The Safest Ways to Sell a Car
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via online form or call on (855) 925 4302
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
Wheelzy
Quick car evaluation without the hassle – sell your car within 30 min
Choose a convenient date and time for free pick-up, as soon as next day
Get cash in hand the same day the Wheelzy agent picks up your car
CarBrain
Get an offer within 2 minutes and sell your damaged car within 48 hours
Free vehicle towing and no fees to getting rid of your damaged car
The tow truck driver will arrive with your check (nationwide service)
The Safest Way to Sell a Car
While selling your car to a private buyer may be the most profitable option, it may pose some safety issues for you as a seller. This is especially true if the vehicle you intend to sell is high in value.
Some of the biggest issues when selling your car are related to:
- Meeting the buyer
- Organizing the test drive
- Getting paid
- Dealing with the paperwork
All you need to do is do some homework in advance. Let’s review the ways to stay safe when selling your car.
1. Take precautions with the test drive
If the potential buyer looks real and ready to purchase and requests a test drive, make sure to choose a safe, central meet-up stop in a public space. Also, it’s best to meet your prospect during the day.
Place the automobile in a high-traffic area where you may be seen.
Always organize ahead of time and invite a friend or family member along for the journey.
Plan a brief test drive that stays in crowded areas. Most buyers don’t anticipate a lengthy test drive. Allow your buyer to request extra time if necessary.
Finally, don’t forget to request the prospective buyer’s license and temporary car insurance that covers a test drive before the drive. It’s usually a good idea to accompany the driver for the test drive, no matter what type of collateral they give in exchange for driving it.
2. Ensure a safe transaction
You should have discussed payment methods with the potential buyer in advance. Once you’ve agreed on a price, you may either meet them at their bank or credit union to finalize the transaction or use a touchless payment method to finish the transaction.
Here’s the list of the touchless payment options you can use:
- PayPal
- Zelle
- Venmo
Users may use these online payment services to send and receive payments immediately and securely without sharing bank information. If the individual wishes to pay using a cashier’s check, these payments are often safer and less vulnerable to fraud than certified checks.
Getting paid by cash
If you and the buyer agree on the cash payment, it’s still important to ensure a safe transaction. Meet the buyer at the bank so you can instantly deposit the funds into your account.
3. Maintain a paper trail
When you sell a car to an individual, it is your job to ensure that the transfer is handled correctly. By performing the legwork ahead of time, you can avoid problems later on.
Each state has its own set of requirements for appropriate title transfer, but most need both the seller and the buyer to fill out the documentation to guarantee the transfer is legitimate.
Before passing over the current title to the buyer, several jurisdictions require the seller to sign the back with the date, sales price, and precise odometer reading. Make a copy of the signed title (both sides) for your records as well.
Most states require buyers and sellers to sign a “bill of sale” and a “release of responsibility” document as proof of the transfer and to shield the seller from any future fines, infractions, or other problems with the vehicle. DMV.org, a clearinghouse for all state DMVs, offers a Bill of Sale form and Release of Liability information.
Send the signed “release of liability” form to the DMV in your state. This is necessary to guarantee that you are not held liable for anything that happens after the sale.
For a smooth transaction, have your paperwork ready and printed right from the beginning. This will ensure that you’re not stuck at any step of the selling process and that you safely and legally sell your car to a private party.
4. Complete the title transfer
When you sell your car, you must report the sale to the DMV and transfer the title to the buyer. If you miss this part, your name will stay on the title and you’ll be accountable for any fines or crimes related to your car after the sale.
Check the rules for title transfer in your state. In many places, you must hand over the vehicle’s title to the buyer. The buyer must next fulfill the following steps:
- Register the vehicle
- Pay transfer fees, which include state taxes
All of the stages may be accomplished at a DMV or local tag office.
Before transferring ownership, most states require you to provide the buyer with a current vehicle smog check confirming that it passed or a state inspection certificate. Make these documents available at the moment of sale.
