The right payment method should offer convenience, security, and financial protection between buyer and seller.
We created PrivateAuto Pay because other payment methods are too awkward, unworkable, or risky. It’s fee-free, instantaneous, secure, and it works 24/7, 365 days a year.
Before we get into how amazing it is, let’s look at why PayPal and Venmo are less than awesome.
Is Venmo a Good Payment Method?
Peer-to-peer money sharing apps like Venmo are handy for splitting bills and transferring funds to your friends and family. But when it comes to larger payments, like a car transaction, they fall short.
With a weekly sending limit of $5,000, Venmo won’t work for buying a $20,000 vehicle—to say nothing of a $100,000 vehicle.
Peer-to-peer apps make sense for splitting dinner, but not for buying a Land Rover Defender.
PrivateAuto Pay offers a better solution. You can securely send and receive up to $1 million fee-free and instantaneously, 24/7/365. As convenient as Venmo, but for large purchases.
Is PayPal a Good Payment Method?
PayPal lets you send up to $10,000 per transaction and $60,000 per day. Better than Venmo’s $5K per day, but still inadequate and awkward. Then there are the fees.
Unless you opt for the “friends and family” option (not recommended due to the added risk), PayPal charges a fee of 2.9%. For a $45K Silverado, that’s an extra $1,300 bucks you’d probably have better use for.
Plus, using PayPal is awkward. PrivateAuto Pay, in contrast, is integrated into your transaction workflow. After you and the seller are prompted to sign the bill of sale in the PrivateAuto app, you’ll be notified that it’s safe to initiate payment, and the seller will confirm receipt immediately. They can then transfer the car’s title and hand over the keys.
Introducing PrivateAuto Pay
PrivateAuto is the only safe, instantaneous, convenient, and contactless payment option for a used car transaction over $5,000. PrivateAuto Pay allows you to have escrow-like safeguards for free.
When it comes to buying and paying for your car, the benefits of PrivateAuto Pay include.
- Your PrivateAuto Pay account is actually a bank account that you own, on the PrivateAuto app.
- Easily move money between your PrivateAuto Pay and your external bank account via a balance transfer.
- Send up to $1 million instantly from your PrivateAuto Pay account to the seller’s.
- No exchange of contact information or banking info.
- Contactless payment reduces disease risk.
- Encrypted info protects your data from hackers.
- Peace of mind knowing you can pay immediately with no coordination needed.
- Conclude the entire transaction when you meet the seller for a test drive.
- Buy a car remotely and forgo costly and inconvenient escrow services.
Protect yourself by choosing PrivateAuto Pay. Avoid fees and transfer limits that come with paying for a car via PayPal or Venmo.
What is DealNow?
If you’ve already found a car that you want to buy—even if it’s not listed for sale on PrivateAuto—you can enjoy the power and convenience of PrivateAuto’s transactional infrastructure to get the deal done. DealNow allows you to skip the initial shopping and negotiation process and go straight to the transaction.
Whether your dream car is listed on Facebook Marketplace, is being sold by a friend of a friend, or is being auctioned on a site such as Bring a Trailer, you can invite the seller to DealNow and enjoy unparalleled security and convenience.
DealNow helps you avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact online.
Here are some of the advantages of using DealNow:
- Streamlines the transaction process when you already have a car in mind
- Bypasses the shopping, messaging, and negotiation steps
- Provides end-to-end transaction support including legal documents and instant payments
- Enables you to close a deal after meeting a seller on another platform—or in real life
- Gives you escrow-like safeguards in the palm of your hand
- Allows long distance transactions with instant payment capabilities
- Saves money and time by eliminating the need for an escrow service
- Reduces risk through identity verification safeguards
- Saves time by concluding deals faster
- Instant person-to-person money transfers with no limits
- Access to convenient services, such as vehicle transport, inspection, DMV title checks, and more
DealNow is so smooth, so safe, and so fast that you’ll never want to buy a car without it!
What is the Best Way to Finance a Car?
PrivateAuto offers auto financing via a third-party FDIC lender that is integrated into our technology infrastructure. This integration makes the financing process a seamless part of your PrivateAuto deal flow. Here’s how it works:
1. Apply for financing through the PrivateAuto app and get approved after a credit check.
2. Our lending partner funds your PrivateAuto Pay account.
3. You buy the car and pay the seller instantly via PrivateAuto Pay.
4. You make car payments to the lender.
It’s so smooth, you’ll wonder why this wasn’t available all along. Gone are the days of coordinating between seller and lender and trying to get everything lined up.
Here are some other key advantages:
- Everything happens in the PrivateAuto app, from car search all the way through securing your auto loan and sending payment to the seller.
