Last updated 4 November 2026
The golden rule
Don’t pay a deposit, a holding fee or a delivery charge for a vehicle you haven’t seen in person. Genuine sellers can wait for you to view it. If they can’t, walk away.
Common scams
The vehicle that doesn’t exist
Photos copied from an old advert, a price that’s a bit too good, and a seller who is “working away” and asks for a deposit to hold it. Look for a KerbProof record on the advert, or ask the seller to make one — a live record with a one-off code filmed next to the plate can’t be copied from an old advert.
The fake delivery or escrow service
The seller suggests a “secure payment” or delivery company that holds your money. These sites are often fake. KerbProof never takes payments, and nobody can pay “through KerbProof”.
Clocked mileage
The mileage is wound back to raise the price. Check every MOT reading: a reading lower than an earlier one is a serious warning sign. Our free MOT check flags it in red.
Cloned plates
A stolen vehicle wears the plates of a legitimate one of the same make and colour. Check the VIN on the vehicle matches the V5C logbook, and that the logbook isn’t a photocopy.
Outstanding finance
If there’s finance owed, the vehicle may belong to the finance company, not the seller. A paid history check will tell you. KerbProof can’t.
Before you travel
- Check the MOT history for mileage, gaps and advisories that keep coming back.
- Look for a KerbProof record, or ask the seller to make one, so you know the vehicle is real and present.
- Ask how many keys there are, and whether there’s service history.
- Get a full history check for finance, write-offs and theft.
At the viewing
- View it at the seller’s home or business address, in daylight.
- Check the V5C: the name and address should match where you are, and the VIN should match the vehicle.
- Start it from cold. Watch the warning lights come on and go out.
- Take a test drive, with your own insurance in place.
Paying
- Pay by bank transfer at the viewing, once you’re happy. Never pay before.
- Avoid large cash payments. Get a written receipt with both names and addresses.
- Be wary of any request to change the payment details at the last minute.
If something goes wrong
Contact your bank straight away, then report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. If a KerbProof page was involved, use “Report this page” so we can take it down.