Should I get a car inspected before I buy it on Craigslist or OfferUp?

Yes. A private seller may owe fewer disclosures than a dealer, the rules differ by state, and a cash sale usually has no return window. OfferUp’s help center says a personal and professional inspection is essential on a used vehicle (archived copy, 2025-08-09). The FTC says experts agree you should have an independent mechanic inspect a used car before you buy it (June 2019 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-08). A mobile inspector meets the seller at the car and photographs the VINs. The inspector compares them with the listing and the title, if shown, and documents condition before any money moves.

How should I pay a private seller on Craigslist or OfferUp?

Pay only after you have seen and inspected the car. Craigslist lists payment before meeting in person under what not to do and says requests to wire money are scams. OfferUp says to pay in cash or with a cashier’s check issued by your bank and calls wires, gift cards and vouchers “not recommended” (archived copy, 2025-08-09). The FTC says that if anyone tells you to pay for a car with gift cards or by wire transfer, “it’s a scam. Every time.” (June 2019 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-08). Our advice: never pay through an escrow service the seller introduces. Vehicle Inspectors never holds your money.

Will the seller let an inspector look at the car?

Some will and some will not, and we cannot promise any seller will agree. The inspector contacts the seller directly to set a time. Ask the seller before you book. A seller who refuses an independent inspection, or who allows one only after you have paid, has given you a reason to slow down.

Can the inspection happen at an OfferUp Community MeetUp Spot?

It can if the seller and the host allow it. Ask both. OfferUp’s help center says it partners with local businesses and police stations to provide official Community MeetUp Spots (archived copy, 2026-06-15). The inspector needs room to open the doors and hood and, where it is legal and safe, to drive the car. Ask the seller to choose a spot that allows that, and tell us the location when you book.

How do I check the title and VIN before I pay?

Use three checks. First, the inspector reads and photographs the VIN on the dash and the door-jamb label. The inspector compares them with the listing and, if the seller shows it, the title. Second, the FTC points buyers to vehiclehistory.gov for free information about title, odometer and condition (July 2024 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-01). The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) site encourages an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report. Third, confirm lien status and registration with your state DMV. The inspector cannot certify a title.

How much does it cost, and when is my card charged?

Vehicle Inspectors publishes three flat tiers: Bronze $249, Silver $349 and Gold $449. All three cover the same systems and the same 25+ photos. Your card is saved at booking and charged after the inspection is completed. If you cancel after an inspector has scheduled your inspection, a $149 cancellation fee is charged to your card on file. No fee if you cancel before an inspector schedules, if your inspector cancels, or if we can't find you an inspector.

The seller says another buyer is coming today. How fast can you get there?

Dispatch typically takes 24 to 72 hours from booking depending on the market, and the report follows within 24–48 hours of the visit. Same-day arrival is not something we promise. A seller who will not hold the car for a day or two while you pay for an inspection is applying pressure, and pressure is a reason to slow down.

Craigslist · OfferUp · private-seller car inspection

Buying a Car on Craigslist or OfferUp: Get It Inspected Before You Pay

Yes, get a Craigslist or OfferUp car inspected before you hand over cash, because a parking-lot sale usually has no return window. A vetted local inspector meets the seller at the car. The inspector photographs the VINs on the dash and door-jamb label and compares them with the listing. If the seller shows the title, it is photographed too. The report arrives in 24–48 hours, from $249.

Paste the listing and book, from $249 See a sample report

Why does a cash deal in a parking lot need an inspection?

Because a private-seller cash sale usually has no return window, the inspection is the only independent check you get before you pay. Do not assume the mileage, the title or the photos in a private listing have been checked until someone independent looks at the car. If you are comparing this with a similar private sale, the Facebook Marketplace inspection page covers the same risks.

Private sellers may owe fewer disclosures

A private seller may owe you fewer disclosures than a dealer, and the rules differ by state. Check your state DMV. Once you pay, there is usually no return window, so finding the problems is mostly the buyer’s job.

Cash cannot be taken back

Once you pay cash in a parking lot, there is usually no return window and no one to ask for a refund. The rules differ by state, so check your state DMV. The only protection is what you learn before you pay. That is why the order matters: inspect first, pay second.

