Verify car buyers & sellers before the test drive
Marketplace crimes are up 340% since 2021. Private vehicle sales create unique danger — you're meeting a stranger who knows you have cash, a valuable car, or both. Verify their identity in 10 seconds before the meetup.
340%
Crime increase since 2021
2,847
Marketplace robberies in 2024
$850
Average robbery loss
62%
Scam rate on marketplaces
Private car sales are uniquely dangerous
You're meeting a stranger who knows you have a valuable vehicle or cash. Test drives mean handing your keys to someone you've never met. Title fraud, stolen vehicles, and armed robberies make private sales a real risk.
Robbery during test drives
2,847 marketplace-related robberies were reported in 2024. Test drives are a prime robbery scenario — the buyer drives off with your car, or the seller robs the buyer who brought cash.
Fraudulent payment
Fake cashier's checks, bounced wire transfers, and counterfeit cash are common. Once you hand over the title, recovery is nearly impossible.
Title washing and stolen vehicles
VIN cloning and title washing disguise stolen or salvage vehicles as clean titles. Buyers lose both their money and the vehicle when it's seized.
Meeting at private residences
Many car sales require the buyer to visit the seller's home (or vice versa). Unlike marketplace items, vehicles can't easily be brought to a police safe zone.
No identity trail
Cash transactions leave no identity trail. If something goes wrong — stolen vehicle, title fraud, post-sale disputes — you have no verified record of who you dealt with.
Safety checklist for private vehicle sales
Buying or selling a car privately carries real risk. Follow these four steps to protect yourself whether the deal happens in a driveway or a parking lot.
Verify identity before meeting
Send a SnapTrust verification link before agreeing to a test drive. A real buyer or seller has no reason to refuse.
Use escrow for large amounts
Combine identity verification with an escrow service for payments over $5,000. Never accept wire transfers from unverified strangers.
Run a vehicle history report
Use Carfax or AutoCheck for the vehicle, and SnapTrust for the person. Authenticate both the car AND the seller.
Meet in public with verified identities
Meet at a police safe zone or public location. With both parties verified, you have an accountability trail.
For dealers: affordable KYC compliance
Car dealers handling cash transactions over $10,000 face IRS Form 8300 reporting requirements. Trust Certificates provide the identity documentation you need at a fraction of manual KYC costs.
Form 8300 support for cash transactions
IRS Form 8300 requires dealers to report cash payments over $10,000 and verify customer identity. A Trust Certificate captures the CDD data you need — legal name, DOB, and document details — in a signed, verifiable format.
$4.99 vs $15-50 for manual KYC
Traditional manual KYC checks cost $15-50 per customer and take days. A SnapTrust Trust Certificate is generated instantly for $4.99 with cryptographic proof that manual processes can't match.
5-year record retention
Trust Certificates are retained for 5 years, meeting the record-keeping requirements for cash transaction reporting. Each certificate has a unique reference number for audit trail purposes.
Compliance documentation, not legal advice
Trust Certificates provide identity documentation that supports your compliance program. The regulated entity retains ultimate responsibility for KYC/AML compliance. Consult your compliance officer or legal counsel for specific requirements.
SnapTrust vs Escrow.com
| Feature | SnapTrust | Escrow.com |
|---|---|---|
| Verifies | The person's identity | The payment only |
| Speed | 10 seconds | 3-5 business days |
| Cost | From $0.99 | 0.89% of transaction |
| In-person safety | Deters robbery with identity trail | No in-person protection |
| Biometric | 3D liveness scan | No biometric check |
| Cross-platform | Works with any listing site | Requires both parties to use Escrow |
Verify the person before the test drive
Before meeting any buyer or seller from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or AutoTrader — verify their identity with a 10-second biometric scan. Create an accountability trail that deters fraud and violence.
Found a car on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or AutoTrader? Before agreeing to a test drive, create a verification session from your dashboard.
Send the link to the buyer or seller via Messenger, text, or WhatsApp. They open it on their phone.
They complete a 10-second face scan — no app download, no account needed. Our 3D liveness check confirms they're a real person, not a fake profile.
You see the result instantly: a verified selfie tied to the transaction. Proceed with the test drive — or walk away if they refuse.
From $0.99. No subscription required.
End-to-end encrypted
Face data encrypted on your device before transmission.
iBeta Level 2 certified
ISO 30107-3 — the highest liveness standard.
10-second verification
No app download needed. Works in any browser.
Frequently asked questions
Other ways people use SnapTrust
Make every car sale safer
Carfax verifies the vehicle. SnapTrust verifies the person. Use both for safe private vehicle transactions.