The online car market has increased significantly over the past years, you can find thousands of new cars and used cars offers. The web has become a marketplace where either a buyer or a seller can post ads. There are many sites offering sevices which enable you to receive emails with offers for both new and used cars. Unfortunately there are individuals who trick and mislead people to believe that they are dealing with a serious part, when in fact they are not. Make sure you protect yourself when selling your vehicle, find out who you are dealing with and ask for a name and contact phone number, ring the number to check if it is legitimate. Make sure before you agree to a test drive to check your insurance and make sure your insurance covers you, check the driver's insurance and write down the licence number, an accident may not be covered if the driver is un-insured. Obtain something of value, like keys as security for the test drive (even if you go along for the test drive) and before you go along for the test drive always consider whether it is safe to get in the vehicle. If in doubt about a buyer don't rush into a test drive or a sale. Also you can make buying a vehicle safer by following some tips like: be suspicious if a vehicle is advertised at a very low price, find out who you are dealing with: ask for a name and contact phone number, never agree to deposit money in a bank account or via escrow unless completely sure the advertisement and seller are legitimate. Make sure you protect yourself against buying a stolen or encumbered vehicleby obtaining a 3rd party inspection always get independent advice.