The Hidden Risks of Selling Your Car Privately in Ontario

chrisan39
Sep 3, 2025
2 min read

Many car owners wonder: “If I sell my car privately, can I get a better price than selling to a dealer?”

The answer is usually yes — private sales can often bring in more money. But what most sellers don’t realize is that the “extra cash” comes with serious costs: time, privacy, and long-term risk.

1. Time Costs That Add Up

Selling privately isn’t as simple as posting an ad and getting paid. It often means dealing with multiple strangers, endless questions, and wasted time.

Take one real example: a client of ours, a gentleman selling his 2012 Nissan Altima. Dealers offered him $4,000–$5,000, but he wanted $7,000–$8,000, so he listed the car himself.

Here’s what happened:

First, buyers came to his house to view and test drive.
Then they asked him to bring the car to a “friend’s” shop for a safety check.
Next, they demanded ownership documents and ID, then left a $500 deposit.
Later, they asked to meet at the bank with a check, then go together to Service Ontario for the transfer.

And this was only after three to five different people had already come by to “look” at the car and negotiate. That’s hours of phone calls, questions, test drives, and rescheduling before even reaching a deal.

By contrast, the Carsoo process takes less than 30 minutes total:

Fill out an online form once.
Take photos through a secure link once.
Receive competing dealer offers and accept the best one.
Drop the car at the dealer’s lot, sign, and leave with a guaranteed bank draft.

One form. One call. One appointment. Done.

2. Privacy and Personal Information Risks

When you sell privately, your home address, lifestyle, and personal details are exposed to multiple strangers. You don’t know if they’re genuine buyers, unlicensed flippers, or even scammers.

With Carsoo, dealers never see your personal info. They don’t know where you live. They only see the vehicle details, not your private life.

3. Lingering Liability

Even after the sale, risks remain. Cars — especially older ones — can develop issues quickly with a new driver. A blown transmission or electrical fault may have nothing to do with you, but when a buyer knows where you live, they can still come knocking on your door.

With Carsoo, once you hand over the keys and deposit the bank draft, the deal is final. Dealers don’t have your phone number or address. Any issues after the sale are their responsibility, not yours.