Meeting in person

• Always meet in a public place — a busy parking lot, a gas station, anywhere with people around
• Bring a friend or family member if you can
• Tell someone where you're going and who you're meeting
• Meet during daylight hours when possible
• Many police stations have designated safe exchange zones — use them if available in your area

Before you pay

• Inspect the car thoroughly before handing over any money
• Take it for a test drive — any reasonable seller will allow this
• Check the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the dashboard and door jamb
• Run the VIN through a free service like the NHTSA database to check for recalls or title issues
• Ask to see the title before agreeing to buy — no title, no deal
• If something feels off, walk away

Payment

• Cash is king — for local in-person deals, cash is the safest method for both parties
• If using a cashier's check, verify it at your bank before handing over the car
• Never use wire transfers, Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App for vehicle purchases — these are not reversible and are the #1 method scammers use
• Never pay before seeing the car in person
• Never pay a "deposit" to hold a car you haven't seen

Red flags — walk away if you see these

• Seller won't meet in person or keeps making excuses
• Price is dramatically below market value for no clear reason
• Seller claims to be out of state and wants to ship the car
• Seller asks you to use a payment method you're not comfortable with
• Title is missing, sketchy, or "in the mail"
• Pressure to decide quickly or "someone else is coming to look at it today"
• Story keeps changing

For sellers

• Don't share your home address — meet somewhere public
• Verify cash or cashier's checks before signing over the title
• Remove your license plates before handing over the car
• Sign the title over correctly — an incomplete title transfer can leave you liable
• Notify your DMV of the sale — requirements vary by state
• Cancel your insurance after the sale is complete and title is transferred

Report problems

If you encounter a scam, fraudulent listing, or suspicious behavior on Smeeper, use the "Flag / Report" button on any listing or profile, or contact us at hello@smeeper.com.