When it comes to trusting strangers with our money, we tend not to.
But sometimes, especially in today’s largely online world, sometimes we have to take a chance on people we have never met.
Food delivery apps, ride-share taxi services, and informal buying and selling sites – all of these require us to hand over our money to relative strangers and trust that we will get the items we’ve ordered in good repair.
And buying a used car is no different.
But, as always, there are ways to stay safe when buying used cars online in 2025.
Let’s take a look.
Choose Trustworthy Sellers
Picking a trustworthy vendor is your first task, whether you are buying online or in-person.
In-person checks can be easier as you can ask the person to bring along a piece of ID, but you can also do the same online – asking someone to hold their driving licence next to their face in a selfie is an accepted method of proving identity.
Another great way to know if you can trust your vendor or not is to see if they have registered premises from which they operate.
A long-established address is a good indication that the vendor is more likely to be reliable – and it also gives you the opportunity to read reviews and find customer testimonials about their products and services.
You can go online or in-person to buy used cars at KAP Motor Group – making your car buying journey an easy and convenient one!
When it comes to choosing between buying online and in-person, the trustworthiness of the vendor is about the same, and taking sensible precautions is always wise.
Verify Vehicle History Reports
Anyone buying a car knows that they should run a check on the vehicle’s history – but what do you do if your vendor already has a report for your convenience?
As ever, trust but check comes into play!
You should be able to see if the company that provided the report is trustworthy – the AA, RAC and, of course, the DVLA are all well-known and reputable companies, and will be able to confirm that the report and its details are accurate according to their database.
Reports from other sources should nearly always be treated with a tiny bit of suspicion, and checked up on!
Choosing between online and in-person as far as vehicles’ checks go, online possibly has a slight edge, as you can check with all the above-mentioned places to ensure that the car you’re buying is in as good a condition as the vendor promises.
However, verifying that the car in the paperwork is the same as the one you drive away with is best done in person!

Inspections: Virtual and In-Person
You know how to do an inspection in person: walk around, kick the tyres (gently), and pop the hood to have a look at the inner workings.
Online, you can ask your vendor to jump on a video call with you, and direct them to aim their camera at the features you want to check out.
This should give you a good idea of what is under the hood.
Car inspections are undoubtedly better done in-person as you get a much more accurate sense of the vehicle as a whole and can use all five (or four, maybe, there is hopefully not too much to taste in a vehicle!) of your senses, rather than just two (sight and sound) when you are online.
How to Pay
Paying for a car is always a tricky time.
In-person, at fixed premises, you are probably the safest: you’re in an office, protected by walls and the presence of the dealership’s employees, and your new-to-you car is waiting outside.
In-person, at a stranger’s house or other quiet place is probably the most unsettling, especially if you are paying cash – which is never recommended for situations like this.
At least with a cheque or online payment, you have recourse should something go awry.
Online payments, by contrast, are fairly straightforward, as long as you are getting what you paid for.
All due caution must be exercised when it comes to exchanging the cash for the vehicle, and a great idea is to do the exchange in a public space where you will be surrounded by other people.
Is There a Return Policy?
Finally, make sure you know your rights and the processes in the case that something happens and you need to return the vehicle.
This will often be time-limited, but it is important to remember that in all cases, you have various statutory rights as a consumer which are not nullified by the fact that you are buying online or from a private vendor if either or both of those apply.
Returning an unwanted car in-person is probably the easiest of the two, as sometimes online vendors can be based some distance away from your location.
No matter how you buy your preloved car: online or in-person – there are pros and cons to both.
But you can make sure you are safe and happy at all times by double-checking, doing some basic research and always thinking twice before acting!
Final Thoughts
Buying a used car online in 2025 can be safe and straightforward when approached with caution and preparation.
By choosing trustworthy sellers, verifying vehicle history, conducting thorough inspections, ensuring secure payment methods, and understanding your return rights, you can confidently navigate the process.
Whether online or in-person, a little diligence goes a long way in securing a reliable vehicle and a smooth buying experience.
Discover more from Zena's Suitcase
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.