Check a Marketplace car’s VIN before you go see it.

A used car ad tells you what the seller wants you to know. The VIN tells you what the car actually is. Sift reads it for you on the listing, before you spend an evening driving across town.

How it works

1. Open a car listing. Any car, truck or motorcycle on Facebook Marketplace with a VIN in the ad.
2. Sift checks the VIN. It reads the VIN from the ad and checks it against the official record for that vehicle.
3. See the verdict. Matches the ad or Doesn’t match the ad, the car the VIN belongs to and the recalls on record for that model.

What you get

• A match check against the ad. If the VIN says 2017 and the ad says 2019, Sift tells you on the listing, not on the driveway.
• The car behind the VIN. Year, make, model and trim, with the body and engine.
• Recalls on record for the model. Each one listed, with a nudge to ask the seller if it was done.
• A message when there’s no VIN. “Hi, could you send me the VIN? I’d like to check it before I come to see the car.” Copy it, send it, paste the answer into Sift.
• The VIN from a photo, on Sift Max. When the seller only shows the VIN in a picture, Sift Max reads it from the photo.
• What to offer. Press Is this a good deal? in the same card for an AI second opinion on the price, with a fair offer and a message to the seller.

VIN checks on every plan

Shopping for a car this month? Sift Pro checks every one you open, so you can compare five Civics side by side without spending a check.

Check a used car from Marketplace, step by step

1. Get the VIN and match it three ways. The VIN on the dash, on the driver’s door jamb and on the ownership papers must be the same. A mismatch is the classic sign of a cloned or stolen car. More in Facebook Marketplace car scams.

2. Check it against the ad. Sift does this on the listing: year, make, model and trim. A wrong year or trim is a reason to ask questions or walk away.

3. Ask about the recalls. Sift lists the recalls on record for the model. Ask the seller for the dealer receipt showing each one was done. Recall work is free at the dealer, so an open one is a to-do, not a deal breaker.

4. Check for liens and theft. In Ontario, ask for the Used Vehicle Information Package. Elsewhere, run a lien search in your province or state and a stolen-vehicle check before any money moves. See stolen car VIN check in Canada.

5. Read the title and the odometer. Rebuilt and salvage titles sell for far less for a reason, and a low odometer on a tired interior is worth a second look. Sift’s car filters hide salvage, rebuilt, flood and as-is listings for you, and odometer rollback shows what to look for.

6. Get it inspected, then pay in person. A mechanic’s inspection costs far less than a bad car. Use the used car inspection checklist, never send a deposit before you’ve seen the car, and pay when you have the keys and the papers.

Spot a curbsider before you call

A curbsider is a dealer posing as a private seller. The tells: several cars listed under one name, a photo of the ownership in someone else’s name, and a VIN that doesn’t match the ad. Sift’s VIN check catches the last one on the listing, and its dealer filter hides the obvious ones. More in curbsiders.