Buyer safety guide

1. The golden rules

• See the vehicle and its papers in person before any money changes hands. No deposit, no "booking fee", no "transport fee".
• Never rush. A genuine seller will allow an inspection. Pressure ("another buyer is coming in an hour") is a warning sign.
• If the deal looks too good to be true, it usually is. Compare the price with similar vehicles.
• Keep records: the listing, your messages, the seller's details and every receipt.
• Trust your instincts and walk away if anything does not add up. Another vehicle will come along.

2. Get an independent mechanic's inspection

Photos and descriptions cannot show a worn gearbox, hidden accident repairs or a tampered odometer. Pay for an inspection by a mechanic you choose, not one the seller recommends.

• Book a qualified mechanic or a reputable inspection service. The cost is small compared with a bad purchase.
• Ask them to check the engine (cold start, smoke, leaks, noises), gearbox and clutch, suspension, steering, brakes, tyres, electrics, air conditioning and the underside for rust or repairs.
• Look for signs of accident repair: mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps, overspray on rubber seals, new bolts on old panels.
• Check that the chassis number and engine number on the vehicle match the registration papers, and that the number has not been tampered with.
• Ask for a written list of faults and an estimate of repair costs. Use it to negotiate or to walk away.
• If the seller refuses an independent inspection, do not buy.

3. Check the documents and the seller's authority to sell

Most vehicle scams and disputes come down to ownership. Take your time over this step.

Documents to see

• The registration book (proof of registered ownership). Check the owner's name, the registration number, and the chassis and engine numbers against the vehicle itself.
• The seller's identity document, shown to you in person so you can compare the name with the registration book. You may look at it; you do not need to copy or keep it unless you and the seller agree to attach copies to the sale agreement.
• A current vehicle licence and insurance, if the vehicle is road-legal, and any roadworthiness documents that apply.
• For imported vehicles: proof that import duty has been paid and the vehicle is cleared. If the listing says "not duty paid" or does not say, ask for the clearance documents and verify them with the relevant authority before you pay.
• Service history and receipts, if the seller has them.
• Ask whether there is money still owing on the vehicle (a loan, lien or hire purchase). If so, the lender may have a claim on it.

If the seller is not the registered owner

• Ask for a signed, dated written authority from the registered owner, with a copy of their identity document, and speak to the owner yourself on a number you can verify.
• For a deceased estate, ask for the documents showing who is allowed to sell, and consider asking a lawyer before paying.
• If the seller cannot explain the gap clearly, or becomes defensive, walk away.
• If you suspect the vehicle is stolen, do not confront the seller. Leave, and tell the police.

4. Test drive safely

• Meet somewhere public and busy, in daylight, and tell someone where you are going. Bring a friend or the mechanic. Avoid being alone at the seller's home or an isolated place.
• Check that you are insured or allowed to drive the vehicle, and that you hold a valid driving licence. Ask the seller to confirm in writing that you may test drive it.
• The seller should come with you. Do not hand over your keys, phone, wallet or any money as "security".
• Drive on different roads: slow traffic, a hill if possible, and a faster road. Listen for noises, check the brakes, steering pull, gear changes, warning lights and air conditioning.
• Start the engine cold if you can. A seller who warms the engine up before you arrive may be hiding a starting problem.
• Never agree to buy during the drive. Go back, think, and have the inspection done.

5. Put it in writing

A short written sale agreement protects both sides. Have a lawyer draw one up or review it if the amount is significant.

• Names, addresses and identity details of both parties, as they appear on their documents.
• The vehicle description: make, model, year, registration number, chassis number, engine number, colour and mileage at the time of sale.
• The agreed price and currency, the deposit (if any) and how and when the balance will be paid.
• What is included (spare wheel, tools, extra keys) and the condition it is sold in, including any known faults you have both noted.
• The seller's statement that they are the owner, that the vehicle is not stolen, and that nothing is owed on it.
• The date and place of handover, who pays for the ownership transfer, and what happens if the sale falls through.
• Signatures of both parties, ideally with a witness, and a copy for each.

Keep the agreement, the registration book copy, the receipts and your messages together.

6. Pay safely

• Pay only after you have inspected the vehicle, checked the documents and signed the agreement.
• Prefer a bank transfer or a payment made at the bank with both of you present, so there is a record. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and avoid counting cash in a private place.
• Pay the person named in the registration book. Be cautious about paying into a third party's account.
• Hand over the money when you receive the keys, the registration book and the signed agreement, not before.
• Never send money to a "shipping agent", "clearing agent" or "transport company" for a vehicle you have not seen, and never pay in gift cards, vouchers or cryptocurrency.
• Beware of fake payment proof: screenshots of "sent" transfers and mobile-money messages can be faked. Check that the money is really in the account before you hand anything over (and, if you are the one receiving, do the same).
• Never share PINs, one-time passwords or banking passwords with anyone, including someone claiming to be support staff.
• Always get a signed receipt that states the amount, date, vehicle and both names.

Private Wheels ZW does not hold or move your money and cannot recover payments you send outside the platform.

7. Red flags

• The price is far below similar vehicles, with a story to explain why (leaving the country, a bereavement, an urgent need for money).
• The seller asks for a deposit, "booking fee" or any payment before you have seen the vehicle.
• The seller is "abroad" or "away" and wants you to deal with an agent, or will not meet in person.
• The seller's name does not match the registration book, or they will not show the book.
• The photos look like a stock picture or advertisement, appear on other listings, or do not match the vehicle you are shown.
• You are pushed to decide quickly, to skip the inspection, or to meet somewhere isolated.
• The chassis or engine number is damaged, re-stamped or does not match the papers.
• The seller wants to move the conversation or the payment somewhere you cannot keep a record.

8. After you buy

• Complete the change of ownership promptly through the relevant authorities, with the seller, so the vehicle is registered in your name. Ask what is currently required before you meet.
• Arrange insurance and the vehicle licence in your name before you drive on public roads.
• Tell us the outcome from My enquiries. It keeps the marketplace honest and helps other buyers.

9. Report a problem

Use Report this listing or seller on any listing page to tell us about a fake listing, a misleading description, a suspicious price, a vehicle that is already sold, a suspected scam, inappropriate images, an unreachable seller, a duplicate listing or any other concern. You can attach screenshots.

• Reports are private. Only authorised administrators see them. We never publish a report, a reason or a count of reports, and the seller is not told who reported.
• A report is not a verdict. We check the facts, hear from the seller and record our reasoning. One report never removes a listing automatically.
• Every listing is approved by a person before it appears, and photos are screened for duplicates and problems, but screening is not a guarantee. Your own checks come first.
• If you have lost money, or you think a vehicle is stolen, contact the police as well.