10 Car Buying Scams Every First-Time Buyer Should Know

Buying a car is a big moment, whether it's your first motor or you're upgrading to something newer. But it’s also a prime opportunity for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers.

From fake listings to dodgy paperwork, car scams in the UK are more common than most people think. And once you’ve handed over the money, it’s too late to fix the damage in many cases.

This guide breaks down the most common car buying scams, how to spot them, and what to do to avoid them.

Why car buying scams are rising in the UK

The UK’s used car market is booming. According to new data from AutoTrader, the average retail price of a used car hit £16,984 in April 2025, up 1.5% from the month before. That’s the sharpest monthly rise since April 2023. On top of that, cars sold in an average of just 27 days, marking the fastest April on record.

In 2024, the UK used car market pulled in an estimated £64 billion in revenue. And it's not slowing down; forecasts expect it to grow to nearly £86 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of about 5%.

Where there’s money and demand, scammers follow. In Q3 of 2024, reports of fraud and scam complaints to the UK ombudsman rose by 45% to 9,091 cases.

The rising cost of living has pushed more drivers to the second-hand market. People want value, and they want it fast. But that environment also creates the perfect storm for fraud: high-value transactions, a rush to buy, and online listings that are easy to fake.

Scam listings pop up on even the most reputable platforms. And with so many private sellers and fast-moving deals, it’s getting harder to tell the difference between a legit bargain and a costly trap.

The 10 most common car buying scams (and how to avoid them)

Not every seller is out to rip you off, but the ones who tend to use the same tricks again and again. Whether you're buying from a private seller or a dealership, online or in person, the red flags often look familiar once you know what to watch for.

Here are ten of the most common scams you’ll run into when buying a car in the UK:

1. Facebook Marketplace scams

According to TSB, UK households lost an estimated £60 million on the platform last year, with buyers losing about £160,000 per day. Car scams make up a decent chunk of that total.

Here’s how it usually works:

A scammer posts a listing for a car that’s priced just low enough to seem like a great deal, but still believable. The photos might be stolen from a real ad and the description looks legit.

Once you message them, they act fast. They’ll often say they’ve had “lots of interest” and pressure you to send a deposit to hold the car. They might say they’re “away with work” or “selling on behalf of a relative” to avoid meeting in person. But once the money’s sent, the listing vanishes along with the scammer.

2. Listing site imitation scams

Sometimes, scammers spoof popular UK listing sites using a similar-sounding site name or a typo (e.g. autotradr.co.uk instead of autotrader.co.uk), like this fake auction site (Silantlea Limited) duping the real company by that name.

The goal? Make you think you’re browsing a real classified ad when you’re actually on a fake site they control.
Once you're on the fake page, everything looks normal: a clean layout, a tempting car listing, maybe even a well-written seller description. But the contact forms, payment links, and emails all route through the scammer.

Some even create fake “vehicle holding” pages where they claim your payment is being securely held until the car is delivered. Spoiler: the car doesn’t exist.

Before going through with a transaction, make double sure you’re on the real site.

3. The fake eBay Motors escrow scam

Scammers posing as sellers will direct you to a fake eBay Motors listing or email, claiming that the transaction will be protected by eBay’s “escrow service”. They’ll say your money will be safely held by eBay until you’ve received and inspected the car.

But here’s the catch: eBay doesn’t offer vehicle escrow, storage or delivery services. If the car isn’t listed directly on eBay and you’re not paying through eBay’s official checkout system or Escrow.com funnel, the transaction has nothing to do with them.

In most cases, the scammer will claim the car is already in transit and just needs your payment to “release” it. Once you send the money, the seller disappears.

You can learn more about eBay car buying scams here.

4. PayPal “Friends & Family” trap

If a seller asks you to pay using PayPal’s “Friends & Family” option, walk away. This payment method is designed for sending money to people you trust. There’s no buyer protection, no dispute process and no way to get your money back if something goes wrong.

Scammers know this. That’s exactly why they insist on it. They might say it avoids fees or that it’s “quicker and easier”. But in reality, it just locks you out of PayPal’s refund system and leaves you with zero recourse if the car turns out to be dodgy (or doesn’t exist at all).

If you’re paying through PayPal, make sure to only use “Goods & Services” for purchases. You’ll get buyer protection that way.

5. Bank transfer scam

Bank transfers are fast, convenient and completely irreversible once the money leaves your account.

