Get the used EV tax credit when buying private party
We use our dealer license to enable private party sales to qualify for the used EV tax credit.
Search KeySavvy for the vehicle you're buying:
Sign up and share KeySavvy with your seller:
How does it work?
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Find the perfect EV
Search any used car site and use our EV Tax Credit Tool to find a qualifying EV. You can pay any seller on any marketplace and we work in all 50 states.
Tell your seller about KeySavvy
Ask your seller to add their vehicle to KeySavvy. When you accept their price, select that you plan to apply for the tax credit. We'll help ensure the vehicle is eligible.
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Get the tax credit right away
Choose to transfer your tax credit to us and you'll only need to pay the remainder. We'll receive the credit directly from the IRS after you pick up your EV.
Pick up your car
We'll provide your seller with instructions for signing and mailing their title to KeySavvy and we'll give you a temporary permit to use while waiting for the title.
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Payment Protection
You're guaranteed to receive a clear title.
Identity Protection
Know the seller is who they claim and avoid buying a stolen car that you can't register.
Loan Protection
Determine if your seller has an undisclosed loan or lien before you pay.
Pay online. No trips to your bank.
Bank Account (ACH)
Wire Transfer
Customers love us
"I not only felt safer transferring money this way I was able to get the used EV tax credit even when buying from a private seller."
Dave O
Frequently Asked Questions
Buyers and sellers each pay a fee of $99. If the vehicle has a loan, KeySavvy charges the seller an additional $99 to pay off the loan as part of the sale.
Buyers and sellers can split fees equally, or have one party pay all fees. Our fee is paid when the transaction completes -- we never charge a cancellation fee.
KeySavvy processes transactions as a dealer by buying the vehicle from the seller and selling it to the buyer. This process enables us to verify titles, issue temporary permits and access DMV data that would otherwise be inaccessible.
To process the transaction as a dealer, we need to receive the title from the seller or their lienholder. If the seller has their title, we'll provide detailed instructions for signing and mailing it to KeySavvy. Upon receipt, we'll reassign it to the buyer and ship it with tracking to the buyer's mailing address.
If the seller has a loan and doesn't have their title, we'll mail the seller a power of attorney form and a return envelope. This allows us to sign the title on their behalf when we receive it from the lienholder.
Private party sales are not normally eligible for the EV tax credit, unless you use KeySavvy.
Normally, the seller must be a licensed dealership. When you use KeySavvy to buy an EV, you're buying from a licensed dealership, so your purchase will qualify, if all other requirements are met.
Yes! Qualified buyers can apply the full EV tax credit toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles. When you accept your seller's price on KeySavvy, you can indicate that you plan to apply for the federal used EV tax credit.
How does this work? If the sale price is $25,000 and qualifies for the maximum $4,000 credit, the buyer pays $21,000 to KeySavvy, and the seller receives the full $25,000 (minus our fee). After the buyer picks up the vehicle, the IRS pays us the remaining $4,000 directly.
The maximum tax credit is 30% of the purchase price, up to $4,000. The credit also cannot exceed your total income tax liability for the year.
You can choose to transfer your credit to KeySavvy or claim it when you file your federal income tax return. For purchases in 2025, you would claim the tax credit when you file your taxes in early 2026. If you choose to transfer your credit to us, we'll apply the amount of the credit to your transaction so you'll only need to pay the remainder.
No, the buyer must be a person.
Yes. The buyer's modified adjusted gross income in the current year or the prior year must be less than:
- $150,000 for married filing jointly
- $112,500 for heads of households
- $75,000 for all other filers
View the full criteria on the IRS Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit page.
You can only claim the used EV tax credit once every 3 years.
You can search for qualifying EVs or PHEVs on any marketplace, but most sites don't make it easy to filter by EV-specific criteria, like battery size. We recommend checking out our partner Find My Electric for buying and selling EVs. They have the largest selection of private party listings and have built tools specifically to help EV buyers and sellers.
Yes, in order to register your vehicle, you will need to pay taxes and registration fees to your state. KeySavvy doesn't collect taxes and fees when you pay for your vehicle, except for Minnesota residents. For all other states, you'll pay taxes and fees when registering the vehicle at your local DMV. Some states exempt certain private party sales from tax and we'll notify you if we see you'll pay more in taxes as a result of us processing your transaction as a dealer.
If you're a Minnesota resident, KeySavvy will register the vehicle for you. We'll reach out to collect additional information, such as a picture of your insurance card and your preference for license plates.
You can pay for your vehicle with your bank account (ACH), wire transfer, credit card, or Zelle. You can also finance your purchase through your local bank or credit union. An additional fee applies for credit card payments.
Most payments are verified immediately, even on nights and weekends, but can take up to one business day depending on your bank. Link a bank account on your account page to see how long payment verification will take. Wire transfers are received by 6pm ET when sent before 4pm ET.
You can pay up to $50k by ACH, $10k by credit card, and most banks limit Zelle to $5k. There is no limit for wire transfers. If you're planning to pay with a wire transfer, you don't need to link a bank account and we'll provide a unique account number for you to give to your bank.
Yes, you can pay with multiple bank accounts or credit cards or a mix of any of our supported payment types.
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 banks and credit unions. Because KeySavvy is a licensed dealer, we're able to work with lenders that don't normally finance private party sales.
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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, you'll download a Purchase Order that you take to your bank. If approved, your bank will issue a check made out to KeySavvy, Inc. or send us a wire transfer for the amount financed. We do not accept "pre-approval" checks from lenders. After KeySavvy verifies the check and your down payment, you pick up your car, and we pay the seller and take care of the paperwork.
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. The bill of sale will state that the vehicle is being sold in "as is" condition.
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. It can take up to 3 business days for refunds to be received after a transaction is canceled.
We only share your first name with the seller when you start a transaction. 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.
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.
Copyright © KeySavvy, Inc., a public benefit corporation.
KeySavvy is a licensed auto dealer, regulated by Minnesota Driver & Vehicle Services. License #DLR100357.