How does KeySavvy work?

The safest way to accept payment for any vehicle on any marketplace.

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Add your vehicle to KeySavvy

When you add your vehicle to KeySavvy, we'll give you a link that buyers can use to pay you online.

Share your KeySavvy link

Share your KeySavvy link with your buyer or list your car for sale wherever you like. Include your link or QR code image in your ad to deter scammers.

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craigslist
facebook marketplace
cars.com
autotrader
cargurus
offerup

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Ask your buyer to pay online

There's no need to handle cash or verify a cashier's check. Buyers can use your payment link to pay online using their bank account. You'll get an email when we've verified payment from your buyer.

Get paid

Hand over the keys and we transfer the funds directly to your bank account. If you have a loan, we'll pay your lender directly to close the account.

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Sellers pay a flat fee of $79. If the vehicle has a loan, KeySavvy charges an additional $99 to pay off the loan as part of the sale.

Buyers also pay a flat fee of $79.

Buyers and sellers can split fees equally, or have one party pay all fees.

Unlike payment apps like PayPal and Cash App, KeySavvy verifies the buyer's identity and the seller's ownership of the vehicle. We guarantee buyers receive a clear title and sellers get paid. In contrast, PayPal explicitly excludes vehicles from purchase protection.

Other peer-to-peer payment services are primarily intended for smaller transactions between friends and family. They have limits that are much lower than a typical vehicle sale price. KeySavvy has no transaction limit and guides buyers and sellers through the process, including help with all the necessary paperwork and title transfer. As a licensed dealer, we have access to data that enables more thorough verification and helpful services like temporary operating permits.

Similar to escrow services like Escrow.com, KeySavvy collects payment from the buyer and pays the seller when the buyer picks up the car. However, KeySavvy is specifically designed for vehicle sales. Since we're a licensed dealer, we can verify the seller's ownership to protect buyers from title fraud, work with banks to pay off the seller's loan, and issue temporary permits so it's legal to drive the car immediately.

KeySavvy provides a NMVTIS vehicle history report, verifies the identity of the buyer and seller, and checks for loans and liens that would prevent the buyer from registering the vehicle.

CARFAX and AutoCheck provide vehicle history reports, but they don't protect against buyer or seller fraud, or allow buyers and sellers to complete their transaction online.

Yes, KeySavvy supports cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, RVs, snowmobiles, and ATVs! As long as the vehicle is titled in the United States, we can verify the seller's identity, check for loans and liens, and allow buyers to pay online. When buyers pay with KeySavvy, we guarantee buyers will receive a clear title and sellers will get paid.

KeySavvy uses third-party identity verification technology to confirm the seller's identity. We then use a combination of public records, seller-provided information, and DMV records to verify that the seller is the legal owner of a vehicle.

We do not share the seller's personal information with the buyer, and we do not share the buyer's personal information with the seller.

After the seller adds their vehicle to KeySavvy and a buyer accepts their price, verification generally takes 5-10 minutes. If the seller has a loan, we'll contact their lender which can delay a transaction depending on the lender. After the buyer submits payment, we usually approve the transaction within 15 minutes.

Tips for using KeySavvy when you're in a rush.

Yes, KeySavvy generates a bill of sale automatically. Buyers and sellers e-sign this document and can download it from their dashboard at any time in the future.

Yes! Unlike traditional private party sales, when you buy an eligible used electric or plug-in vehicle using KeySavvy, you may qualify for a tax credit of 30% of the purchase price, up to $4,000.
  • The vehicle must be in the IRS list of eligible vehicles
  • You must be a qualified buyer
  • The purchase price must be $25,000 or less.
  • The vehicle must not have been sold to another qualified buyer after August 16, 2022. KeySavvy will help confirm the vehicle's eligibility.

Because the tax credit is partially based on your income, we cannot determine your personal eligibility. Review the IRS Used Clean Vehicle Credit website or consult a tax professional to confirm your eligibility.

Buying a vehicle

Yes, in order to register your car, you will need to pay taxes and registration fees to your state. In some cases, KeySavvy will collect taxes and fees when you pay for your vehicle. If KeySavvy does not collect taxes and fees, the DMV will collect them when you register the vehicle.

Yes, your payment is refundable (including our fee) until you pick up the vehicle from the seller or until it's picked up by a vehicle shipper.

No, KeySavvy does not guarantee the condition of the vehicle, only secure transfer of funds from the buyer to the seller and vehicle ownership and title verification. We strongly encourage buyers to get vehicles inspected by an experienced mechanic before purchasing. Learn more about getting a pre-purchase inspection.

We only share your first name with the seller when you create a deal. Most states require private party buyers to disclose their name and address to the seller when buying a car so the seller can properly report the sale to the state. The bill of sale we generate for you and your seller will include the full name and address of the buyer and seller.

You can pay for your vehicle with your bank account (ACH), wire transfer, credit card, or Zelle. An additional fee applies for credit card payments. You can also finance your purchase through your local bank or credit union.

Yes, KeySavvy enables you to purchase a vehicle when the seller still has a loan or lien.

In a typical private party sale, the seller can't transfer ownership to you without first paying off their loan. Paying a seller with cash or a cashier's check and not receiving the title right away is risky for buyers. Because KeySavvy is a licensed dealer, we can handle the loan payoff and sale as part of the purchase process, and issue a temporary permit that allows you to legally drive the car right away.