Fraudsters pose as private sellers or even impersonate legitimate dealers. Some go as far as spoofing caller ID to make it look like they’re calling from a real dealership or finance company. Others send fake documents, cloned websites or use professional-sounding language to gain your trust.

Once you're convinced, they push for a wire transfer to “lock in the sale” or “secure delivery”. But after you send the money, the trail goes cold and the car never shows up.

In a less sophisticated version of this car buying scam, a sketchy seller might simply pressure you to pay by bank transfer before you’ve seen the car in person. They’ll claim they’re in a hurry, travelling or selling for a family member.

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6. Fake delivery services and logistics fees

Here’s a classic scam with a modern twist: the promise of vehicle delivery. A scammer lists a car online at an eye-catching price, then asks you to continue the conversation by email. They’ll claim the car is in another part of the UK (or abroad) and offer to ship it to your door so you can “inspect it before finalising the sale”.

To build credibility, they might say the delivery is being handled by a known company like eBay, Amazon or a “vehicle transport partner”. Some will even send convincing fake invoices or tracking details.

Then comes the catch: before the car can be dispatched, you’re asked to cover “logistics fees”, “insurance” or even a percentage of the sale price via gift cards, cryptocurrency or a bank transfer.
Remember that no legitimate car sale involves gift cards, crypto or “prepaid delivery” from an unknown seller.

7. Clocking (mileage rollback)

Clocking is the illegal practice of reducing a car’s recorded mileage to make it look less used and therefore more valuable. It’s one of the oldest scams in the book, and despite modern digital odometers, it’s still happening.

Scammers use cheap devices or software to dial back the mileage reading on the dashboard. They then advertise the car as “low mileage”, bump up the asking price and make it seem like a better deal than it actually is.

A clocked car isn’t just overpriced, though. Cars with higher mileage also hide wear and tear that affects safety, servicing needs and insurance premiums.

8. Cloning (fake plates and stolen VINs)

Car cloning is when a stolen vehicle is given the identity of a legitimate one, complete with fake plates, copied logbook details, and often a stolen or altered VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

To the untrained eye, the car looks clean. It might even come with what appears to be genuine paperwork. But in reality, the vehicle’s true identity has been wiped and replaced with someone else’s.

You won’t know it’s stolen until it’s too late — usually when the police seize the vehicle or your DVLA registration is rejected. At that point, you’re out the car and the cash.

9. Deposit scams with no car

This one’s straightforward. The scammer lists a car, usually at a tempting price, and tells you there’s a lot of interest. To secure the vehicle, they ask for a deposit upfront, promising to hold it for you or deliver it for viewing.

But like many of the other car scams we’ve listed, there is no car here. Once the deposit’s sent, the seller vanishes and you’re out a few hundred to a few thousand pounds.

It’s a numbers game for them. Get a few people to send a few hundred quid each, and walk away with thousands.

10. Fault masking and fake MOTs

Not all scams involve fake sellers. Some involve real cars with real problems that the seller tries to hide.

This could mean:

• Temporarily patching up engine issues
• Using oil additives to quiet knocking sounds
• Tampering with warning lights on the dashboard
• And dozens of others

One of the most dangerous forms is presenting a fake or forged MOT certificate to make the car seem roadworthy when it isn’t. It’s illegal to drive without a valid MOT, so this’ll end you up in serious trouble.

What to do if you suspect a scam or have been scammed

If a seller starts dodging questions, applying pressure or asking for odd payment methods, just stop replying and don’t hand over any money. But if you’ve already paid and suspect you’ve been scammed, act fast. Every minute counts.

• Contact your bank immediately. They may be able to stop the payment or help trace where the money went.
• Report the scam to Action Fraud (the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre) at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
• Notify Trading Standards through your local council if the seller is a registered business.
• If the scam happened on Facebook Marketplace, use the “Report Seller” feature and flag the listing as fraudulent.
• If it happened on eBay, report the seller through eBay’s resolution centre. You may also be covered by their buyer protection if the transaction was made through the platform.

Safer alternatives: How to buy a used car without getting scammed

The best way to avoid car buying scams is to shop smart and stick to platforms that put buyer safety first.

Let’s take a look at some of the safer alternatives that reduce your risk while still offering good deals on used vehicles.

