10 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Car on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace has become one of the biggest places to buy used cars — and one of the riskiest. Unlike dealerships or even Craigslist, there's almost no oversight. Sellers can be anyone: private owners, curbstoners (illegal unlicensed dealers), flippers, or people trying to offload problem cars.

I've seen thousands of these deals from the inside. The ones that go bad almost always have the same warning signs. Here are the 10 things I tell people to check every single time before they hand over money on Marketplace.

1. Always meet at the car's registered address — not a parking lot.

Curbstoners almost always push for a neutral location like a Walmart or gas station. They don't want you seeing the actual property because it reveals they don't own the car — or that multiple cars are being flipped from the same spot. Legitimate private sellers are usually fine meeting at home. If they refuse, treat it as a major red flag.

2. Run the VIN before you even go see it.

Never waste your time driving somewhere without checking the vehicle identification number first. Look up open recalls on NHTSA.gov and pull a title history. If the seller won't give you the VIN right away or gets evasive when you ask, walk away immediately. Honest sellers have nothing to hide.

3. Check if the seller matches the title.

Ask to see the actual title before any money changes hands. The name on the title must match the person you're dealing with (or their spouse with proper documentation). If the title is in someone else's name, you're dealing with a middleman or worse. This is how stolen or salvage cars get moved.

4. Look for fresh paint on panels.

Use your phone's flashlight and look closely at the door seams, hood edges, and fender lines. Paint that doesn't quite match or overspray on trim pieces is a classic sign of repaired accident damage. Body shops do good work these days, but the edges almost always give it away if you look carefully in good light.

5. Check for water lines inside the car.

Lift the floor mats, check under the seats, and look inside the trunk. Water lines on the carpet or metal are dead giveaways of flood damage. A musty or mildew smell that won't go away no matter how much Febreze they use is another huge warning. Once a car has been underwater, it's never the same.

6. Watch the exhaust on startup.

Start the car cold if possible and watch the exhaust. Blue smoke usually means the engine is burning oil — rings or valve seals are worn. White smoke that smells sweet can indicate a blown head gasket, which is an expensive repair. Black smoke is unburned fuel. All three are costly problems.

7. Test every electrical feature.

Roll every window up and down. Lock and unlock every door. Turn on the A/C and heat. Check the radio, backup camera, power seats, sunroof — everything. On cars over 8-10 years old, these are often the first things to fail, and sellers count on buyers being excited and skipping the small details.

8. Ask why they're selling it.

Listen carefully to the answer. Vague responses like "just upgrading" or "it’s been sitting for a while" should make you dig deeper. Honest sellers usually have a clear story: "Bought a new truck for work," "Moving out of state," or "Kids are grown and we don't need the minivan anymore." Push for specifics and watch their reaction.

9. Never pay with cash for a car over $2,000.

Use a cashier's check, bank wire, or another traceable method. Cash deals over a couple thousand dollars are extremely hard to recover if something goes wrong. If the seller insists on cash only, that's often a sign they're trying to avoid any paper trail.

10. Don't skip a pre-purchase inspection for anything over $5,000.

A good independent mechanic can find problems in an hour that would cost you thousands later. It's the single best $100-$150 you can spend. If the seller refuses to let you take it to a shop or insists on their "guy," walk away. Good sellers want you to be confident in the car.

Facebook Marketplace can be a great way to find deals, but only if you protect yourself. The people who get burned are almost always the ones who skipped one or more of these steps because they were in a hurry or wanted to save time.