Terms of Service

Welcome to ZeroDealer ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). ZeroDealer is operated by ZeroDealer Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of Texas, with its principal office in Houston, Texas.

By creating an account, listing a vehicle, making a purchase, or otherwise accessing or using ZeroDealer (including the website at zerodealer.ai and any related mobile applications), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. What ZeroDealer Is (and Is Not)

ZeroDealer is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects private vehicle sellers with buyers. We are not a licensed motor vehicle dealer, broker, lender, insurer, or escrow agent. We do not take title to, possess, or guarantee any vehicle listed on the Platform.

We provide tools to help both sides make informed decisions: fair-price estimates calculated from market data, mechanic checks by independent partner shops, vehicle history information from third-party and government sources, owner identity and ownership checks, and secure payment of the report fee (via Stripe). However, the sale is between the buyer and the seller. ZeroDealer provides the listing venue — we do not guarantee outcomes.

2. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be a legal resident of the United States.
• Sellers must have legal authority to sell the vehicle (e.g., title holder or authorized agent).
• Buyers must intend to purchase for personal use, not for resale as a dealer (unless properly licensed).
• You agree to provide accurate information during registration and listing creation.

3. Seller Responsibilities

3.1 Accuracy of Listing Information

By listing a vehicle, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the legal owner of the vehicle or have written authorization from the owner to sell it.
• The vehicle information you provide (make, model, year, mileage, VIN, condition, accident history, title status) is true and complete to the best of your knowledge.
• You have disclosed all known material defects, including but not limited to: mechanical issues, frame damage, flood damage, accident history, salvage or rebuilt title status, open recalls, and active liens.
• The vehicle is not stolen, encumbered by undisclosed liens, or subject to any legal dispute that would prevent transfer of clean title.

3.2 Title and Ownership Transfer

Sellers are responsible for completing all title transfer documents required by their state of registration. In Texas, this includes:

• Signing the Certificate of Title and the Application for Texas Title (Form 130-U) and providing them to the buyer.
• Providing a valid odometer disclosure if required by federal law (vehicles less than 20 years old under 16,000 lbs GVWR).
• Completing a Vehicle Transfer Notification with the Texas DMV within 30 days of sale.
• Satisfying any outstanding liens before or at the time of sale.

ZeroDealer may provide guidance and document templates, but the legal obligation to transfer title correctly rests entirely with the seller and buyer.

3.3 Seller Fees

Listing a vehicle and the mechanic check at a partner shop are free. ZeroDealer charges sellers no commission. One free mechanic check is available per vehicle (by VIN) every six months.

4. Buyer Responsibilities

4.1 Due Diligence

Buyers are responsible for their own due diligence. Mechanic reports, vehicle history information and pricing estimates are informational tools, not guarantees. We strongly recommend that buyers:

• Read the mechanic report and its date before committing.
• Test drive the vehicle and verify that the VIN matches the title and the physical vehicle.
• Confirm the title is in the seller's name and free of liens.
• Have their own mechanic inspect the vehicle if they wish; a report does not replace their own judgment.

4.2 Buyer Fees

Browsing, messaging sellers and requesting a mechanic check are free. A buyer may choose to unlock a vehicle's full mechanic report for a one-time fee shown at checkout (currently $5 per vehicle). Part of this fee is paid to the partner shop that wrote the report. The fee is refunded if ZeroDealer withdraws the report as inaccurate.

5. Contact Between Buyers and Sellers

Buyers contact sellers through a message form. ZeroDealer emails the message to the seller; the seller's contact details are not shown unless the seller chooses to reply. We may hold back messages that look like scams.

6. Meetings, Test Drives and Payment

Buyers and sellers arrange test drives, negotiate and complete payment directly with each other. ZeroDealer does not schedule or supervise meetings or test drives, does not hold or transfer the purchase price, and is not a party to the sale.

• Meet in a public place in daylight. Do not pay any deposit before seeing the vehicle.
• The buyer's own auto insurance should cover the buyer during a test drive; sellers should confirm the buyer holds a valid driver's license.
• ZeroDealer is not liable for damage, loss or injury during a meeting or test drive.

7. Fair-Price Estimates

ZeroDealer shows a fair-price range for listed vehicles, calculated from similar vehicles listed or recently sold nearby, pricing models from data providers, the vehicle's reported history and, where available, the repairs found in a mechanic check. These estimates are:

• Informational only — they are not appraisals, guarantees, or offers to purchase.
• Not binding — sellers set their own asking price. Buyers negotiate directly with sellers.
• Subject to change — market conditions, vehicle condition discovery (via inspection), and buyer/seller negotiation will affect the final sale price.
• Based on available data — accuracy depends on the completeness and accuracy of inputs provided by the seller and the availability of comparable listings in the local market.

The fair-price range is a guide, not a guaranteed sale price. Sellers set their own asking price, and the final sale price is agreed between buyer and seller.

8. Mechanic Checks

Mechanic checks are performed by independent repair shops that partner with ZeroDealer. ZeroDealer does not employ the mechanics and does not control their findings.

