Buy and sell directly, with a free mechanic check for any car
Buying a car
- 1
Browse for free
Every car shows its photos, price breakdown and, if checked, a condition bar for 8 major systems.
- 2
Unlock the mechanic's report — $5
See what the mechanic found in each system, with photos, measurements and repair cost estimates.
- 3
Message the owner
Your message goes to the owner by email. They reply to you directly to arrange a test drive.
- 4
Agree on a price and complete the sale
Meet in a public place, pay the way you both agree, and use our free bill of sale and odometer forms.
Selling a car
- 1
List free in about 10 minutes
Enter your VIN and mileage, add photos and set your price. We suggest a fair price from market data.
- 2
Get a free mechanic check
Drive to any partner shop. Give them the check code from your dashboard. It takes about 45 minutes and costs you nothing, and the report attaches to your listing automatically.
- 3
Hear from serious buyers
Checked cars rank higher in search. Buyers message you by email, and your contact details stay private until you reply.
- 4
Mark it sold
When the car sells, mark it sold from your dashboard. No commission, ever.
The mechanic check
An independent partner shop checks 8 major systems in about 45 minutes. Each gets a plain rating: Good, Fair or Needs attention. The mechanic measures what can be measured (tread on every tire, every brake pad, paint on every panel), takes about 18 photos on every car, and records the road test by GPS; the numbers set the best rating allowed. Every Fair or Needs attention rating comes with a photo and a repair cost range, and the mechanic signs the report with their own code. The shop starts the report itself by entering the car's VIN and photographing the VIN plate and odometer, so sellers can't edit or hide it.
Computer scan
Stored and pending trouble codes, and whether codes were recently cleared.
Engine
Cold start, leaks, noises, belts, hoses, oil and cooling.
Transmission
Shift quality on a short drive, fluid condition and leaks.
Brakes
Pad thickness and rotors measured, pedal feel.
Tires & suspension
Tread depth, tire age, uneven wear, shocks and steering.
Frame & body
Paint readings on every panel, gaps, glass and frame rails for signs of past accidents or flood.
Electrical & interior
Battery and charging, lights, A/C and heat, windows, locks, screens and seat belts.
Underbody
Rust, exhaust and underside damage.
Anyone can see the 8 ratings for free. The mechanic's notes, photos and cost estimates unlock for $5; part of that goes to the shop that did the work.
How fair prices are set
- We collect what similar cars — same model, similar mileage, nearby — are listed for, by dealers and by private owners. If there are few of the same year (new, rare or unusual cars), we also use cars a year or two older or newer, adjusted for age.
- We leave out junk private ads: cars that need an engine or transmission, salvage or rebuilt titles, prices that are really a down payment, dealers posing as owners, ex-taxis, and prices far from the market. About a quarter of private ads are like this.
- That gives two real numbers for a car like this one: what genuine owners ask, and what dealers ask. Each kind of car (cars, SUVs, pickups, minivans, electric and luxury cars, by age) has its own measured mileage and age effects and its own gap between the two, refreshed every week from new market data.
- A car without a mechanic check is priced at what genuine owners ask. A car whose mechanic check found nothing needing attention moves half way toward the dealer price, because the buyer knows what they are getting. Neither ever reaches what dealers ask.
- Then we subtract the repairs the mechanic found, and take off for accidents, a salvage or rebuilt title, and frame or flood damage.
- Buyers and sellers see the same breakdown. Sellers set their own asking price; we show where it sits against the fair range.