- Fast approvals. Get approved in minutes without having to fill out extensive paperwork.
- Funds deposit quickly. Once approved, you’ll have funding deposited into your PrivateAuto account within days.
- Instant transfers. Send money instantly to the seller right from your PrivateAuto Pay account.
- Competitive rates. PrivateAuto offers financing from an FDIC partner that offers competitive loan rates.
If you’re in the market, feel free to get started with car financing here!
How to Avoid Fraud When Buying a Car
Unfortunately, when purchasing a car privately, fraud is a major problem. Scammers use a variety of methods, such as faked vehicle histories, odometer tampering, or salvage title scams.
We offer vehicle history reports with all premium listings and also have identity verification. These measures cut down significantly on fraudsters, but it always pays to be vigilant.
Don’t let a seller rush you into accepting a high price or paying without verifying the details and test driving. If a seller gives you a high-pressure “act now or lose out” ultimatum, it’s best to walk away. If the car is priced fairly, there will be other listings available without undue seller pressure.
The key is taking your time—carefully inspecting the car, verifying the VIN, test driving carefully, and not paying until you’re confident about going through with the transaction.
PrivateAuto gives you safeguards such as seller identity verification, keeping your sensitive info secret, test drive scheduling, and instant payments via PrivateAuto Pay.
When I Buy a Car From a Private Seller, Can I Drive it Home?
Most states require the seller to remove their license plates before turning the car over to you, so you’ll be driving without plates. You should check with your local DMV to see what they advise.
In general, here’s what to know about driving your new-to-you vehicle home after the purchase.
1. In most states, you can legally drive a newly purchased vehicle home without temporary tags or registration, provided you have a bill of sale and title transfer paperwork with you. However, be sure to check your state’s DMV regulations before hitting the road.
2. Some states do give temporary registration tags that let you drive for a short period before receiving permanent plates in mail. For example, in California, you can get a temporary operating permit to drive for 90 days after a private party purchase. Check with your local DMV on options.
3. If you register the car immediately, some DMV offices can provide same-day temporary permits after processing the title transfer paperwork.
4. If you already have auto insurance, contact your provider to add the new car to your policy before driving it. If not, you’ll need to purchase a new policy. Insurance is required to drive legally.
5. Keep documentation like the bill of sale, title paperwork, and insurance card with you when first driving the car. Also, be prepared to explain the situation if pulled over before receiving plates.
You might find our state-by-state guide to license plates a handy resource. It covers what happens with license plates when a used car is sold, and you can learn more about the requirements of your state.
What to Do After I Buy a Car from a Private Seller?
Buying a car from a private seller rather than a dealership requires a few extra steps to make sure you can legally drive and register the car.
Key steps after buying a car privately are registering the vehicle, transferring the title, and getting new plates issued in your name (unless you’re in California or Minnesota).
Here are some more details on handling those specific post-purchase tasks:
- When you purchase the car, the seller should provide you with the signed title. Review it to make sure their name is listed and they signed it over to you.
- Before driving off, contact your insurance company to add the car to your policy. You typically need valid insurance in your name to drive legally. Make sure you have proof of insurance.
- Head to the DMV as soon as possible to transfer the title to your name and register the car. Bring the title, bill of sale, ID, and insurance documents. Pay any required car sales taxes and registration fees.
- The DMV will provide you with new registration documents and license plates for the car in your name. These are required to legally drive the car.
- All states except California and Minnesota: remove the old license plates and put on the new ones. Destroy the old registration and replace it with the new one for your records.
- Consider having the car inspected for safety and emissions testing if required in your state. The DMV can provide guidance.
- Notify your insurance company that the car is now registered in your name. Provide them the new VIN, plates, and registration.
Buying a car is a lot like starting a new relationship. You’ll be spending a lot of time together. Start things off right by handling all the details associated with buying a car from a private seller.
Buy a Car Through PrivateAuto
You’ll love how smooth and secure the car buying process is when you use the PrivateAuto mobile app.
1. Browse used cars for sale by owner. Filter by location, vehicle type, or other criteria.
2. Make offers on vehicles you like (PrivateAuto lets you offer less than the asking price)
3. Message the seller with any questions without giving your contact info
4. Schedule the test drive while keeping your personal details private
5. Electronically sign the bill of sale along with the seller
6. Instantly send payment and take ownership of the car when the seller signs the title and gives you the keys
Looking to sell your car? Create a listing on PrivateAuto and connect with interested buyers today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of buying from a private seller vs car dealers?
Many people believe that buying a car from a dealer will save them money. Actually, going to a dealer is more expensive.
