Payment tips for private car sales, from the FTC

Checked against the federal odometer rule (49 CFR Part 580 on eCFR), NHTSA and FTC consumer pages on 2026-10-07. Rules change; the agency's current text and your state's instructions win.

Everything below is quoted from FTC consumer guidance at consumer.ftc.gov, which is free.

If you're selling

"Don't accept a check for more than the selling price. If someone sends you a check for more than the selling price and asks you to send money back to them, it's a scam."
"Never send money to anyone who says they overpaid you by check."

(FTC: Fake check scam targets online car sellers.) From the FTC's tips for selling online: "When a bank says the check cleared, that doesn't mean it was a good check." (FTC)

If you're buying

"Sellers try to rush the sale. Resist the pressure."
"They can't or won't meet in person or let you inspect the car."
About sellers who want payment by gift card or wire transfer: "If anyone tells you to pay that way, it's a scam. Every time."

(FTC: Put the brakes on phony online car sales)

For everyone

"Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone." (FTC: How To Avoid a Scam). More: fake check scams, what to do if you were scammed, and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Keep a record

The kit's payment and handover record tracks the method, the reference and when the funds were confirmed, next to the title and keys.

Not legal or tax advice. You can do every official step yourself, directly with your state. State motor vehicle offices publish their title and registration instructions free on their official websites, and most post the forms too. This kit is a paid planning convenience, not a requirement; you don't need it to buy or sell a car.

Get the Private-Party Car Sale Checklist (PDF + Word), $9

Instant download. 14-day no-questions refund. Edition 1.0, dated 2026-10-07. For a private sale in any U.S. state or DC; each state's own rules you read on its own pages.