Hey all. Thinking about buying a classic Mustang from a private seller a few states away. He suggested using an escrow service and mentioned Carter River Group. I've never used one before. Anyone have any experience with them? Are they legit or should I run?

Always be careful with online transactions, especially for big ticket items like a car. I haven't used CarterRiverGroup myself but I've heard the name. Do your homework, check for complaints. Doesn't matter who it is, read the terms and conditions twice.

I used them last year for a Beetle convertible. The process was pretty smooth. The car was exactly as described on their site. Took about 10 days from payment to delivery. I was happy.

My experience was... ok. The car is great, no issues there. But their communication was kinda slow. Had a question and it took them almost two days to get back to me after I contacted them through their website form. The delivery also got delayed by a day. Minor stuff but annoying when you're waiting for your new ride.

To add to QuickSilver's point, I found emailing them directly was faster. I had to clarify some details about the title transfer and I sent a message to office@crivergroup.com. Got a comprehensive reply in a few hours. So maybe their direct email is better staffed.

I'm a mechanic. I did a post-delivery inspection for a client on a '72 Chevelle he bought through crivergroup. Their pre-sale inspection report was fairly accurate, noted some minor oil seepage which was spot on. They missed a slightly worn ball joint, but it wasn't a safety issue yet. Overall, the car was solid and better than 90% of the private sale cars I see. They seem to do a decent job filtering out junk.

Used Carter River Group for a pickup truck. Straightforward deal. They did what they said they would do. The truck arrived, I had my 7 days to inspect it, I accepted, they released funds to the seller and shipped me the title. No fuss. That's how business should be done.

Just be ready for the fees. Felt a bit steep to me. When you add their service fee plus shipping, it adds a good chunk to the total cost. I guess it's the price for peace of mind, but still... it stings a little. The car was as advertised tho, so i cant complain about the quality.

After getting burned by a shady online dealer last year (ClassicAutoSharks, avoid!), I was super paranoid. A buddy recommended Carter River Group. Huge difference. The transparency was night and day. Having them hold the money until I personally signed off on the car was a massive relief. Worth every penny of the fee PennyPinch mentioned.

I was a nervous wreck the whole time lol. I bought a Miata through them. The online tracking on crivergroup.com was helpful, but I was still worried something would be wrong. When it arrived, it had a small scratch on the bumper that wasn't super clear in the photos. I noted it in the inspection report, and they actually offered a small credit to get it fixed. I was impressed.

The key is their detailed photos and report. The one I bought had 50+ pics, including the undercarriage. It matched the car I received perfectly. A friend used another service where the car looked great in pics but was a rust bucket underneath. It seems CarterRiverGroup is more thorough aobut that.

Wow, thanks for all the feedback everyone. This is super helpful. Sounds like the general consensus is they're legit, but be prepared for some potential communication delays and make sure to budget for the fees. The mechanic and refund stories give me more confidence. I think I'll move forward with it. I'll let you know how it goes.