Verified Checkout Provided by Caramel

Shop with peace of mind—verification included!
Find the car you love, and Caramel will take care of the rest — they'll verify the seller's identity, vehicle title, and even the payment transaction.
Browse private listings

*For more information, see Caramel's Terms of Use

Buying from a private seller just got a whole lot easier

For your convenience, Caramel includes:

  • Verified sellers and vehicle titles
  • Risk-free digital payment
  • Simple, flexible price negotiation

You choose your features

Once you start the online checkout experience, you choose the features you want.

  • Skip the DMV

    Caramel will handle titling, registration, and even mailing your plates to you.

  • Vehicle Protection Plan

    Protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances with an optional Vehicle Protection Plan.

  • Delivery

    Find a car you love but it's 500 miles away? No problem - Caramel offers affordable vehicle delivery.

Caramel's buyer and seller fees

Buyer pricing

Basic

Get started with essential features for a Verified and seamless experience.

$95

Buyer pays one time fee
  • Verified sellers and vehicle titles
  • Secure risk-free digital payment
  • Easy price negotiations
Recommended

Premium

Upgrade to a package that takes care of all the details for you.

$195

Buyer pays one time fee
Everything in Basic, plus...
  • Titling
  • Registration
  • Plate delivery

Advanced

$295

Buyer pays one time fee
Everything in Premium, plus...
  • Used EV Tax Credit

    Private party sales are eligible for the used EV tax credit when you purchase a vehicle with Verified Checkout!

Seller pricing

Free

Standard

Most sellers qualify for this free option!

$0

  • Title is in the seller’s name
  • No outstanding loan on the vehicle
  • Vehicle priced above $1,000

Advanced

Seller plan details:

$95

  • Title not in the seller's name (e.g. LLC)
  • Outstanding loan on vehicle
  • Vehicle priced below $1,000

How Verified Checkout works

Step 1 Private seller lists a car for sale on Cars.com
Step 2 Buyers contact sellers and can make offers
Step 3 When ready to accept an offer, a seller starts the sale directly in chat with buyer
Step 4 Verified Checkout handles everything from verification to payment
  • Verified buyer

    I felt confident that my money was safe. It was a relief knowing that everything was taken care of.

    Minjun from New Jersey

    Bought a 2021 Tesla Model 3

  • Verified buyer

    Everything was very transparent. I felt informed every step of the way, which made me trust the process more.

    Jonathan from Ohio

    Bought a 2016 Ford Transit

  • Verified seller

    I would use the service just for peace of mind, and just so that I'm not having to track down every detail.

    Joe from Tennessee

    Sold a 2023 Tesla Model 3

  • Verified buyer

    The buying process itself was very easy, a lot easier than I thought it would be.

    Ash from Vermont

    Bought a 2009 Lexus RX

Looking for info about selling your car?

It's completely free to create a listing on Cars.com. Answer a few simple questions, upload photos, and list your car to millions of car shoppers. Sell your car