While you trade
Escrow & Payment Protection
Coming soonUnsmoggables never takes payment or holds funds. If you want a neutral third party to hold the money until the car changes hands, you and the other side can choose a licensed, bonded escrow agent such as Escrow.com — that arrangement is between you and them.
How it works
Escrow puts a neutral, regulated third party between the money and the keys.
- →Buyer and seller agree on terms and an inspection period
- →Buyer funds the escrow account (wire, ACH, card, or PayPal)
- →Seller is notified funds are secured and releases the vehicle
- →Buyer inspects on delivery within the agreed window
- →Buyer accepts, and escrow releases payment to the seller
Why it protects both sides
The seller never ships against an unfunded promise, and the buyer never wires money into a stranger's account. Funds sit in a segregated, insured fiduciary account the whole time.
Costs and timing
Escrow fees are typically 0.9%–3.25% of the sale price depending on amount and funding method, and can be paid by either party or split. Wire funding clears fastest; cards and PayPal cost more.
Avoiding escrow scams
Only use an escrow company you selected and verified yourself. Never use a link, invoice, or 'escrow agent' introduced by the other party, and confirm the company's license before funding.
General information only — not legal, mechanical, emissions or tax advice. Prices, timelines and rules change and differ by state, so confirm the details for your situation. Companies named here are independent of Unsmoggables; we don't endorse or guarantee them, and any dealing with them is under their own terms.