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Buying and selling safely

ZeroDealer connects you with the other person; you meet and pay each other directly. These habits keep private sales safe.

Meeting and test drives

  • Meet in a busy public place in daylight — a bank or police station parking lot is ideal. Many police departments have a marked safe-exchange spot.
  • Bring a friend, and tell someone where you're going.
  • Sellers: ask to see the buyer's driver's license and proof of insurance before a test drive, and ride along.
  • Buyers: check that the VIN on the dashboard and door matches the listing and the title.

Paying and getting paid

  • Never pay a deposit or 'holding fee' before you've seen the car in person.
  • Use a cashier's check you watch the bank issue, or a bank transfer the seller confirms has arrived, before the title changes hands.
  • Sellers: never accept more than the price and refund the difference. Overpayment is a classic scam.
  • Never pay with gift cards, wire services or crypto, and never pay a 'shipping agent' or 'escrow company' someone else picked.

Paperwork

  • The seller signs the title over at the time of payment. Check the title is in the seller's name and has no lienholder listed.
  • Both sign a bill of sale and, for most cars, an odometer disclosure. Ours are free on the documents page.
  • Sellers: file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with the state so you're not responsible for the car after the sale.

Spotting a scam

  • The price is far below every similar car, and the seller is 'away' and wants to ship it.
  • The other person pushes you to move off email to a different app, or to hurry.
  • Someone asks for personal details like your bank login or Social Security number.

If something feels wrong

  1. Leave. Your safety comes first.
  2. Call 911 if you feel threatened.
  3. Tell us at support@zerodealer.ai so we can review the listing.

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