Avoid scams when selling your car privately
Most car sales go smoothly — whether to a private individual or a company. Follow four simple rules to protect yourself, and end the contact if the buyer behaves like the warning signs.
Ground rules
General advice, not legal guidance. Many warning signs below apply especially to unknown private buyers; when selling to a registered company, contract and payment checks still apply.
- 1
Written contract before handover
Agree price, condition, and timing in writing. Both parties sign before keys or paperwork change hands. Check ID at handover — the name should match the person paying.
- 2
Meet the buyer and show the car first
Serious private buyers want to see and test the car. Agree and sign the contract when you meet — do not commit in advance over email or chat. With a company, pickup is often agreed in writing in advance, but you should still know who you are selling to.
- 3
Signed contract before keys — confirm payment
Do not hand over keys until the contract is signed. Then check in your own online bank that the full amount has been received or clearly initiated — screenshots, SMS, and email from the buyer are not enough.
- To a private individual: Agree that payment happens before or at the same time as handover. A regular bank transfer can take from a few minutes to the next business day — watch your online bank during that period, and hand over keys only when the money is in your account.
- To a company (dealer/buyer): The contract should include the organisation number, agreed price, and settlement date. Confirm payment from the company account — at the agreed time — before handing over keys.
- 4
BankID only when you started it
BankID is safe for official actions you initiate — such as the digital ownership transfer with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration or signing via an approved e-signing service. Do not use BankID, codes, or links the buyer sends by SMS or email.
Typical scam patterns from buyers
These patterns recur in known cases. End the contact if any of this happens.
- Buyer shows a screenshot, SMS, or email as "proof" of payment — instead of you seeing the money in online banking
- Buyer wants you to commit, pay, or hand over the car before you have met and signed a contract
- Buyer asks for BankID, one-time codes, or "identity verification" via a link they send
- Buyer abroad wants to buy sight unseen and is in an extreme hurry
- Buyer wants to pay without seeing the car, or asks you to pay transport, customs, or other fees before you have been paid for the car
- Buyer wants to use an unknown payment intermediary, escrow, or middleman
Want to skip meetings with unknown buyers? Sonja buys your car directly — no ad and no strangers at your home.
Get a real offer from Sonja
The tools above give a rough indication. At Sonja we buy your car directly — first a free price estimate, then a concrete purchase offer you can consider at your own pace.
Free and non-binding
Scams against car sellers almost always involve handing over the car or information before payment is confirmed. The contract is your most important tool: it clarifies price and handover before anything is binding.
Only use BankID for what it is meant for — for example the digital ownership transfer with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Legitimate buyers do not need codes or links from you in advance.
If you are unsure, or want to skip the process, you can sell to a professional buyer. Settlement and paperwork are then part of the deal from the start.
Questions and answers