How do I avoid scams when selling my car?
Reviewed answer
Be cautious about buyer-chosen report sites, overpayments, and unverified payment claims.
- Do not enter card details on a vehicle-report website supplied by a stranger. Verify any report service independently.
- Ask your bank how to verify the buyer's proposed payment before handing over keys or title.
- In the US, follow your state's motor-vehicle agency instructions for ownership transfer and any required notice of sale.
Get help if
The buyer insists on one unfamiliar report site, sends an overpayment, or asks you to forward money to a shipper.