How do I avoid being scammed when buying a car privately online?
See the car, the seller and the registration papers in person before any money, and make sure the seller's ID matches the name on the papers. A price far below the market and a request for a deposit before viewing are the signs of a fake advert.
Car scams come in two kinds: the car does not exist (copied photos, seller "relocating", deposit by EFT) or the car exists but is stolen, financed or cloned. The first is stopped by refusing to pay before viewing; the second by checking the papers and the vehicle properly.
Before you pay
- Reverse image search the advert photos: copied photos mean a copied advert.
- Meet at the seller's home or a safe public place, and see their ID together with the registration document.
- Compare the VIN and engine number on the car with the papers.
- Have the car checked by a mechanic or a roadworthy centre before paying.
- Pay only when the papers are handed over, and never a deposit to hold a car you have not seen.
Frequently asked questions
- The seller is overseas and a friend will show me the car. Is that OK?
- Then the friend must have the papers and the owner's ID copy, and you still pay nothing before you have seen everything. Most "owner overseas" adverts are scams.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for R99.
Check a person