Vehicle scam check
Is the car even real? Find out before you pay.
Fake car listings cost buyers deposits every day. A local inspector goes to the vehicle, confirms it exists and matches the VIN in the listing, and sends you dated photos, before you send money or book a trip.
What the inspector confirms
Vehicle confirmed means the car was at the address when the inspector visited and its VIN plate and door sticker matched the VIN in your listing. Nothing more.
- Confirms the vehicle is physically at the address, with a dated photo or short video of the whole car
- Photographs the VIN plate and the door-jamb sticker and compares them to the VIN in your listing
- Photographs the odometer and the license plate
- Notes whether the seller shows up, and photographs any title or paperwork the seller chooses to show. The inspector does not check that documents are genuine
- Gives you a clear result with the photos, sent once the inspector has visited: vehicle confirmed, or could not confirm. Visit timing depends on inspector availability and the seller’s schedule
What it is not
- No road test and no mechanical or body condition findings. For that, upgrade to a full inspection.
- It does not verify title, liens, or that the seller owns the car.
- It does not make a sale safe. Never wire money to a seller you have not independently verified.
- A VIN match is not proof the car is not stolen. VIN plates can be cloned. Run the VIN through NICB VINCheck and your state DMV, and check the title, before you pay.
- It shows the car was there when the inspector visited. It cannot stop a seller from moving, selling or swapping the car afterward.
How it works
01
Send us the listing
Paste the listing link and the address where the seller says the car is.
02
An inspector goes there
A local, vetted inspector meets the seller at the car. You never have to travel.
03
You get the photos and the answer
Dated photos of the car, VIN and odometer, plus a plain result: vehicle confirmed, or could not confirm (not there, VIN mismatch, or the seller would not show it).
Wiring money from abroad? If a seller is pressing for a deposit before you can see the car, the existence check is a cheap first step. See the US car export inspection for overseas buyers.
Common questions
- What is a vehicle scam check?
- A short on-site visit by a local inspector to confirm that the car in an online listing is real, is at the address given, and carries the VIN in the listing. You get dated photos and a plain result before you send a deposit or book a flight.
- How is this different from a full pre-purchase inspection?
- A full inspection documents the car’s condition and mechanical health. The scam check only answers whether the car exists and matches its VIN, which is why it costs less. If the car is real and you want to know its condition, you can book a full inspection next.
- What if the car is not at the address?
- The inspector reports exactly that, with photos of the location. That result is strong evidence the listing is not genuine. Do not send a deposit until you have answered it.
- Am I charged if the car or the seller is not there?
- Yes. Under our Terms of Service the $199 fee is charged once the inspector has begun travel to the address, whatever the result, including when the car or the seller is not there. That answer is what you are paying for. If we cannot match an inspector within 72 hours of booking, nothing is charged. If you cancel after an inspector has scheduled the visit but before they begin travel, the $149 cancellation fee in the Terms applies.
- Does this tell me the sale is legitimate?
- No. It confirms the vehicle exists and matches its VIN. It does not verify title, liens or ownership, and it cannot guarantee a seller is honest. Do not wire money or send gift cards to a seller you have not verified, whatever any report says.
- What if the seller will not let the inspector look at the car?
- We report that too. A seller who refuses an independent, buyer-paid check is a red flag worth weighing on its own.
- Where do you operate?
- Across the US through a network of local inspectors. Coverage varies by area. If we cannot match an inspector to the car’s location within 72 hours of your booking, nothing is charged.
Buying from a marketplace listing? Read what to check before you buy on Facebook Marketplace.
Confirm the car exists before you send a dollar.
A local inspector, dated photos and a plain answer for $199.
Book a scam check