How to Buy a Car on Craigslist Without Getting Ripped Off
With more than 400,000 active for-sale vehicle listings in the U.S. alone, Craigslist can be a great place to find a deal on a used car. But this approach requires more diligence on the buyer’s end to avoid potential scams or purchasing a lemon. Follow this guide to expertly navigate the Craigslist car market and drive off with confidence.
Research Prices and Blue Book Values
Before shopping, research the retail and private party values of the vehicles you’re interested in. Resources like Kelley Blue Book can give you an accurate picture of what specific cars tend to sell for based on variables like model year, mileage, location, and condition. This equips you with knowledgeable negotiating power.
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Beware of Deals that Seem Too Good to Be True
If a car is priced well below market value without explanation, it’s likely too good to be true. Desperate sellers legitimately needing to get rid of a quality car fast are rare. Ensure you understand why a car is priced at an extreme bargain before getting your hopes up.
Contact the Seller with Specific Questions
Don’t just show up to see the car as-is. Make your initial contact with focused questions about vehicle history based on your research. Ask for VIN to verify details not disclosed. This screens for scammers who won’t know the basics about the car they claim to be selling.
Insist on Test Driving First
Never purchase a vehicle without test driving it first, even if it’s awkward meeting a stranger from the internet. Pay attention to any hesitance to allow a test drive, and walk away if denied. Listen for concerning noises, and pay attention to steering feel and acceleration.
Ask to Take to a Trusted Mechanic
Don’t fully take the seller’s word that a vehicle is mechanically sound. Ask to take the car to your preferred mechanic for an inspection before the money exchanges hands. A quality car shouldn’t have anything major to hide.
Meet in a Public Place
When meeting a Craigslist seller, pick a safe public location like a bank parking lot in daylight hours. This reduces the extremely rare but still present risk of a scam turning criminal. Pay attention to any odd requests to meet privately instead.
Avoid Wire Transfers or Shipping
Common scams involve overseas buyers asking you to wire money or put down a deposit before shipping the car. Only pay cash in person upon verifying the vehicle’s condition meets standards. As the buyer, you should never pay to transport a car sight unseen.
Review Title and Documents Thoroughly
Don’t finalize a purchase without seeing the title matches the seller’s name, verifying lien-free status, and cross-checking that VIN plates match what’s on the documents. Ensure registration is current. Walk away from titles marked ‘salvage’ or showing as stolen.
Take Your Time on Inspection
Hold more than one scheduled meeting to give additional time to ensure the car meets your standards before purchasing. Go through the exterior and interior methodically, checking for defects, damage, or signs of collision repair.
Trust Your Instincts
If anything about an interaction feels strange or wrong, move on and keep looking elsewhere. You can end communications politely by saying the car isn’t the right fit. Go with your gut. There are too many other legitimately sound cars for sale to waste time chasing suspect ones.