How to sell a financed car with KeySavvy

Yes, KeySavvy works with most local banks or credit unions. Because KeySavvy is a licensed dealer, we're able to work with lenders that don't normally finance private party sales.

Before you shop for your car, we recommend you get pre-approval from your bank or credit union so you know how much you can borrow. Let your bank know that you're buying from an independent car dealer, since some banks don't offer loans on regular private party sales. Note that if your seller has a loan, most lenders won't allow you to finance your purchase.

When you and the seller agree on a price, KeySavvy generates a Purchase Order that you take to your bank. Your bank issues a check or sends a wire transfer to KeySavvy for the loan amount. After KeySavvy verifies the payment, you pick up your car, and we pay the seller and take care of the paperwork.

Yes, you can pay with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. However, we pass on a processing fee of 3.19%.

Yes, you can pay a seller even if they're located out-of-state. If you're picking up the vehicle in-person, we'll pay the seller when you pick up the car. If the vehicle is being shipped, we'll pay the seller when the shipper picks it up, as long as we've already received the title.

When a vehicle is shipped, KeySavvy requires the seller to mail us the title to be held in escrow, along with your payment. This helps us protect buyers from mistakes on the title that could prevent or delay registration with your state DMV. If the seller has a loan, we'll mail additional paperwork to the seller that enables us to transfer the title to you. Sellers are not paid until we receive all required documentation.

KeySavvy does not make any guarantees regarding the condition of the vehicle and third-party inspections are highly recommended. Read our blog article about pre-purchase inspections to learn more.

Selling a vehicle

Yes! You don't need need to pay off your loan before you sell your car -- KeySavvy will pay it off as part of the sale process when your buyer pays with KeySavvy. We charge sellers a $99 fee when there is a loan or lien on a vehicle.

How to sell a financed car with KeySavvy

No, KeySavvy does not share personal information with buyers except for the seller's first name. If you have a loan, your payoff amount is also not shared with buyers. However, when you complete the sale, your buyer will be able to see the name and address listed on your title and bill of sale.

Yes, you can help another person sell their car with KeySavvy. We do require all legal owners to verify their identity and e-sign the sale documents, and we can only send the seller's payment to a legal owner of the vehicle.

Yes, you control the sale price of your vehicle. KeySavvy is not involved in the price negotiation between you and your buyer.

After KeySavvy verifies and approves a sale, we'll send you an email letting you know it's OK to give your vehicle to the buyer. For most transactions, we'll initiate your payment as soon as the buyer confirms they have possession by clicking a button on their KeySavvy dashboard.

For sales where you need to mail your title to KeySavvy, we'll still initiate your payment as soon as you hand over your keys, but only if we've received and processed your title. Sales that require mailing your title to KeySavvy include those where the buyer is shipping the vehicle, the buyer is applying for the Used EV Tax Credit, or if you have loan and reside in a title-holding state. KeySavvy may require mailing your title for other sales, but we'll let you know in advance.

Many sellers choose to mail their title in advance, after we verify their buyer's payment. We'll provide a guide for signing and mailing your title.

When a vehicle is shipped, we initiate the seller's payment as soon as we receive the title and the vehicle is loaded on the trailer. The seller's bank usually makes funds available within 1 business day.

We require the seller to send us the title for verification before initiating the seller's payment. This helps prevent errors and omissions that would invalidate the title or delay the buyer's registration.

When your buyer pays with KeySavvy, we can send payment by direct deposit (ACH), check, and in some cases, Zelle. You can choose how you'd like to be paid on your account page. The person receiving the payment must be a legal owner of the vehicle.

After KeySavvy verifies your buyer's payment and approves a sale, we'll send you an email letting you know it's OK to give your vehicle to the buyer. Don't give your vehicle to the buyer until KeySavvy has verified your buyer's payment. After we approve, you and the buyer can determine when and where to meet to hand over your keys or arrange vehicle shipping.

KeySavvy does not advertise your car, but sharing your KeySavvy link on your ad will help buyers feel comfortable purchasing your car. To find a buyer, you'll want to advertise your car for sale on one or more online marketplaces such as Craigslist, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, Cars.com, CarGurus, Autotrader, eBay, etc. Our blog has lots of great resources to help sellers, like marketplace reviews and guides for creating stellar ads.

Yes, it is legal to sell your vehicle even if the registration has expired. In some states, such as California, the DMV may require you or the buyer to pay outstanding registration fees when selling it to a buyer within the state. If selling to a buyer out of state, you generally do not need to pay unpaid registration fees when the buyer registers the vehicle.

Yes. If your loan is more than the sale price of the vehicle (called "negative equity", "upside-down", or "underwater"), you can still sell with KeySavvy. In fact, we make it easier because you don't have to pay off your entire loan before selling your car.

When you agree on a price with a buyer, we'll get a 10-day payoff quote from your lender. We'll collect the difference between the sale price and the payoff amount from you before your buyer picks up the vehicle.

More questions?

We're happy to answer them. Click the button below to send the team a message.

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KeySavvy is a licensed auto dealer, regulated by Minnesota Driver & Vehicle Services. License #DLR100357.