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There are two primary purposes for using an escrow company. The first is to assure that the seller actually owns what is being sold and that the buyer becomes the legal owner after the transaction. The second is to assure that the seller gets paid in negotiable funds as per the agreement. In most cases when buying a used antique, vintage or classic car this is not a problem because in most cases the vehicle is sold "as is" in person and the seller usually insists on cash. However if it is a valuable vehicle involving another form of payment and/or at a distant location it is always wise to use an escrow company to assure there are no surprises.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette

1957 Chevrolet Corvette

There are many general escrow companies in the country and some that provide real estate escrow services might also handle vehicles. For handling the basic escrow service of assuring title and funds those companies would be fine. However, if you need assistance with other related tasks such as inspecting, insuring and shipping you might have better luck with a company that specializes in antique, vintage and/or classic cars. They may not be able or willing to get involved in those extra services but they will probably be knowledgable about them and be able to give you advice or recommendations. To find an escrow company you can search the Internet using the key words "vehicle escrow" and include your zip code, city or state to limit it to local companies. I used Escrow.com for the last vehicle I bought and could not be happer with their procedure and helpful service.

1. Here's how escrow companies work:


2. If problems occur with escrow:

Appraising, escrow and insurance are all part of vehicle financing and you will find more information about those services in our Reference Library. The library also has guides for finding, buying and selling antique, vintage and classic vehicles. And you will find even more resources for professional escrow services in our Business Directory.