Buyer or seller — start here
Close the deal
safely, anywhere.
The safe, simple way to buy or sell a car privately. You run the deal. We make it safe.
- Guaranteed funds
- Instant transfer
- Your account, your name
Start a deal
No buyer yet? List your car FREE →
Built for private-party deals
When to use PrivateAuto
When it's too big for Venmo or Cash App
Move thousands of dollars with guaranteed funds, not a payment app built for splitting dinner.
When you're dealing with a stranger
Know who you're dealing with, and that they own the car, before you ever meet.
When you've got the money and they've got the title
The money and title change hands at closing, with the paperwork already signed.
$18,400. A stranger. A parking lot on a Sunday.
And the money's in the seller's account, final, before the keys change hands.
Still owe on it? Our loan payoff service helps release the lien. →
Private sales without limits
Any deal. Any distance.
In person
Funds ready, clean title, meet up and done.
- Verify each other and confirm the title before you meet.
- Sign the paperwork in the app.
- Pay on the spot. The seller sees guaranteed funds before handing over the title and keys.
No cash, no cashier's check, no bank appointment.
Long distance
Buy across the country with confidence.
- Request an AI self-inspection or a mechanic inspection through Lemon Squad.
- Book transport right inside the deal.
- Send funds when the transporter is at the car.
Late pickup or Sunday night? Transfers work 24/7, so the deal still closes.
List anywhere. Close here.
Found your buyer on another site? Send one link and they join your deal. Both people get verified before the deal moves forward.
- Bring a buyer or seller from any marketplace.
- Keep your messages, paperwork, and payment here.
- Close with verified funds and instant payment.
Not an escrow agent. Not a middleman.
You run the deal. We make it safe.
Just you, the other person, and the tools to close the deal yourselves. Verify identities, confirm the title, sign the paperwork, and transfer money directly between accounts in each person's own name.
Secure Checkout
Every deal closes the same safe way.
Each step unlocks the next, guiding you from verification to payment.
- Get verified. Both people verify their identity. It's a one-time $5, good for 12 months, and already verified people skip right ahead.
- Confirm the vehicle. Agree on the VIN, mileage, and price.
- Verify the title. Check ownership and liens.
- Sign the documents. Complete the paperwork digitally.
- Pay with PrivateAuto Pay. Transfer verified funds instantly when you're both ready. Your closing fee is charged at that same moment, and not before.
SOC 2 Compliant — bank-grade security standards protect your data and funds end to end.
Guaranteed funds. Instant transfer. Available 24/7/365.
Your PrivateAuto Pay account is in your own legal name. Once payment lands, the funds are final and legally yours. Withdrawals are instant to FedNow-connected banks; otherwise standard ACH timing applies.
Get verified
Both people identity-verified
Confirm the vehicle
VIN, mileage, and price agreed
Verify the title
Ownership and liens checked
Sign the documents
Paperwork completed digitally
Pay with PrivateAuto Pay
Verified funds sent instantly
There’s a marketplace here too
Real cars, listed free.
Browse the marketplace and message sellers privately. When it's time to close, every deal starts with verification.
Not ready to deal?
List your car free.
Post your car, reach buyers, and message privately. No paywall. No card required.
- Add unlimited photos and vehicle details.
- Message without sharing your phone number.
- Ask buyers to get verified while you chat.
List my car free
No paywall, ever. We'll take you to PrivateAuto to finish.
Simple pricing
Free to list. $75 each to close.
$150 per deal, split between buyer and seller. No percentage of your sale, ever.
List your car
Free
Reach buyers and message privately.
- Marketplace listing
- Unlimited photos and details
- Private messaging
Premium listing options are available.
Secure Checkout
$75 each
$150 per deal, split between buyer and seller. Or one person can cover it.
- Identity and title verification
- Verified funds and instant payment
- Signed digital documents
Charged only if your deal closes.
Everyone in a deal gets verified first: a one-time $5, good for 12 months, and included with a Premium listing. We save your card when you verify, and charge your closing fee to it only if your deal closes.
Already have a buyer? Start a deal →
Everything a deal needs
Add what your deal needs.
Optional services you can add inside the deal.
Vehicle transport
Book door-to-door delivery and pay when the transporter is at the car.
Inspections
Choose a seller-completed AI self-inspection or a professional mechanic inspection through Lemon Squad.
Title services
Verify title information through DMV lookups without exposing personal information.
Loan payoff
We verify the loan and prepare the payoff paperwork so the title goes to the buyer once the lien is released.
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Questions, answered plainly.
What is PrivateAuto?
PrivateAuto is the transaction platform for private-party car sales. Verify identities, confirm the vehicle and title, sign the paperwork, and transfer money instantly between accounts in each person's own name.
I already have a buyer. Can I use PrivateAuto?
Yes. Choose Start a deal, enter the VIN, and send your buyer a secure deal link. No public listing is required. You both get verified first, a one-time $5 that's good for 12 months.
Can I use it for a car I found on another site?
Yes. Wherever you met, you can bring the transaction to PrivateAuto. Send the seller a deal link or ask them to start one.
Does PrivateAuto hold my money?
No. Your PrivateAuto Pay account is in your own legal name. Money moves directly from the buyer's account to the seller's account.
When does the seller get paid?
The moment the deal closes. The transfer is instant and final, including weekends and holidays. Moving money to an outside bank is a separate withdrawal.
What if there's still a loan on the car?
Our optional loan payoff service verifies the loan, prepares the payoff paperwork, and makes sure the title goes to the buyer once the lien is released.
What does it cost?
Listing is free, and Premium listing options are available. Everyone in a deal gets verified first, a one-time $5 that's good for 12 months. Closing is $75 each, $150 per deal split between buyer and seller, or one person can cover it. The closing fee is charged only if your deal closes.