The car in the listing is not always the car at the meetup

Photos can come from another vehicle, another year or a cleaner example. The VIN on the dash, the VIN on the door label and the VIN on the title have to agree with each other and with the listing. A buyer in a parking lot rarely has the time or the tools to check all of that.

Curbstoners sell like private parties

A curbstoner is an unlicensed dealer who resells cars through personal accounts to avoid dealer rules. The title may not be in the seller’s name. An inspection documents the car and the paperwork the seller would rather you did not look at closely.

What do Craigslist, OfferUp and the FTC say about buying a car?

OfferUp and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advise an independent inspection before you buy a used car. Craigslist says to meet in person and not to pay before you meet. The quotes below are copied from their own pages. Wording changes, so check each page before you rely on it.

Facts on this page were last checked on 2026-10-31.

Craigslist

Craigslist’s page says to deal locally, face to face, and that this one rule avoids the vast majority of scam attempts. It also says to arrange to meet in a safe, public place. Its list of what not to do and what to beware of includes:

“provide or accept payment before meeting in person”
“requests to wire money are scams”
“requests to use an escrow service can be a scam”

Source: Craigslist scam-avoidance page. Read on October 31, 2026.

OfferUp

OfferUp’s help center says:

“A personal and professional inspection is essential, especially when purchasing a used vehicle.”
“Purchasing vehicles sight-unseen is never advised and is done at the buyer’s own risk.”
“For local items, never pay in advance. You should always meet up to inspect an item before you pay for it.”

For a private-seller purchase, OfferUp’s vehicle article says to pay in cash or with a cashier’s check issued by your bank. It calls electronic or wire transfers, gift cards and other vouchers “not recommended”.

Source: OfferUp “Buying a vehicle” help article (archived copy, 2025-08-09) and OfferUp “Common buying and selling scams” help article (archived copy, 2026-03-09). We read archived copies of these pages. The first two quotes are from the vehicle article and the third is from the scams article. Check the live pages for the current wording.

Federal Trade Commission, 2019 alert

In its June 2019 alert about phony online car sales, the FTC describes payment by gift card or wire transfer. It says:

“If anyone tells you to pay that way, it’s a scam. Every time.”
“But experts agree that you should have an independent mechanic inspect a used car before you buy it.”

Source: FTC consumer alert, June 2019 (archived copy, 2026-06-08). Read from an archived copy. Check the live page for current wording.

Federal Trade Commission, 2024 alert

In its July 2, 2024 alert about buying a used car online, the FTC says:

“Get help from an independent mechanic. This is a good idea even if the car has been ‘certified’ or inspected by the dealer.”
“Start at vehiclehistory.gov to get free information about a vehicle’s title, the most recent odometer reading, and condition.”

Source: FTC consumer alert, July 2, 2024 (archived copy, 2026-06-01). Read from an archived copy. Check the live page for current wording.

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) on title checks

The NMVTIS buying-tips page states that before buying, consumers are “strongly encouraged to obtain an independent vehicle inspection, get an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report via vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov, and consult other available vehicle information resources”.

Source: NMVTIS buying tips. Read on October 31, 2026.

Vehicle Inspectors is an independent inspection service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Craigslist, OfferUp or the FTC.

What does the inspector check at the meetup?

The inspector checks what a buyer cannot check alone in a parking lot, on site and with photos. The inspector also does the full pre-purchase inspection of the car, every time.

VIN matched on the dash, the door label and the listing

The inspector reads and photographs the VIN on the dash and on the door-jamb label. Those are compared with the VIN in the listing and, if the seller shows the title, the VIN on the title. A mismatch or a label that looks newer than the car is documented in the report.

The title, read in person

If the seller shows it, the inspector photographs the title. The inspector notes whether the name matches the seller, whether a lienholder is listed, and whether it carries a salvage, rebuilt, flood or lemon brand. Lien status and registration are yours to confirm with your state DMV before you pay.

