Cars.com helps you find your dream car. What it can’t do is help you pay for it. Getting your money to the seller safely is up to you.
Let’s cut through the confusion about car payments. We’ll discuss different payment methods and show you why DealNow is the smartest way to pay for your Cars.com purchase.
Cars.com is a marketplace where private sellers and licensed dealers list their vehicles for sale. You can browse millions of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, compare prices, and connect with sellers in your area.
Cars.com offers:
They excel at connecting car buyers and sellers, but Cars.com lacks payment features for private-party sales. Once you find your dream car, you’ll have to figure out payment.
Cashier’s checks are a less awkward alternative to physical cash. Instead of counting out bills in a parking lot, you hand over a single check for the full amount. Unlike personal checks, the bank guarantees the funds, so they can’t bounce.
Cashier’s checks can be written for any amount. Whether eye-balling a $15,000 daily driver or a $50,000 certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a cashier’s check can handle it.
But there’s a catch. You’ll need to coordinate a meeting at your bank during business hours so the seller can verify the check. Not very convenient if you want to finish the deal on the weekend. Once the buyer verifies and cashes the check, they can continue the transaction knowing the money will go through. Despite the bank’s guarantee, some sellers might prefer to wait until the check clears to continue the sale, adding days to the transaction and putting you in limbo.
Cashier’s checks are relics of the pre-digital era. There are faster, more convenient ways to safely pay for a car you find on Cars.com.
Physical cash is faster than a cashier’s check. Many people prefer it because it is instant and final. Cash might be convenient for a $2,000 beater from your neighbor, but it’s a headache for big-ticket purchases.
Imagine you find a well-kept $20,000 Honda CR-V on Cars.com. To pay by cash, you’ll need to coordinate with your bank for a large withdrawal. Then you need to awkwardly count stacks of bills while a stranger watches. The seller will need to verify each bill for counterfeits, and you’ll both worry about carrying that much cash to and from the meeting spot. While the actual handoff is fast, physical cash is otherwise awkward and slow.
For a serious vehicle purchase, you need a more secure payment method.
Think twice before paying for your Cars.com purchase with a payment app. These apps are handy for everyday transactions, but they weren’t designed to handle high-dollar private-party car purchases.
You need a payment solution built specifically for high-dollar vehicle purchases. One that combines the convenience of payment apps with security features designed for buying cars.
Credit cards are a bad way to buy a car because private sellers don’t have the means to process them. Since they aren’t dealers, they won’t have merchant accounts or card readers. Instead, you would need to use a third-party processor, such as Stripe.
Stripe charges about 3% per transaction. On a $35,000 car, you’d pay an extra $1,015.30 in processing charges. That’s money wasted on moving funds instead of going toward your purchase.
Most sellers also refuse credit cards because of chargeback risks. They don’t want to sell a car and get caught with a credit card company to keep their payment. You need a more practical way to pay.
Wire transfers are a secure way to pay for a car. Both parties like them because the transfer is electronic, and sellers like them because they are relatively quick and final. But they are a bit clunky compared to high-tech digital solutions.
Wire transfers were cutting-edge a couple of decades ago. Now there are faster ways to pay that are just as secure.
Cryptocurrency is a secure digital way to pay for motor vehicles, but it’s too volatile and complex for most people. Market swings mean your $35,000 purchase price might suddenly cost you thousands more in crypto.
Both parties need digital wallets and a solid understanding of crypto transactions, blockchain verification, and tax law. Most Cars.com sellers aren’t interested in a financial master class.
Plus, the IRS treats crypto as property, not currency, which means both parties might face unexpected capital gains taxes on top of standard motor vehicle sales tax.
If you like the idea of instant payments with digital cash, we’ve got a safer, more convenient solution.
DealNow lets you pay for your Cars.com vehicle instantly and securely, no matter the price. It combines the security of a wire transfer with the convenience of a digital payment app.
With DealNow, you can:
We designed DealNow to streamline the car buying process while hurdling over the obstacles other payment methods create. Here’s how a DealNow car purchase looks:
DealNow lets you choose from Cars.com’s vast selection and finish the deal safely and quickly. Find your dream car for sale on Cars.com (or anywhere else), then bring the transaction to DealNow.
Rather than relying on the basic purple search box, use Cars.com’s advanced search options to filter listings. Set specific parameters for your price range and vehicle requirements. Cross-reference prices with market guides to spot suspiciously low offers. Your initial search should also filter by seller type (private seller vs dealer) depending on your preference.
Start with Kelley Blue Book to understand fair market value. Check online marketplaces to compare similar cars in your area, and factor in the car’s condition and any modifications to determine what you’re willing to pay.
DealNow handles payments for all vehicles for sale on Cars.com, from a Ford Transit Connect to a luxury recreational vehicle. We designed DealNow to streamline all private-party transactions. Our platform processes payments, verifies identities, and handles digital documentation. For RV purchases, we can even help arrange transport.
DealNow manages your digital bill of sale, capturing all necessary vehicle details and signatures. You can order a title check or vehicle history report from within the app. We can even help with temporary registration. All documents are kept on the platform for instant access.
Verify all vehicle details from the listing against the actual vehicle. Order an independent vehicle inspection through our app. Check the vehicle identification number, review the vehicle history report, and confirm the title record status.
DealNow makes ordering these services simple and keeps all documentation in one secure place.
Every payment through DealNow is protected by bank-level encryption and FDIC insurance. We verify both parties’ identities and confirm the seller’s ownership rights before any money moves. Unlike most private transactions, our platform creates a secure, documented payment process. The funds remain protected until both parties complete the required steps, eliminating the risks of cash payments or wire transfers.
DealNow’s digital documentation protects both parties in case of disputes. Our platform records all vehicle details, communications, and bills of sale. If issues arise, you’ll have a complete transaction history and legally binding documentation.
After your Cars.com purchase, visit your county treasurer for license plates and registration. DealNow provides the necessary documentation for this process, including the bill of sale. We’ll guide you through the requirements for your specific county office responsible for vehicle registration. Whether you need temporary plates or permanent registration, you’ll have all the required documentation ready.
DealNow is the easiest way to close your own vehicle deal, anytime. It’s the safe and simple way to avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact, all in one app.
