Trust & safety
Trust, by design.
Private Cars is built so the right people can transact directly with confidence. Here's how we keep this marketplace honest.
No dealerships policy
Dealers, brokers, commercial resellers, and curbstoners are prohibited. We use both automated detection and manual review to keep them off the platform.
Seller verification
Every seller passes government-issued ID verification before they can submit a vehicle.
Title verification
We confirm that the seller's name matches the vehicle's title before any listing goes live.
Listing review
Every submission is hand-reviewed for photo quality, completeness, and authenticity. Listings do not publish automatically.
Secure messaging
Buyers and sellers communicate through the platform. Phone numbers and personal details are never exposed without consent.
Payment safety guidance
We recommend escrow for any meaningful transaction and provide guidance on safe payment methods for high-value sales.
Inspection & transport
Vetted pre-purchase inspection and enclosed transport partner referrals available on every listing.
Report suspicious listings
One-tap reporting on every listing. Our team reviews every report within 24 hours.
Buyer safety tips
- • Always inspect the vehicle in person or commission a professional PPI.
- • Verify the seller's name matches the title before any payment.
- • Never wire funds to an unfamiliar account. Prefer escrow for high-value sales.
- • Walk away from any seller refusing to meet at their home or a public DMV/PPI shop.
- • Report anything that feels off. We investigate every report.