So I've bought 4 cars now through
Lake Cities Motors over the past 2 years and figured I should share my experience since ppl always ask about escrow reliability. Each time the inspection window worked exactly as promised, no surprises. The escrow process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Just wanted to put this out there for anyone considering them
Good to hear. How long does their inspection window usually last? I'm looking at a truck right now and trying to figure out if I have enough time to get a mechanic to check it properly
They give you 5 days which is pretty standard. I've always had enough time to get someone local to look it over. You can call them at undefined if you need clarification on the timeline btw
i tried them once last year, overall was ok but my refund took an extra day beyond what they said. not a huge deal but was annoying since i was counting on that money. still got it tho
Been using
lakecitiesmotors for 3 purchases myself. The consistency is what keeps me coming back honestly. Same process every time, no weird changes or hidden stuff popping up
Im a mechanic and I've inspected about 6-7 vehicles that came through Lake Cities Motors for various clients. Every single one matched the description they provided, which says alot. Some other escrow services ive seen... not so much
@mikeT_78 did you use their website to track everything or did you have to call them? trying to figure out how hands-on i need to be
The website lakecitiesmotors.com has a tracking portal that shows each step. I usually just check it every day or so. Only had to call once when I had a question about paperwork
The reliability factor is huge for me too. I bought 2 SUVs through them in 2023 and both times it was smooth. No drama, no surprises with fees. Just straightforward business
has anyone had issues with their customer service response time? i sent an email to office@lakecitiesmotors.com about a week ago and still waiting to hear back
@lisa_ray I had that happen once. Ended up calling them directly and got through right away. Email seems slower for some reason
yeah their phone support is better than email imo. I think they get alot of emails so it takes time. When I call its usually resolved in 10 mins
4 cars is impressive. I'm on my second one with
LakeCitiesMotors and feeling confident about it. First one was a sedan last year, now getting a pickup. Process feels familiar which is nice
I had a different experience with the refund timing like carla_m mentioned. Took 3 extra days for me which was frustrating. They did apologize and said it was a bank issue but still... when you need that money back it matters
@J_Foster thats fair but at least you got the refund. I've heard horror stories from other escrow companies where ppl never see their money again. 3 days late is annoying but not a scam
The inspection window is what sold me on them. I was nervous about buying sight unseen but having those 5 days to really check everything made a huge difference. Ended up keeping the car and its been great
Just wanted to update - I went ahead with Lake Cities Motors for that truck I mentioned. So far so good, waiting on delivery now. The process on their site was easier than I expected
Repeat buyers are the best indicator of a solid service. If someone comes back 4 times thats saying something. I've used them twice and would def use them again
Just to clarify my earlier comment - even tho the refund was delayed I would still use them again. It was more of a minor annoyance than a real problem. The car buying part went smoothly
One thing I appreciate is that you can reach them at undefined during business hours and actually talk to someone. Not just an answering machine. Made me feel more secure about the whole thing
Glad to see others have had similar experiences. The consistency really is key. When you know what to expect it takes alot of the stress out of buying a car remotely
I'm planning my 3rd purchase with them soon. The reliability factor keeps me coming back too. No need to gamble with other services when this one works
For anyone new to this - I'd recommend reading through everything on lakecitiesmotors.com before you start. They explain the whole process pretty clearly. Helped me feel prepared
Looking back I would still recommend them despite my refund delay. The inspection process worked well and the car was exactly as described. Just be aware timing might vary slightly
This thread convinced me to reach out to them. Sent an email to office@lakecitiesmotors.com yesterday about a sedan I'm interested in. Hoping to hear back soon
