Starting today and continuing through September 30, General Motors is implementing a test program in California that will allow buyers to shop for vehicles online using eBay. In a partnership first announced in early July when GM emerged from its bankruptcy procedures, the pilot program  enables shoppers to browse hundreds of online showrooms, ask questions, negotiate prices, and arrange financing and payment options to buy a new 2008, 2009, or select 2010 car, crossover or truck -- and can even determine the value of their trade in through the site.

"Together with eBay Motors, GM and our dealers are reinventing the car-buying experience for our California customers," said Mark LaNeve, GM sales vice president in a statement released by the automaker. "As the dealer showroom expands from the parking lot to the laptop, this makes it easier for a customer to browse available new-car inventory, make an offer, buy it now, or send a message asking for more information from a dealer - all at the customer's convenience."

With more than 225 General Motors dealers participating in California, shoppers will discover as many as 20,000 new vehicles at what General Motors says are "very competitive prices."  Shoppers can bid using the traditional eBay options "Buy It Now" (if they agree to the advertised price) or "Make Offer" (if they want to try to negotiate the price down further). Shoppers can use the site to compare pricing across models or participating dealerships, and eBay also provides expert tips and advice with a buyer checklist.