Odometer against wear

Pedal rubber, steering-wheel finish, driver-seat bolster and brake-rotor lip are compared with the mileage shown. A low odometer on a worn interior is documented with photos.

Flood and collision signs the listing left out

Silt in the spare-tire well, corrosion on seat-track bolts, water lines under the dash, uneven panel gaps and overspray on trim. On Gold, paint-depth readings panel by panel show filler and repaint.

Fault codes and a road test

Stored trouble codes are read on 1996 and newer vehicles. A scan reports what the car’s computer holds on the day. The road test covers shifting, pulling, braking, noise and vibration where it is legal and safe to drive.

Photos and a dated report

Every finding is photographed. The report is dated. If the car you are asked to pay for is not the car in the report, you have an independent record.

How does a Craigslist or OfferUp inspection work?

A vetted local inspector contacts the seller, meets the car and sends a photo report within 24–48 hours of the visit. You do not send the seller anything and you do not pay up front. If you want to know how the mobile model works in general, read the mobile pre-purchase inspection page.

Book with the listing link

Paste the Craigslist or OfferUp link at booking, or enter the car’s city and state. Choose a tier. Your card is saved, not charged.

The inspector contacts the seller

We match a vetted local inspector, who contacts the seller to set a time. Dispatch typically takes 24 to 72 hours depending on the market. You do not need to be there.

The inspector meets the car

The inspector goes to the car, or to the public place the seller prefers. Ask the seller whether an OfferUp Community MeetUp Spot works. The visit runs 60 to 90 minutes on Bronze and Silver and 90 to 120 minutes on Gold.

Report in 24–48 hours, then you decide

You get a photo report with VIN photos, title photos if the seller shows the title, and a plain-English go / caution / stop summary. Pay, negotiate or decline the car, and only then move money.

Before you book anything

What are the red flags of a curbstoner or a scam?

None of these proves the car is bad. Each one is a reason not to send money until an inspector has seen the car and the title. A seller who will not allow that has given you your answer. For a listing you think may not be real, the scam check confirms the car exists and matches its VIN.

The title is not in the seller’s name, is “open” (signed by a previous owner and never transferred), or is “at the bank” or “with my cousin”.
The same phone number or account has several cars listed, or the account is new with no history.
The seller will not meet at the address on the registration and insists on a parking lot or “a friend’s place”.
The seller refuses an independent inspection, or will only allow one after you commit.
The seller asks for a deposit, a hold fee or full payment before you or an inspector has seen the car.
The seller says “selling for a family member” or “just needs a sensor” and offers no further detail or paperwork.
The price is well under market for the year and mileage, and the seller wants to finish the sale the same day.
The seller asks for payment by wire, gift card or an escrow service the seller introduces.

What does the inspection not cover?

An inspection lowers risk and does not remove it. Run a VIN decode with the free VIN lookup, add a CARFAX report if you want one, and confirm the title and lien with your state DMV.

Not a title search

The inspector cannot certify that a title is clean, that a lien is cleared or that the car can be registered. Use the NMVTIS site and your state DMV for that.

Not a read on the seller

The inspector cannot certify that a seller is honest. The report documents the car and the paperwork shown at the meetup.

No lift, no teardown

The inspector does not raise the car on a lift or take anything apart. A problem inside a sealed component can stay hidden.

No warranty

The report is a dated record of condition on the day of the visit. It is not a warranty and it does not predict future failures.

No handling of money or paperwork

Vehicle Inspectors does not hold your payment, file paperwork or ship the car. Payment and transfer stay between you and the seller.

Which tier should you pick?

Prices are flat, so the cost does not change by city. The full list is on the pricing page, and the comparison page shows how other inspection services price and charge.

Bronze

$249

Pick Bronze for a lower-priced car. It gives you an independent look at the body, underbody, tires, interior, engine, drivetrain, electrical items and stored fault codes, with 25+ photos, a VIN check, and the title if the seller shows it.

Book Bronze

Silver

$349

Pick Silver when the battery, brakes or A/C matter, for example on an older or higher-mileage car. Silver adds a battery load test, brake pad and rotor measurement, and A/C and heater temperature readings.

