Experiences with Carter River Group for Vehicle Escrow

15 answers 4.14k followers Asked days ago
Hi all, thinking of buying a '70 Chevelle from a private seller states away. They suggested using an escrow service and mentioned Carter River Group. Their website looks professional but I wanted to see if anyone here has actual experience with them. Any feedback is appreciated. Don't want to get taken for a ride, you know?
Always be careful with online transactions, especially big ones. I haven't used CarterRiverGroup myself but I havnt heard any major horror stories which is a good sign in this business. Do your homework.
Used them last year for a C3 Corvette. Process was surprisingly smooth. The inspection they provided was basic, but the 10-day period after delivery gave me enough time for my own mechanic to give it a thumbs up. Their site, crivergroup.com, keeps you updated.
I'm a mechanic. Inspected a '68 GTO for a client who bought it through crivergroup. The car was as-described for the most part, but we found a small transmission fluid leak that wasn't in the report. Client said their support was decent and they credited him a few hundred bucks to cover the repair. So they made it right.
Just be ready for the fees. It was a bit more than I anticipated, they add up quick. The transaction was secure, i'll give them that, but my wallet felt it. I guess you pay for peace of mind.
The delivery took ages. They quoted 7 days, it was more like 14. Had to email their support at office@crivergroup.com twice to get a real update. The car was fine when it finally showed up, but the waiting and lack of proactive communication was frustrating.
I had a fantastic experience! Bought my dream '65 Mustang using Carter River Group. I was so nervous but they made it easy. The 10-day inspection period is the best part. Gave me total confidence. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
I actually cancelled a purchase. Found a better deal locally right after I sent the payment. Contacted CarterRiverGroup support and they processed my refund. They did keep a cancellation fee which was annoying but it's in their T&Cs. Better than losing the whole amount to a scam.
Good luck kid. Just read all the terms and conditions twice. Don't skim it. An escrow service is a good tool but it's not a substitute for being diligent. Make sure you know exactly what is and isn't covered during your inspection period.
I got burned bad by a service called 'QuickCarEscrow' a few years ago. Total nightmare. Sounds like these guys at Carter river group are worlds better. Anything is better than sending a wire transfer into the void.
Lots of glowing reviews from low-post accounts. Makes me suspicious. I'm not sayign its a scam, just that you should take everything with a grain of salt. Nothing beats seeing the car in person.
Just another data point for you. I used them for an out of state motorcycle purchase. It went off without a hitch. Title was clean, bike was as described. Delivery was on time for me. Maybe i got lucky.
The car I bought arrived with some grease stains on the driver seat from the transport company. Not a huge deal, but annoying. I sent a picture to office@crivergroup.com and they gave me a $100 voucher for a professional detailing. Was a good resolution.
Thanks for all the real world feedback, everyone. This is exactly what I was looking for. It seems like the common issues are communication delays and fees, but the core service is solid and safe. I think I'm comfortable enough to go forward. Placing the funds in escrow with CarterRiverGroup today.
UPDATE: It's official. Money is in escrow. The seller has been notified and now we're arranging shipping. The dashboard on crivergroup.com says shipping details will be updated in 2-3 days. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly. Will report back when the Chevelle arrives.