Buying a collector car online can differ from buying a car at a live auction. Several simple steps can help ensure you have a positive experience purchasing your dream car.

Decide how much you want to spend on a collector car: Deciding how much to spend on a collector car is probably the most important rule of all. If you put more into a car than you can really afford, you'll end up spending your time thinking about how to sell it and get your money back rather than driving and enjoying it. When you put together your budget, include transportation costs plus another 10% of the final price to fix the little things that you’ll discover need fixing (there will always be little things).
Know when to spend more on a collector car: Prepare to spend a little more than some price guides might recommend if a car has special features that appeal to you. Preferable colors, engine options, or an especially nice restoration can all factor into a higher price. Also, if a car is geographically close to you, factor the amount you save on shipping into your bid.
Make sure you can fit into the collector car: In general, people are bigger now than they were in the 1950s and ’60s, and you might find you're just too tall (or too wide) for some classics, especially European sports cars. For example, if you stand more than 5'10" tall, your head will rub against the Targa top of any Ferrari 308 or Ferrari 328.
Research a collector car before you bid or buy: Do your homework before placing a bid or buying a collector car, especially with American muscle cars. Making sure the car has its correct engine and transmission (and the paperwork to back it up) can make a huge difference in price. It takes some time to research VINs and engine numbers, but the information is out there. The collector car seller should be able to provide you with the engine number. If they can't, consider a different seller or car.
Find a collector car seller you trust: Sellers should answer your questions quickly and fully and provide additional pictures when asked. For example, if a car has a rebuilt engine, the seller should be able to tell you who rebuilt it and provide available receipts. If a seller seems vague or doesn't respond in a timely manner, keep searching. There's always another car. To feel more secure, you can also contact other eBay Buyers who purchased a car from the seller (view the seller's Feedback from buyers and use the Contact Member feature in their Member Profiles). Get any information these references can provide. Ask how the seller represented other cars and if the descriptions turned out to be accurate when the car was delivered. Establishing phone contact with the seller can also help you get a sense of his or her character. When you decide to do business, keep a record of any email dialog you have with a seller so that you have something to reference in case you find a discrepancy between what you paid for and what you receive.
From the start, remember to look into buying the car you really want. Buying a collector car successfully requires a partnership between your heart and your head, with your heart picking the car, and your head making sure it's a good one. If either of these partners raises a red flag, keep searching until you find a collector car that satisfies both.