Car Selling Scams to Avoid

The most common car selling scams are overpayment checks, fake escrow services, payment-app reversals, buyers who want an open title so they can flip the car without registering it, and “test drives” that end with your car gone. The best protection is simple: confirm payment is real before you hand over the title or keys, never accept more than the agreed price, and deal with buyers you can identify.

Scammers count on sellers being eager to close the deal. This guide explains how each scam works, the warning signs, and the habits that protect you.

How does the overpayment check scam work?

A buyer, often someone who says they’re out of state or overseas, agrees to buy your car sight unseen. They send a check, cashier’s check or money order for more than the price, then ask you to wire or send back the difference, often “for the shipper.”

The check later turns out to be fake. By then you’ve sent real money, and sometimes the car too. Even a check that seems to clear can be reversed days later.

Warning signs:

• The buyer won’t see the car in person.
• They offer more than you asked.
• They want you to send money to a third party.
• They pressure you to act quickly.

How to protect yourself: Never accept more than the agreed price, and never send money back to a buyer. If you accept a check, confirm it directly with the issuing bank, using a phone number you find yourself, not one printed on the check.

What is a fake escrow scam?

The buyer suggests using an “escrow service” to hold the money until the car is delivered. They send a link to a professional-looking website that’s actually controlled by the scammer.

You may get an email saying the funds are in escrow and that you should ship the car or hand over the title. The money was never there.

How to protect yourself: Be very cautious with any escrow service a buyer chooses. If you want to use one, research it independently and never click links sent by the buyer. For most local sales, an in-person transaction is simpler and safer.

How do payment-app reversals happen?

Some buyers pay through a peer-to-peer payment app, take the car, then dispute the payment or claim the account was hacked. Depending on the app and the circumstances, the payment may be reversed, and you’re left with no car and no money.

Fake “payment confirmation” emails or screenshots are another version of this scam. The buyer shows you proof of a payment that never happened.

How to protect yourself:

• Don’t rely on screenshots or emails. Log in to your own account and confirm the money arrived.
• Understand the payment app’s terms before accepting a large payment for a vehicle.
• Don’t release the car or title until you’re confident the payment is final.

What is title jumping or curbstoning?

Curbstoning is when someone buys and resells vehicles for profit while posing as a private seller, often without properly titling the cars in their own name. Title jumping is a related practice where a vehicle is resold without the middle buyer ever putting it in their name.

This matters to you as a seller because if your name stays attached to the vehicle, problems can follow you, from parking tickets and tolls to worse.

Warning signs:

• The buyer asks you to leave the buyer’s name blank on the title.
• They don’t want to show ID.
• They seem to be buying several cars and reselling them quickly.

How to protect yourself:

• Always fill in the buyer’s full name and address on the title.
• Check the buyer’s ID and make sure it matches.
• Report the sale to Minnesota DVS within 10 days. This is your record that the vehicle is no longer yours.

Our Minnesota car selling guide covers every title step.

How do test-drive thefts happen?

A “buyer” shows up, asks for a test drive and simply doesn’t come back. Sometimes they leave a fake ID or a car of their own that turns out to be stolen.

How to protect yourself:

• Meet in a public place during daylight. Some police stations have designated safe-exchange areas.
• Ask to see a valid driver’s license and take a photo of it.
• Ride along during the test drive, or bring a friend.
• Keep your own keys, and never leave a buyer alone with the car running.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, end the meeting.

What other red flags should you watch for?

• Requests for personal information like your bank login, Social Security number or verification codes.
• “Vehicle history report” links from the buyer that ask you to pay for a report on a specific site.
• Pressure and urgency. “I need it today” plus an unusual payment method is a bad combination.
• Buyers who won’t talk on the phone and only communicate by text or email.
• Stories that change. Different names, different reasons, different payment plans.

How do you sell a car safely?

Follow these habits for any car sale:

1. Meet in person, in a safe public place, or at your home with someone else present.
2. Verify the buyer’s identity.
3. Confirm payment is real and final before signing the title or handing over keys.
4. Fill in the title completely, including the buyer’s name.
5. Use a bill of sale and keep a copy.
6. Remove your plates if you’re keeping them, and remove your toll transponder.
7. Report the sale to DVS within 10 days.
8. Cancel your insurance after the sale.

Our junk car pickup checklist has a printable version of these steps.

Is selling to a cash car buyer safer than a private sale?

It can be, because you skip strangers, test drives and payment uncertainty. With a legitimate buyer, you know who you’re dealing with, the paperwork is handled properly, and you’re paid before the car leaves.

At Get Cash Cars, you get a free offer, usually in about 15 minutes, with no obligation. We help with the title paperwork and bill of sale, tow the vehicle for free anywhere in Minnesota, and you are paid on the spot at pickup before the vehicle is towed away. Learn more about how to sell my car, read our how it works page, or call (763) 226-3586 with questions.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the Get Cash Cars team · Last updated November 5, 2026