1. Trader.co.uk

If you're a verified motor trader, Trader.co.uk is a secure, trade-only marketplace. It’s application-based, so every buyer and seller is vetted before joining. That means no random private listings, no fake profiles and far fewer scams. It’s built for professionals who want to buy and sell confidently.

2. AutoTrader

AutoTrader remains one of the most trusted platforms in the UK. They offer detailed vehicle history checks, verified seller badges and secure messaging. Most listings are from dealerships, but they also vet private sellers more rigorously than social media platforms.

3. Cazoo and Cinch

Cazoo and Cinch are online car supermarkets that offer a no-hassle, fully online buying experience with delivery and returns included. All cars go through quality checks and come with a warranty. You’ll pay a bit more, but you’re getting peace of mind and professional accountability.

4. A reputable local dealer

Old school still works. Trusted local dealerships are often members of motor trade bodies (like the Retail Motor Industry Federation) and must meet industry standards. Many also offer part-exchange, servicing and warranties.

5. AA and RAC-approved dealers

Both the AA and RAC have networks of approved dealers that meet specific quality standards. You’ll often get independent vehicle inspections, breakdown cover and buyer protection as part of the deal.

6. Hiring a vehicle inspector or bringing a mechanic

You get the point by now. The best options are licensed dealers and online marketplaces with additional filters that weed out the scammers.

That said, if you’re buying from a private seller, an independent pre-purchase inspection is worth every penny. It’ll help you uncover hidden faults and accident history, verify the car’s mileage and avoid overpaying for a bad car.

Final checklist for first-time buyers

Now that we’ve gone over the scams you need to watch out for, here’s a quick checklist of everything you need to do before buying a used car:

What’s the safest payment method for a used car?

The safest options for buying a used car in the UK are bank transfer (Faster Payments or CHAPS), cashier’s cheques, and escrow or platform-guaranteed payments (e.g., Cazoo, Cinch).

Bank transfer

Bank transfers are secure and traceable. Just make sure you’re sending money only after you’ve seen the vehicle in person, verified the seller’s identity, and are ready to complete the deal. Once the transfer goes through, ownership should change hands immediately.

Cashier’s cheque

This is a cheque issued by your bank and guaranteed by their funds, not yours, so the seller knows it won’t bounce. It’s safer than personal cheques but still requires verification.

Escrow or platform-guaranteed payments

If you're buying through a trusted company that offers payment protection, escrow or a money-back guarantee, that’s the only scenario where it's safe to pay before seeing the car. These platforms hold your money until the car is delivered and inspected.

How do I know if an eBay car ad is legit?

If you want to be sure an eBay car ad is legit, there are five steps you need to follow:

• Check if the car is listed on eBay, not just mentioned. If you can’t find the car on eBay yourself, it’s not real. And If it’s not listed on eBay.co.uk with a proper item number and "Buy It Now" or bidding options, it’s not covered by eBay’s protection.
• Look for seller feedback. Legit eBay sellers usually have positive feedback, history, and sales activity. A brand-new account with no history (or one selling only vehicles) should raise eyebrows.
• Avoid off-platform contact. If the seller wants to email or WhatsApp you to avoid fees or arrange delivery, it’s a scam. eBay’s buyer protection only applies to transactions completed on the platform.
• No such thing as eBay vehicle escrow or storage. eBay does not store, ship, or hold cars in a “delivery facility.” If a seller says eBay is “holding the car” until you pay, it’s fake.
• Reverse image search the photos. Scammers steal images from other sites. Upload them to Google Images and if they appear in listings elsewhere, it’s probably a fake ad.

What are the red flags of a scam listing?

The ten most common warning signs that a car ad is a scam are:

• Blurry or low-res photos
• Price feels too good to be true
• Vague or copy-paste descriptions
• Seller wants to move off-platform
• No phone number or refusal to call
• Poor grammar or unusual formatting
• Offers delivery or inspection after payment
• Seller is overseas or “away on business”
• Urgent language and pressure tactics
• Payment via crypto, gift cards or non-commercial platforms

Final thoughts

With scammers getting smarter, you can’t afford to let your guard down. The golden rule is something feels off, it probably is. Trust your instincts, take your time and don’t let anyone rush you into a deal.

Stick to reputable platforms, do thorough checks and never pay a penny before you’ve seen the car and verified the seller. With the right prep and a sharp eye, you can avoid the traps and drive away with confidence.