How to buy used cars for sale by owners online? Here are some Online Vehicle Buying Tips:

• Review seller's selling history and buyers' feedback. This is the best indicator that you could rely on before you bid on the item.
• Always choose local sellers if possible. There is a cost associated with shipping the vehicle across the country. Make sure either you or the seller could arrange the shipping if you do choose buy from seller from other locations. Buying locally should also benefit you to actually see the vehicle before you pay the full amount in case of of any SNAD (Significantly Not As Described). This should also drastically reduce online fraud and make sure you are are getting a vehicle that's in the satisfactory condition.
• Use online vehicle history report. All listings newer than 1981 listed on this website have vehicle report, powered by AutoCheck. Keep in mind those reports might not be 100% accurate as some newer incident might not be recorded yet.
• Be careful when you wire money to the sellers. In normal cases, you only need to wire the initial couple of hundred dollars as deposit. Always send money to sellers through PayPal, as it will be protected by eBay's buyer protection policy. Never wire money to sellers through credit union or money order.

Good luck and happy hunting...