The Safest Platform to Sell a Car Privately
eBay Motors Summary
- Sell 20+ types of vehicle and car parts
- Low listing fees starting from just $19
- List a car for sale in under 10 minutes
- 2 selling options – fixed price or auction
The safest way to sell a car is to sell it to a private party via eBay Motors. It’s a global marketplace that eliminates the issue of getting a safe transaction.
eBay Motors has integrated the PayPal payment system to ensure safe transactions. When you opt-in to get your payment through the platform, the buyer will be required to pay the full amount of your car upfront. The funds will remain in eBay Motors’ escrow and be released after the buyer gets your car. This way, you’ll rest assured that you’ll get paid in a safe and timely manner.
Sell Your Car Safely to Car-Buying Companies: Peddle and Wheelzy
One of the safest ways to sell your car is to sell it to a car-buying company. These companies usually buy cars in any condition, even if they’re junk or don’t start.
Compared to selling your car privately, selling your car to car-buying companies eliminates the risk of dealing with fraudulent transactions. It’s because the company will pay you cash or give you a check upon picking up your car from your driveway.
What’s best, selling your car to these companies is straightforward and you don’t have to leave home.
Two of the best car-buying companies that work nationwide and will buy your car within 72 hours are Peddle and Wheelzy. Let’s review them in detail down below.
Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Sell used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
Peddle is one of the most popular car-buying companies in the United States. Here’s how it works:
- You submit an online application with your car details to request a quote
- The company representative will contact you in a few minutes to give you an offer for your car
- Then, you have 7 days to consider the offer. You can accept it or decline – no obligations.
- If the quote works for you, you’ll schedule the free pickup (or towing) date with the Peddle representative. It usually takes place within the next 48 hours.
- Finally, the Peddle pickup agent will visit your driveway, make sure the details you provided are accurate, and hand you the check before leaving with your car.
Recent Peddle Offers
| Model | Year | Mileage | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota (Camry) | 2011 | 150,000 | $2,225 |
| Volvo (S40) | 2001 | 37000 | $430 |
| Mercedes-Benz (560) | 1991 | 92000 | $1,930 |
| BMW (528) | 2008 | 126,000 | $1,140 |
| Kia (Forte) | 2010 | 145,000 | $635 |
| Honda (CR-V) | 2011 | 67000 | $2,930 |
| Ford (Explorer Sport Trac) | 2004 | 145,000 | $1,170 |
| Oldsmobile (Alero) | 2004 | 162,000 | $400 |
| Audi (A6) | 2006 | 106,000 | $530 |
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
Like Peddle, Wheelzy is a well-known car-buying company that buys used cars nationwide. To get the quote for your used car, simply submit an online application and provide the details of your vehicle. In under 30 minutes, you’ll get a guaranteed offer from the company.
Alternatively, you can call the company at (855) 510-1108.
If you’re good with the offer you get from Wheelzy, you can accept it and proceed with the selling process. You’ll need to schedule a free pickup which usually takes place within 72 hours.
As for the payments, you have 2 options to claim yours – cash or check. Either way, the Wheelzy representative will hand you your payment right on the spot – on your driveway.
Recent Wheelzy Offers
| Model | Year | Mileage | Condition | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai (Tucson) | 2006 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $400 |
| Mercury (Sable Sedan) | 2003 | 150,000 | Doesn’t start | $225 |
| Mercedes-Benz (C) | 2001 | 150,000 | Starts | $222 |
| Ford (Edge) | 2010 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $1,200 |
| Ford (Flex) | 2009 | 150,000 | Starts | $1,000 |
| Lexus (RX) | 2002 | 300,000 | Doesn’t start | $750 |
| Chevrolet (Cobalt Sedan) | 2007 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $200 |
| Toyota (Corolla) | 2003 | 250,000 | Drives | $555 |
| BMW (528) | 2008 | 250,000 | Drives | $1,487 |
CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
- Get an online offer within 2 minutes
- Get cash for your car in under 48 hours
- CarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditions
- Up to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
CarBrain is offers the safe, fast, and convenient way to sell your car. Namely, it purchases cars in any condition. All you need to do to initiate the sale is to submit an online form with your car details. Once you do that, you’ll get an instant quote for your car based on its make and model, year of manufacturing, and current condition. If you’re happy with the offer, you can accept it and schedule a pick-up date with the CarBrain agent.
The CarBrain agent will visit your driveway to pick up your car for free and hand you the check payment right on the spot. Pick-ups usually take place within 24 to 48 hours.