Carter River Group

Hi everyone. I'm looking at buying a '68 Charger from a seller across the country. I can't go see it in person. The seller insists on using an escrow service called Carter River Group. I've never heard of them. Are they legit? Worried about getting a car that's not as described.

They've been around. An escrow service is the right way to do a long-distance purchase. Just make sure you read their inspection report carefully and plan on getting your OWN mechanic to look at it the second it gets off the truck. That 10-day inspection period they offer is your best friend.

I used them last year to buy a pickup. The process was really smooth and I felt secure the whole time. The car was exactly as promised. a+ experience

All these escrow companies are the same. They charge an arm and a leg in fees. You could probably fly out there yourself for less.

I used CarterRiverGroup. My delivery was 4 days late which was a huge pain as I took time off work. Their customer service was apologetic but couldn't do much. That said, the jeep was in fantastic condition. You can track everything on crivergroup.com which is handy.

I agree with Riley. The wait can be frustrating but knowing your money is safe is worth the peace of mind. For a '68 Charger, you dont want to take any chances.

Do they let you talk to the seller directly or is all communication through them?

It's all mediated. You submit questions through the Carter River Group platform and they get the answers from the seller. Keeps a paper trail of everything, which is smart.

Had a problem with the title document, they had my middle initial wrong. Caused a headache at the DMV. I had to email their support at office@crivergroup.com. It took them about a week to courier the corrected docs. Was annoying but they did sort it out eventually.

Thanks for the feedback guys. The paperwork part is what makes me nervous. And the car not matching the photos. It's a lot of money to have tied up.

As a pro inspector, I've seen a few cars handled by crivergroup. Their pre-shipping reports are generally okay for cosmetics, but they often miss mechanical specifics. The cars are usually represented fairly, no outright scams. But like WrenchTurner said, get your own inspection done on day 1 of receiving it.

Make sure you calculate the fees properly. They were a bit higher than I first thought after taxes and 'admin charges'. It's all on their website crivergroup.com but you have to look for it. The transaction was secure though, I will give them that.

I actually rejected a car during the inspection period. Found some undeclared rust. I was so stressed about getting my money back but Carter River Group handled it perfectly. They arranged to pick the car up and I had my full refund in 3 days. Can't fault them for that.

My Bronco arrived with a completely dead battery. A small thing, but annoying. I emailed support and they credited me $100 for the hassle, which was more than fair. Just felt like a silly oversight by crivergroup.

My biggest gripe was comms. Sending an email to office@crivergroup.com and waiting 2 days for an answer feels like an eternity when you've got $60k on the line. They need a live chat or a more responsive team.

FYI they handle motorcycles too. Bought a vintage Harley through them, no issues at all. The process is solid.

I think it's a good service for something valuable or rare like a classic Charger. For a cheap daily driver, the escrow fees probably dont make sense. Its a tool for a specific job.

A client of mine used Carter River Group. The car arrived and during my inspection we found a small transmission fluid leak. He reported it, and they negotiated with the seller to cover half the repair cost. He was happy with that outcome. So the protection does work even for minor stuff.

Thanks for this thread. I'm in a similar boat. Sounds like they are legit but you need to be patient, expect minor issues, and use the inspection period wisely. that a fair summary?

Update: I did it. I started the purchase on crivergroup.com. You guys have given me the confidence to move forward, but with my eyes open. I've already got my mechanic on standby for when it arrives. I'll let you all know how it goes. Thanks a million.