 TITLE: How to Buy a Car From a Private Seller CONTENT: Watch Out for Private Seller Scams\n----------------------------------\nYou may be excited to buy a new car while avoiding a dealership, but you also want to watch out for scams. Scams can take different forms, but some common ones to watch out for include:\n*   **Title washing**: Even if it can run right now, you may want to avoid a car that has had significant damage that resulted in a salvage title. Sellers may try to \"wash\" the title by registering it in a new state. A VIN report can help reveal the car's true history.\n*   **Curbstoning**: Curbstoning refers to when a dealership pretends to be a private party selling a car, and it's illegal in many states. The seller may be offloading vehicles that have liens, bad titles or aren't safe to drive.\n*   **Fake escrow accounts**: A seller might not let you see the vehicle and tell you there's a lot of demand or they're in a rush to sell. They'll then ask you to send the money to a third-party escrow account to \"place a hold\" on the car or purchase it for delivery. In reality, however, they control the account and simply take your money once the transfer is complete.\n*   **Fake guarantees**: Sellers may also try to push a deal forward by telling you that there's a guarantee from whichever payment platform you use, which might not actually be the case. Some platforms do offer a level of protection, so make sure you understand your rights as a consumer before you agree to anything.\n**In general, it's best to avoid**:\n*   Sellers who say they're in a rush to sell a car for less than it's worth because of a health issue, move, military deployment or other \"emergency.\" Scam artists tend to ramp up the time pressure so you have less of a chance to think through the decision.\n*   Sellers who request you pay them with gift cards, reloadable prepaid cards or wire transfers.\n*   Sellers who refuse to meet you in person or let you have an independent mechanic or technician inspect the vehicle.\nWhile you can save money by buying a used car from a private seller rather than a dealership, set realistic expectations and don't let a seller pressure you into sending money. As with many major purchases, if a deal seems too good to be true, it's often best to move on. END