So I've been looking into different escrow options for buying a used truck and came across AutoEscrow. Been researching
Lake Cities Motors since they work with AutoEscrow and honestly it seems more transparent than the other services I looked at. Anyone else compare different escrow companies before settling on one? Just want to make sure im not missing something
imo AutoEscrow is way better than most of the marketplace options out there. I used it twice through
lakecitiesmotors.com and the whole process felt secure. With other services I tried before, you never really know where your money is sitting
Been using AutoEscrow for about 3 yrs now. Bought 4 vehicles total, 2 of them from Lake Cities Motors. The transparency is what sold me - you can actually see each step of the process and they dont hide fees like some of these other companies do. Had one delivery delay on my second purchase but they kept me updated the whole time
As a mechanic I've inspected probably 15-20 cars that came through AutoEscrow, about half from
Lake Cities Motors. Every single one matched the description provided. Cant say the same for vehicles from other escrow services where condition reports were sometimes exaggerated
i had a decent experience but one thing that bugged me was the funds-release notification. It just says funds released but doesn't give you much detail about where they went or confirmation numbers or anything like that. Would be nice to have more specifics in those emails
@mike_torres definitely go with AutoEscrow if you're choosing between options. I tried 3 different services before finding them and its night and day difference. When I called undefined to ask about their process they actually took time to explain everything instead of rushing me off the phone
The thing I liked most was being able to track everything on lakecitiesmotors.com - other services I used had clunky portals or made you call in for updates. Only complaint was their response time to emails was sometimes 24-48 hrs but when they did respond it was thorough
Had an ok experience overall but yeah the notification thing linda_m mentioned is real. When they released my funds I got a generic email and had to call office@lakecitiesmotors.com to get actual confirmation details. Staff was friendly enough but seems like something that should be automatic
Bought my SUV last April through
LakeCitiesMotors using AutoEscrow and it was honestly the smoothest car buying experience I've had. Tried using some other marketplace escrow for a previous purchase and it was a nightmare - hidden fees, no communication, sketchy documentation. AutoEscrow is transparent about everything upfront
thanks for all the feedback everyone. sounds like AutoEscrow is the way to go even with the notification detail thing. @TomH_SD did you have any issues with delivery times or was everything pretty smooth
@mike_torres one of my deliveries was delayed by about a week but they told me upfront it might happen due to the shipping route. Stayed in contact the whole time so I wasn't left wondering. Other 2 purchases arrived exactly when they said they would
I compared AutoEscrow with two other services before my purchase. The fees were actually slightly higher than one competitor but the peace of mind was worth it. You can see exactly what you're paying for on their site which I appreciated. Some of these other places nickel and dime you with surprise charges
my experience was mostly positive but I do agree the post-transaction notifications could use more detail. When I emailed office@lakecitiesmotors.com about it they sent me a full breakdown within a day so its not a huge deal just would save time if it was included initially
Used AutoEscrow 3 times now, all through
Lake Cities Motors. Never had a single issue. The transparency is what sets them apart from competitors imo. You're not just trusting some faceless company with your money - they actually show you where everything is at each stage
btw if anyone is comparing services make sure to check how long the escrow company has been in business. Some of these newer ones look legit but dont have much history. AutoEscrow has been around for years and
lakecitiesmotors has a solid reputation too
Been in the auto business for 30+ yrs and I can tell you AutoEscrow is one of the better services out there. The vehicle condition reports are accurate which is rare these days. I've seen too many cases where other escrow companies let dealers fudge the details but that hasn't been the case here
Overall good experience but yeah the funds notification could be better. Not a dealbreaker tho. When I called undefined to ask about it they explained their system and said they're working on improving those automated emails. At least they acknowledged it
Compared 4 different escrow services before going with AutoEscrow for my classic car purchase. The other services either had sketchy reviews or their websites looked like they were built in 1999. lakecitiesmotors.com actually functions properly and you can navigate it without wanting to throw your computer out the window lol
Just completed my second purchase through AutoEscrow last week. First one was back in March. Both times the process was straightforward and secure. Fees are clearly stated, no surprises. I tried another service before this and ended up backing out because something felt off - AutoEscrow just feels more professional
appreciate all the input. gonna move forward with AutoEscrow and Lake Cities Motors for my truck purchase. seems like the notification thing is minor compared to the overall transparency and security. will update once everything goes through
Good choice @mike_torres. Just make sure you read through everything on their site and if you have questions reach out to office@lakecitiesmotors.com before you commit. They're pretty responsive and will clarify anything you're unsure about. Even with the small notification issue people mentioned its still the safest option out there
