Curbstoning 101: How to Spot Dealers Posing as Private Sellers

What Is Curbstoning and Why Should You Care?

Curbstoning is the practice of unlicensed dealers selling vehicles while pretending to be private individuals. The term originated from sellers who would park cars "at the curb" with for-sale signs, avoiding the overhead and regulations of maintaining a dealer lot. Today, curbstoners primarily operate on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other online platforms.

The danger isn't just paying more than you should. Curbstoners actively conceal vehicle problems because they're not subject to dealer disclosure laws. When you buy from a licensed dealer, you have legal recourse if they fail to disclose known defects. When you buy from a "private seller" who's actually a curbstoner, you have almost none.

These operators buy vehicles at auction—often with damage, salvage history, or mechanical issues—perform minimal cosmetic repairs, and flip them quickly. They know the car's problems but won't tell you. And because they operate under fake identities or frequently change contact information, they're gone after the sale.

What Are the Warning Signs of a Curbstoner?

The biggest red flag is multiple vehicle listings from the same seller. Legitimate private sellers are selling one car—maybe two if a household is downsizing. If you find a seller with three or more vehicle listings active simultaneously, you're almost certainly dealing with a curbstoner.

Search the seller's phone number on Google. Curbstoners reuse phone numbers across platforms and over time. A phone number that appears in multiple vehicle listings across different months or platforms indicates commercial activity, not private sales.

Meeting location matters. Private sellers meet at their home because that's where the car is. Curbstoners suggest parking lots, shopping centers, or other neutral locations because they don't want you to see their inventory of other vehicles or know where they operate from.

How Do You Verify a Seller Is a Legitimate Private Party?

Start with the title. A legitimate private seller's name should appear as the registered owner. If the title shows a dealer name, a business name, or someone other than the person you're meeting, you're not dealing with a private party. "Jump titles" where ownership never transferred to the seller are a major red flag.

Ask to meet at their home address. A private seller has nothing to hide—they live somewhere, and the car is parked there. If the seller resists meeting at home or provides excuses, that's concerning. Curbstoners avoid revealing their location because it exposes their operation.

Ask how long they've owned the vehicle and why they're selling. Private sellers have stories—they bought a new car, they're moving, the kids went to college. Curbstoners often can't answer basic ownership questions or give vague responses that don't make sense.

Request maintenance records. Owners who cared for their cars kept records—oil change receipts, repair invoices, even a simple notebook. Curbstoners rarely have documentation beyond the title and sometimes not even that.

How Do Curbstoners Operate on Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook Marketplace has become the primary hunting ground for curbstoners. The platform's minimal seller verification, massive reach, and social appearance of legitimacy make it ideal for fraudulent operators. Understanding their tactics helps you avoid becoming a victim.

They create multiple profiles or use profile farms. A curbstoner might operate five different Facebook accounts, each selling one or two vehicles. This makes their operation appear as multiple private sellers rather than one commercial entity. The profiles often have stock photos, few friends, and recent creation dates.

Pricing is calculated for maximum margin. Curbstoners buy at auction and need to cover purchase price, repairs, and profit. They price just below retail but above actual private party value, banking on buyers who don't research comparable prices or who are attracted by the illusion of a "private party deal."

They control the narrative. Expect rehearsed answers to common questions. "I'm selling for my brother who's deployed overseas." "My grandmother passed away and I'm handling the estate." These stories explain why the title is in someone else's name while discouraging further verification.

What Verification Steps Should You Take Before Buying?

Run the phone number through Google and social media search. This takes 30 seconds and catches most repeat curbstoners. If the number appears in multiple vehicle listings over time, walk away. Legitimate private sellers don't have a history of vehicle ads.

Request a photo of the seller's driver's license next to the vehicle title. This verifies identity and ownership in one step. A legitimate seller understands why you're asking. A curbstoner will balk—they either don't own the car or are operating under a false identity.

Confirm the VIN on the title matches the vehicle. Curbstoners occasionally swap VIN plates or provide titles from different vehicles. Check the VIN in three locations: dashboard, driver's door jamb, and title. All three must match exactly.

Run a vehicle history report. This won't catch every problem, but it reveals title brands (salvage, flood, rebuilt), odometer discrepancies, and prior auction activity. A vehicle that went through auction recently was likely purchased by a dealer or curbstoner, not a private individual.

What Happens If You Buy From a Curbstoner?

Your legal recourse is minimal because private party sales are "as-is" in most states. The curbstoner presented themselves as a private seller, so you don't have dealer consumer protection laws on your side. Unless you can prove fraud (active misrepresentation), you're stuck with the vehicle.

Proving fraud requires evidence. If you can show the seller knew about a defect and lied about it, you might have a case. Text messages, emails, or witnesses where the seller made specific claims about the vehicle's condition can establish fraud. But curbstoners are careful—they use vague language and verbal statements that are hard to prove.

Reporting still matters. File complaints with your state attorney general, the DMV (for unlicensed dealer activity), and the FTC. While you may not recover your money, these reports build cases for enforcement action. Some states actively prosecute curbstoners when pattern evidence emerges.