Online Safety Tips

Buying or selling a vehicle online — whether it's a car, motorcycle, truck, or boat — requires some common-sense precautions. Please follow these tips to protect yourself:

For Buyers

• Verify before you meet. Ask for the VIN (cars, trucks, motorcycles) or HIN (boats) and run a vehicle/vessel history report before committing.
• Meet in safe, public locations — ideally during daylight hours, and consider bringing someone with you. For boats, consider meeting at a marina or public boat ramp rather than a private dock.
• Never wire money or send payment in advance for a vehicle you haven't seen or inspected in person.
• Inspect thoroughly before buying — consider a third-party mechanic inspection for cars, trucks, and motorcycles, or a marine surveyor for boats (including a sea trial where possible).
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true — unusually low prices are a common scam tactic across every vehicle type.
• Verify the seller's identity matches the ownership documents (title, registration, or vessel documentation).
• Use secure, traceable payment methods — avoid cash-only deals for large amounts when possible, and avoid gift cards or wire transfers entirely.

For Sellers

• Meet buyers in safe, public places, such as a police station parking lot or busy shopping center.
• Never share sensitive personal or financial information with a potential buyer.
• Be wary of overpayment scams — if a buyer sends more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference, it's a scam.
• Confirm funds have fully cleared before handing over the vehicle or title, especially with checks or money orders.
• Keep all communication within the platform whenever possible, so there's a record of your interactions.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Buyers or sellers who refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone
• Requests to complete the transaction off-platform immediately
• Pressure to act quickly or "before someone else buys it"
• Payment methods that are hard to trace (wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency from strangers)