How to Get Paid Safely For Your Car

You want to get paid for your car, but it's easier said than done. When you sell your car, receiving money is often the trickiest part of the whole transaction. Pretty much every form of payment has drawbacks—until now.

PrivateAuto has created an easy, secure solution that sets a new standard for transactional convenience. Think of it like Venmo for high-dollar transactions. Once you experience it, you'll wonder where it's been your whole life.

You need a convenient, secure, and fast payment method. It’s now here, and it’s known as PrivateAuto Pay.

Before we get into how amazing PrivateAuto Pay is, let’s look at why other forms of payment are less than fantastic.

Physical cash can be a bit sketchy, especially where large sums are involved.

Here are some drawbacks to receiving a physical cash payment:


PrivateAuto Pay allows you to get paid in cash—digitally. Actual dollars in your account, instantly. All the benefits of physical cash, none of the drawbacks.

If you're smart, you won't even think of accepting a personal check unless you wait for it to clear—and who wants to deal with that delay?

Cashier’s checks are more trustworthy, but even they can be forged. The only way for you to be absolutely certain a cashier’s check is good: meet the buyer at their bank and have the bank verify the funds.

If you want to skip the inconvenience (and the limited banker’s hours), welcome to PrivateAuto Pay.

Peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and PayPal have transfer limits, fees, or both.


In contrast, PrivateAuto was designed specifically for high-value private party car transactions:


While Venmo works great for splitting a restaurant tab, it just won’t cut it for a $33K Tundra. For a secure car payment solution with ironclad protections, choose PrivateAuto Pay.

Another common choice for reducing financial risk is a wire transfer or bank transfer. Traditional bank wire transfers are packed with limitations.

1. Slow. Transfers can take days to fully process as buyers coordinate multiple transactions due to low account limits. This delays sales and frustrates sellers.
2. Inconvenient. Transfers are clunky to set up.
3. Potentially risky. Exposing bank account details opens the door to fraud.

PrivateAuto Pay enables instant transfers between verified user accounts 24/7 with no limits or transfer fees. Encrypted data keeps your information secure.

PrivateAuto is PrivateAuto’s built-in banking integration that enables instant, secure, and fee-free funds transfers up to $1M. It’s a dream come true for car sellers.


OK, so PrivateAuto Pay is great and all, but it’s a service for users of PrivateAuto’s transactional marketplace.

We’ve now made PrivateAuto Pay available for sellers on other platforms such as Craigslist and eBay Motors. You can fast-track a transaction using our DealNow feature.

DealNow is a way to fast-track your transaction without the need to list your vehicle on PrivateAuto.

PrivateAuto is an end-to-end solution that allows you to list your vehicle for sale, do the deal, and get paid. But we understand that you may be listing your car for sale on other sites.

If you’ve found a buyer elsewhere—whether on Facebook Marketplace or from a friend of a friend—DealNow gives you our transactional workflow and payment infrastructure to get the deal done fast.

1. Invite the buyer to DealNow via a custom link.
2. Enjoy identity verification, in-app messaging, and a test drive scheduling feature (none of which require you to exchange contact info).
3. Meet the buyer and let the buyer drive your car.
4. You and the buyer go together through a step-by-step transaction process in which you each confirm relevant details right in the PrivateAuto mobile app. From mileage to the VIN to the condition of the vehicle, we help you both prevent any errors.
5. You and the buyer each electronically sign an official bill of sale. This is stored in your PrivateAuto account as a legal record you can refer to down the road.
6. The buyer is prompted to initiate payment.
7. You get a notification of funds received and confirm receipt of payment.
8. You sign over the car title and hand over the keys.

DealNow is so smooth, so safe, and so fast that you’ll never want to sell a car without it. No matter where you find your buyer—from eBay motors to Autotrader to your neighbor next door—DealNow will help you get the deal done and get paid, fast.

When selling your car, you need to be alert against scams, whether they are fake checks, fraudulent accounts, contested payments after the deal, or even outright vehicle theft.

PrivateAuto verifies buyer identities and offers binding legal paperwork and instant payments that cannot be canceled. You’ll never have to reveal your sensitive information, and you’ll always be protected.

Avoid fraud by using PrivateAuto to sell your car and by being vigilant.

Wait to transfer the vehicle title until you’ve confirmed payment. The last thing you want is to have a scammer drive away with your vehicle, title, and cash.

PrivateAuto gets your money to you instantly, so you’re safe to transfer the title and hand over the keys.

You’ll simply sign the title over to the buyer after verifying that all details are correct and that you’ve received funds into your PrivateAuto Pay account. That’s it. The buyer will then finish the title transfer at the DMV.

Complete the sales process easily and legally with the help of PrivateAuto. Our technology-driven platform helps you find verified buyers, sign documents online, and receive state-specific steps to complete the sale. PrivateAuto Pay gets you paid fast.

Sell your car on PrivateAuto today.

Interested in buying a used car? Browse used cars for sale by owner to find the ride of your dreams.

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