Hi all. Looking at buying a '72 Corvette from a private seller across the country. He insists on using an escrow service and suggested Carter River Group. I've never used an escrow for a car before. Anyone have any experience with them? Good, bad, ugly? Want to make sure my money is safe.

Be careful with any online deal. Escrow or not. I've heard stories. Doesn't mean they're bad but you gotta do your homework on any company, not just CarterRiverGroup.

I used them last year for a Miata. The whole process was smooth. Their website crivergroup.com lays out all the steps, and the inspection period after delivery is key. The car arrived exactly as described. I'd use them again for sure.

I'm a mechanic. A customer brought in a classic Mustang he bought through crivergroup. The pre-sale inspection report they provided was surprisingly accurate. Pointed out minor oil weep and some wear on the bushings which I confirmed on my lift. They didn't try to hide anything. Impressive.

My experience was... ok. The car was great, but delivery was delayed twice. They said it was a logistics issue. Communication was a bit slow, had to email support at office@crivergroup.com a couple of times to get an update. Got the car in the end and it was fine, but the waiting was stressful.

just be aware of the fees. they are all listed on their site but it added about 4% to my total cost. i guess its the price for security when your buying a car sight unseen. its better than losing the whole amount to a scammer i suppose.

Solid company. Used Carter River Group for my '69 GTO. The peace of mind was worth every penny. The seller gets confidence you're a real buyer, and you know the car is real and your money is protected. Win-win.

I actually had to reject a car. It had some undisclosed rust damage I found during the 10-day inspection period. I was worried it would be a huge fight, but they handled it professionally. CarterRiverGroup arranged for the car to be picked up and processed my refund. It took about a week to get the money back. Disappointed about the car, but not with the service.

bought my Bronco through them. fantastic experience. the photos and description were detailed and accurate. delivery was on time. no complants here.

So what's the verdict, VintageVetteMan? Did you pull the trigger?

Hey everyone, thanks for all the input. Based on the positive feedback, especially from the mechanic and the guy who got a refund, I'm going forward with it. Seems like Carter River Group is a safe bet, even if there might be a small risk of delivery delays. I've started the process on their website. Wish me luck!