Online car finance is convenient. You can apply over the net and shop around for a good deal from the comfort of your home.

But with the rise of scams on the net there are precautions you should take to make sure you are not being ripped off.

Car Finance Safety Tips

1) If you are in an english speaking country, the website you are dealing with should be in english. If the English is poor it could be a scam site.

2) Only deal with companies that publish full contact details on their site, such as phone numbers, preferably one in your country. Also they should maintain a physical office and also publish that on the web. A reputable company will have an office.

3) They should be listed in the phone directory as well, either the yellow or white pages.

4) No bank or finance company will ever send you an email asking for your passwords or account details.

5) Check a number of companies out before you make your decision. Compare the rates. Read all the terms and conditions.

6) E-loan and Capital One are two safe online finance companies and have passed all these checks from my research.

7) I recently reviewed an offer from a finance company that looked like it was from Russia, who didn't even have a phone number. They had all manner of explanations but it is simply not good enough. So go with professional companies. Remember, there is no such thing as something for nothing

Remember to seek competent advice from a professional such as accountant before making financial decisions.