Car Scams
Car Selling Scams UK: How Scammers Target Private Sellers
6 min read
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CarVerified Team
Scams don't only target buyers. Here are the tricks used on people selling a car privately, from fake payment proof to test-drive theft, and how to sell safely.
Most car scam advice is for buyers, but private sellers are targets too. A scammer who drives away with your car, or tricks you into refunding money you never received, can cost you far more than a bad sale.
This is general advice, not a claim that any particular buyer or platform is dishonest.
Fake payment proof
The buyer shows you a screenshot, a text or an email saying the money has been sent, then asks to take the car straight away.
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Screenshots and emails are easy to fake.
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Only trust your own banking app or online banking. Wait until the full amount shows as received in your account before you hand over the keys and V5C.
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If the buyer is in a rush and says the transfer “takes a few hours”, let them come back later.
The overpayment and refund trick
The buyer “accidentally” pays more than the price and asks you to send back the difference. Later the original payment turns out to be fake, stolen or reversed, and you’ve lost the refund too.
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Never refund an overpayment before you have confirmed with your own bank that the money is genuinely and finally in your account.
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If you’re unsure, ask the buyer to cancel the payment and send the correct amount instead.
Cheques and banker’s drafts
Cheques can bounce, and banker’s drafts can be forged.
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Wait until a cheque has fully cleared, not just appeared as “pending”.
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To check a banker’s draft, call the issuing bank on a number you find yourself, not one printed on the draft or given by the buyer.
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A bank transfer that you can see in your own account is usually the safest option for a private sale.
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Test-drive theft
The “buyer” goes for a test drive and simply doesn’t come back, or swaps your keys for a dummy set during the viewing.
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Ask to see their driving licence and take a photo of it.
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Check they are insured to drive your car. Don’t assume your own policy covers them.
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Go with them on the test drive, and keep hold of the keys whenever you’re out of the car.
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Never let a buyer test drive the car alone.
Fake couriers, agents and “transport fees”
A buyer says they live far away and will send a courier or shipping agent to collect the car, then asks you to pay a fee to that company, which they promise to refund. The buyer and the company are usually the same scammer.
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Never pay money to sell a car.
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Be wary of any buyer who won’t view the car or speak on the phone.
Phishing links and fake “check” requests
Some scammers send a link to “receive your payment” that asks for your card or bank details. Others insist you buy a vehicle history report from a website they choose.
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You never need to enter card details to receive money.
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If a buyer wants a history report, they can run their own check. Don’t pay for one through a link a buyer sends you.
How to sell your car safely
1.
Meet at your home or another safe place you know, ideally with someone else there.
2.
Don’t hand over the keys, the car or the V5C until the full payment is in your account.
3.
Give the buyer the green “new keeper” slip (V5C/2) and tell DVLA you’ve sold the car straight away, online. You’ll get a refund for any full months of tax left.
4.
Write a simple receipt with the date, time, price, registration, and both names and addresses, and keep a copy.
5.
Remove any private plate you want to keep before the sale, and take your personal items and any garage door remotes.
If you think you’ve been scammed
Contact your bank immediately, as they may be able to stop or recover a payment. Report it to Action Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland on 101. If your car has been stolen, report it to the police straight away.
Selling? Show buyers a clean history
Genuine buyers want to know the car’s history. A clear vehicle check helps you answer their questions honestly, and our guide to selling a car with outstanding finance explains what to do if there is still finance on it.
Buying instead? Read the complete used car scams guide and take the used car checklist to the viewing.

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Viewing a car? Use our free used car checklist →
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Related Guides
Table of Contents
1.
Fake payment proof
2.
The overpayment and refund trick
3.
Cheques and banker's drafts
4.
Test-drive theft
5.
Fake couriers, agents and "transport fees"
6.
Phishing links and fake "check" requests
7.
How to sell your car safely
8.
If you think you've been scammed
9.
Selling? Show buyers a clean history
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