fast! First of all, it is hard if not impossible to cancel a money order or a cashiers check. Your own personal check, or a credit card purchase gives you the right to cancel on the first part, and the credit card you want to use has provisions or 'insurance' that you will not be ripped off. You will have no guarantee that youwill get the Title if the seller agrees to that arrangement. It is a matter of trust, and that is difficult if you do not know the person. One way is to find a broker to handle the details for you at the seller's location. Not as hard as one might think. Usually, a person knows a Notary in his area, a person that could handle the title paperwork. Best solution: If I were planning to make a large purchase on something I had never seen besides in pictures, let alone ever put my hands or driven, then I would drive there or book a flight and go in person(naturally). I have horror stories on things like cars that I bought on Ebay, based upon the pictures, and I was ripped off badly. I agreed to buy it, and felt morally obligated to see my portion of the deal followed to the letter. On the other side of the coin, I have sold things(I thought) only tohave the 'buyer' reneg on the deal, and I reallydidn't have a leg to stand on to make that person follow through. We are not children here, we are not innocent, and we know that trust is so important in so many things in life. To trust a stranger is folly! Get your ducks in a row, ask for others to help you, make sure what you are buying. If you have monet y to burn, forget about everything above;, and roll the dice. ----- Original Message ----- From: <dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 10:10 AM Subject: IML: buying a car long distance > Hi all. I have a question. What is the best way to buy a car from long > distance. You want to make sure you get the title, and you don't want for the > seller to get your money order w/out selling you the car. So, I suggested him > that I send the money orders and he sends the signed title simultaneously. > This way, if I get no title I cancel the money orders while if he gets no > payment, he does not allow the car to be transported. Do you guys have a > better way to do this? > > Thanks > > D^2 > > > >