– Dealerships charge documentation fees above and beyond all the other taxes and fees you have to pay (the other taxes and fees are exactly the same whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller, by the way). Documentation fees can be as high as $995.
– Used vehicle dealerships usually have higher prices. Their business model is built around buying low and selling high to generate the spread that allows them to stay in business. To get the best deals, avoid the middleman and deal directly with private sellers.
When you buy a used car from a private seller on PrivateAuto, you avoid the doc fee and get a better deal.
We admit that buying from a dealer provides a level of convenience that is not typically available when buying from a private seller. That is, after all, why we exist. PrivateAuto gives you dealer-like convenience while also allowing you to transact with regular people like yourself.
Cutting out the middleman unlocks major savings. Our pioneering protections, like verified IDs and secure messaging, enable private sales with peace of mind. Buy directly from motivated sellers on your terms.
What is the best place to buy a car from a private seller?
PrivateAuto is the best place to buy a car online from a private seller. We are the world’s only transactional automotive marketplace that provides the infrastructure and tools to transact securely. Other so-called “marketplaces” are actually just “meeting places”; they connect a buyer and a seller, but don’t support the transaction.
You can browse used cars for sale on PrivateAuto, but what if you don’t find the car you want? Maybe your perfect vehicle is listed on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or AutoTrader.
No problem. Find a car on another platform, then hop over to PrivateAuto to conclude the deal securely and quickly. Our DealNow fast-track solution gives you PrivateAuto’s seamless transaction support. Built-in tools like verified identities, legally binding documents, and lightning fast payments up to $1 million.
So if your dream car pops up somewhere else, no problem! Use DealNow to wrap up the deal conveniently and safely. PrivateAuto’s first-of-its-kind transactional tools enable smooth purchases regardless of where you discover the ideal set of wheels.
Is paying with a check better than paying in cash?
Many buyers prefer a cashier’s check for payment rather than cash.
A cashier’s check is more trustworthy than a personal check. However, unless you’re standing in front of the issuing bank during business hours and they verify the funds, the seller—if they’re smart—won’t see it as foolproof. Criminals have forged counterfeit cashier’s checks to con sellers.
To be absolutely sure your cashier’s check is valid, some sellers wait for it to clear their bank before releasing the title. This puts pressure on you to pay a large sum while trusting the seller to sign over the car later. It also means meeting twice, which is inconvenient.
PrivateAuto is safe, instantaneous, and guaranteed. With PrivateAuto Pay, funds instantly appear in the seller’s account, unlike a cashier’s check. The entire transaction can be concluded when you meet for a test drive.
While cashier’s checks are a step up from personal checks, they’re not all that great. For convenience and instant, guaranteed payments, use PrivateAuto Pay.
Does PrivateAuto provide the necessary paperwork for a successful transfer of ownership?
PrivateAuto has all the paperwork you need to buy a car in any state. Each state requires different paperwork to legally transfer titles and buy vehicles from a private party. Many states require a bill of sale. Some states have their own specific forms that are required to buy or sell a vehicle in the state.
PrivateAuto manages all these forms and makes them available for both buyers and sellers to electronically sign. The entire process is only accessible by the buyer and seller, which reduces the risk of identity theft. It can be difficult to keep up with state-specific laws, particularly if you’ve moved states recently, so use PrivateAuto to ensure a smooth and legal transaction.
Do I need an escrow service when buying a car privately?
If you’ve found a good used vehicle and are ready to buy it, a legitimate escrow service can help the transaction go smoothly. Unfortunately, escrow services are expensive and cumbersome.
PrivateAuto gives you escrow-like safeguards in the palm of your hand. Where escrow services charge exorbitant fees, PrivateAuto Pay is free.
Read how PrivateAuto Pay enables remote vehicle transactions to learn more about how it can replace escrow.
Can I pay by bank transfer for a used car?
You can pay for a car via bank transfer if a seller is willing to give out their banking info. Many sellers will be uncomfortable exposing their sensitive financial information to strangers.
Aside from the risk, bank transfers are inconvenient, requiring some coordination. They also take time to clear, meaning you won’t be able to close the deal in one go.
Given these downsides, wire transfers are a suboptimal payment method, especially when you could be using PrivateAuto Pay.
PrivateAuto Pay enables instant, secure transfers without these issues. So you can conveniently and safely pay a private seller electronically in seconds, anytime 24/7.
Caleb Whittle
Contributing Author
Caleb Whittle is the Chief Marketing Officer at PrivateAuto. He’s based in Utah and has had a passion for education and learning throughout his life. Helping others understand the nuances of buying & selling cars has become his mission through content creation and writing. His current dream car is a Tesla Model S Plaid.