Book Silver

Gold

$449

Pick Gold for higher-value cars or when accident history or electronics are the worry. Gold adds paint-depth readings panel by panel and live OBD-II data on an extended road test.

Book Gold

Buying somewhere else, or from another state?

The inspection works the same wherever the car is listed. These pages cover the details that differ.

Facebook Marketplace: The same private-seller risks on a different listing site
eBay Motors: Inspect before the auction ends or before you pay
Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids: Pre-bid inspection for online enthusiast auctions
Scam check: A short on-site visit that confirms the car exists and matches its VIN
VIN lookup: Decode a VIN before you book
Mobile pre-purchase inspection: How the inspector comes to the car in all 50 states
Out-of-state buying: Inspect a car in another state before you travel
Dealer program vs independent: How a dealer’s own inspection differs from an independent one

Common questions

Should I get a car inspected before I buy it on Craigslist or OfferUp?: Yes. A private seller may owe fewer disclosures than a dealer, the rules differ by state, and a cash sale usually has no return window. OfferUp’s help center says a personal and professional inspection is essential on a used vehicle (archived copy, 2025-08-09). The FTC says experts agree you should have an independent mechanic inspect a used car before you buy it (June 2019 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-08). A mobile inspector meets the seller at the car and photographs the VINs. The inspector compares them with the listing and the title, if shown, and documents condition before any money moves.
How should I pay a private seller on Craigslist or OfferUp?: Pay only after you have seen and inspected the car. Craigslist lists payment before meeting in person under what not to do and says requests to wire money are scams. OfferUp says to pay in cash or with a cashier’s check issued by your bank and calls wires, gift cards and vouchers “not recommended” (archived copy, 2025-08-09). The FTC says that if anyone tells you to pay for a car with gift cards or by wire transfer, “it’s a scam. Every time.” (June 2019 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-08). Our advice: never pay through an escrow service the seller introduces. Vehicle Inspectors never holds your money.
Will the seller let an inspector look at the car?: Some will and some will not, and we cannot promise any seller will agree. The inspector contacts the seller directly to set a time. Ask the seller before you book. A seller who refuses an independent inspection, or who allows one only after you have paid, has given you a reason to slow down.
Can the inspection happen at an OfferUp Community MeetUp Spot?: It can if the seller and the host allow it. Ask both. OfferUp’s help center says it partners with local businesses and police stations to provide official Community MeetUp Spots (archived copy, 2026-06-15). The inspector needs room to open the doors and hood and, where it is legal and safe, to drive the car. Ask the seller to choose a spot that allows that, and tell us the location when you book.
How do I check the title and VIN before I pay?: Use three checks. First, the inspector reads and photographs the VIN on the dash and the door-jamb label. The inspector compares them with the listing and, if the seller shows it, the title. Second, the FTC points buyers to vehiclehistory.gov for free information about title, odometer and condition (July 2024 alert, archived copy, 2026-06-01). The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) site encourages an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report. Third, confirm lien status and registration with your state DMV. The inspector cannot certify a title.
How much does it cost, and when is my card charged?: Vehicle Inspectors publishes three flat tiers: Bronze $249, Silver $349 and Gold $449. All three cover the same systems and the same 25+ photos. Your card is saved at booking and charged after the inspection is completed. If you cancel after an inspector has scheduled your inspection, a $149 cancellation fee is charged to your card on file. No fee if you cancel before an inspector schedules, if your inspector cancels, or if we can't find you an inspector.
The seller says another buyer is coming today. How fast can you get there?: Dispatch typically takes 24 to 72 hours from booking depending on the market, and the report follows within 24–48 hours of the visit. Same-day arrival is not something we promise. A seller who will not hold the car for a day or two while you pay for an inspection is applying pressure, and pressure is a reason to slow down.

Have an inspector look at the car before you pay.

Vetted mobile inspectors in all 50 states, VIN photographed on site (and the title, if shown), photo report in 24–48 hours, from $249. Your card is saved at booking and charged after the inspection is completed.

Book a Craigslist or OfferUp car inspection

Craigslist and OfferUp are names of their respective owners, used here only to say where the listing is.