Car buying from private person in Bulgaria

This sounds very difficult!

If you can't contact the owner, that's not going to make it any easier. :-)

Who would you give the money to? I think you'd soon see that you don't want to send the money to somebody / some company, who will look at the car for you.

Bulgaria car purchase involves a notary (probably not like Estonia which has loads of e-services, so a car transfer is probably is quick and easy), it's not just signing the registration document. Whoever represents you at the notary needs the money to pay, and a power of attorney. A valid power of attorney legalized at a Bulgarian Embassy. The POA needs all the info: buyer and seller info... and buyer's representative info... and car info... price.

If you were to send me 30,000 (or whatever it is) leva to buy the car for you, I'd probably just keep the cash. I think many Bulgarians would be similarly tempted.

Most (but not all) lawyers are trustworthy in BG. I have a good lawyer myself. But, again, even so, I'd be reluctant to send him 30,000 leva. Plus, there's a difference between asking the lawyer to represent you at the notary and complete the purchase... and asking him to check the car out for you. The former is lawyer stuff... the latter, not so much. :-)

Overall... I think it's either not possible (by which I mean not possible to ensure the integrity of the process and avoid getting ripped off)… or you have to find time and come over in person ('cos you can check the car to your satisfaction, and you can go to the notary in person).