• The check covers 8 major systems: computer scan, engine, transmission, brakes, tires and suspension, frame and body, electrical and interior, and underbody.
• The shop starts the report by entering the vehicle's VIN; the report attaches to the listing with that VIN. Sellers cannot edit or hide it.
• A report reflects the vehicle's condition on the date of the check. Conditions may change afterwards.
• A report is not a warranty and does not guarantee the vehicle will not develop problems.
• Repair cost estimates are approximate ranges, not quotes.

9. Vehicle History Information

Where ZeroDealer shows vehicle history information (such as title brands, recalls or reported accidents), it comes from third-party sources and government databases. ZeroDealer does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy.

10. Payments

Report unlock fees are processed by Stripe, Inc. ZeroDealer does not store card numbers or banking credentials. ZeroDealer does not collect, hold or transfer the purchase price of any vehicle; buyers and sellers pay each other directly.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Between Buyer and Seller

ZeroDealer is not a party to the sale, and buyers and sellers are responsible for resolving disputes between themselves. On request, we may:

• Provide the mechanic report and listing details to both parties.
• Review a report the buyer believes was inaccurate, which may lead to a refund of the report fee under Section 4.2.
• Point the parties to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) complaint process or justice court (small claims, for disputes up to $20,000 in Texas).

11.2 Between You and ZeroDealer

Any dispute arising from your use of the Platform that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration will be conducted in Houston, Texas.

Class action waiver: You agree to resolve disputes with ZeroDealer on an individual basis only. You waive any right to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or representative proceeding.

Exception: Either party may bring a claim in small claims court if the claim qualifies under the court's jurisdictional limits.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

• ZeroDealer provides the Platform "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
• ZeroDealer does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
• ZeroDealer is not liable for any vehicle defects, title issues, fraud by users, or losses arising from transactions between buyers and sellers.
• ZeroDealer's total aggregate liability for any claims arising from your use of the Platform shall not exceed the total fees you have paid to ZeroDealer in the 12 months preceding the claim.
• In no event shall ZeroDealer be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost profits, lost data, personal injury, or property damage arising from your use of the Platform or any vehicle purchased through it.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ZeroDealer, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform or violation of these Terms.
• Any vehicle you list, sell, or purchase through the Platform.
• Your violation of any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right.
• Any dispute between you and another user of the Platform.

14. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• List a vehicle you do not own or are not authorized to sell.
• Provide false or misleading information about a vehicle's condition, history, mileage, or title status.
• Tamper with or roll back an odometer.
• List a stolen vehicle or a vehicle with an undisclosed lien.
• Engage in fraud, money laundering, or any illegal activity through the Platform.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users.
• Use automated bots, scrapers, or other tools to access the Platform without authorization.
• Resell vehicles as an unlicensed dealer (in Texas, selling more than 4 vehicles in a 12-month period may require a dealer license under Texas Occupations Code § 2301).

15. Account Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, suspected fraud, or any conduct that we determine, in our sole discretion, is harmful to the Platform, other users, or third parties. Upon termination:

• Active listings will be removed.
• Report fees already paid are refunded only as described in Section 4.2 or where required by law.
• You may request your personal data be deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

16. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform (logos, designs, text, software, AI models, pricing algorithms) is owned by ZeroDealer or its licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our prior written consent.

By uploading photos or content to the Platform, you grant ZeroDealer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the operation of the Platform and promotion of your listing.

17. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information. Key points:

• We collect only information necessary to operate the marketplace (name, email, phone, vehicle data, payment info).
• We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
• Seller contact information is not shown to buyers; buyer messages are emailed to the seller, who decides whether to reply.
• Vehicle data (VIN, specs, condition) is shared publicly as part of the listing.
• Payment data is processed and stored by Stripe — ZeroDealer does not store card numbers.

18. Texas Motor Vehicle Laws

Private vehicle sales in Texas are governed by state and federal law. By using ZeroDealer in Texas, you acknowledge the following:

• Title transfer: The seller must sign and deliver the Certificate of Title to the buyer. The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days at their county tax assessor-collector's office.
• Sales tax: The buyer is responsible for paying the Texas motor vehicle sales tax (currently 6.25% of the purchase price) at the time of title transfer. ZeroDealer does not collect or remit sales tax.
• Emissions testing: Since January 1, 2025, most non-commercial vehicles in Texas no longer need a state safety inspection, but vehicles registered in Harris County and the other emissions counties still need an annual emissions test before registration. This is separate from ZeroDealer's mechanic check, and the buyer is responsible for it.
• As-is sales: Private vehicle sales in Texas are generally "as-is" unless the seller provides a written warranty. ZeroDealer's inspection report is not a warranty. Buyers should understand that private-party vehicles are sold without implied warranties of merchantability.
• Lemon law: The Texas Lemon Law (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2301) generally applies to new vehicles purchased from dealers, not to private-party used vehicle sales.
• Odometer fraud: Tampering with an odometer is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. § 32703. If you suspect odometer fraud, report it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

19. Modifications to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, notify you via email or an in-app notification. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

20. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any legal proceedings (other than arbitration as described in Section 11.2) shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas.

21. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• Email: legal@zerodealer.ai
• Address: ZeroDealer Inc., Houston, TX 77001