At autoTRADER, we are here to serve our customers. With the health and safety of our customers a top priority, we urge that interactions remain online and postpone non-essential transactions between private buyers and sellers in light of the developments of COVID-19.
Escrow.com is the recommended payment system online where users can buy and sell vehicles securely and safely. It also protects and verify funds during the transaction process.
Secure Payment is a five-step process. It protects the seller by verifying funds and protects the buyer by allowing inspection of the vehicle before funds are disbursed.
Escrow.com takes several steps to protect both the buyer and seller against fraud:
It depends upon:
Although we offer telephone and email support, the safest way to check the status of your transaction is to sign into Escrow.com. After signing in, you can access your transaction summary page where you can view the progress of all your active Escrow.com transactions.
Your funds remain in an Escrow.com secured escrow non-interest bearing trust account until the transaction concludes.
Escrow.com may release funds to the seller after the inspection period has ended. The inspection period is agreed upon by both parties and begins when the buyer confirms receipt of the vehicle or Escrow.com confirms delivery of merchandise.
In the event the inspection period expires without the buyer accepting or rejecting the vehicle, a 24-hour notice will be sent to the buyer. Funds are released to the seller the same or next business day after successful completion of a transaction and upon verification by Escrow.com.
Typically, funds are disbursed the same or next business day following the completion of the transaction.
When a buyer uses a credit card or PayPal for payment, there is a three-business day hold before funds reach Escrow.com trust account and can be sent to the seller. This is a requirement with Escrow.com license since the buyer's funds must be in the escrow account before being released.
If you would like to get in touch with the autoTRAER.ca team, please email Customer Service at contactus@trader.ca or use the contact form online.
Wire transfers are processed when received into the Escrow.com trust account. International wires typically take three to five business days to reach an Escrow.com account.
Credit card and PayPal payments are processed the same or next business day.
Escrow.com only processes payments during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 11:00pm (PDT/PST).
Both the buyer and seller pay fees to Escrow.com. Check out our fee calculator to find out more.
Prior to the agreement of terms by both parties, the buyer or seller can cancel the transaction by clicking the cancel button on the transaction detail screen on Escrow.com.
After both parties have confirmed transaction details in the Agreement phase, either party may cancel the transaction, only if Escrow.com has not received the buyer's funds, by sending an email request to support@escrow.com. After funds are secured, the cancellation of a transaction can only be done by Escrow.com after notifying both parties.
Changes can be made on the transaction detail screen after signing into Escrow.com only when the status is waiting for the buyer or seller o agree.
If you are waiting for the other party to agree, only that party has access to the "modify" button. Once both parties have agreed to the terms, they must email their change requests to support@escrow.com. Changes after the terms have been agreed to must have the consent of both the buyer and the seller; and cannot supersede our general escrow instructions.
Arrangements can be made to accept funds from financing institutions. Please verify with the financing institution whether payment can be made to a third party such as Escrow.com before beginning the transaction.
Definitely. You and your transaction are protected every step of the process, thanks to the Escrow.com stringent logging, tracking, and verification procedures.
Yes. Even though there have been widespread reports of Internet fraud in the past few years, the reports attribute most of the fraud to card information stolen the old-fashioned way: by telemarketers, from mailboxes, and at places of purchase, such as restaurants and stores. In most cases, credit card information used on websites is seen by fewer eyes than the same information used at your local restaurant, thus fraud occurs less between a legitimate consumer and a merchant.
