Legal

Terms of Service

Effective: April 2026  ·  Applies to all 50 US states  ·  ShiftPeer LLC

⚠ Critical — Read Before Using ShiftPeer

Never wire money, send Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal to a seller before inspecting the vehicle in person. ShiftPeer is a peer-to-peer listing platform only. We do not facilitate, escrow, or guarantee any transaction. All payments occur privately between buyer and seller.

Table of Contents

1. About ShiftPeer
2. Eligibility
3. Listing Fee & Relist Policy
4. Seller Obligations
5. Buyer Obligations & Safe Buying
6. Prohibited Conduct
7. VIN Decoding & CARFAX
8. Payments & Transactions
9. State-Specific Vehicle Sale Laws
10. Title Transfer Requirements
11. Limitation of Liability
12. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
13. Privacy
14. Changes to Terms
15. Contact

Section 1

About ShiftPeer

ShiftPeer LLC ("ShiftPeer," "we," "us," or "our") operates www.shiftpeer.com, a peer-to-peer online classifieds platform that allows private individuals to list motor vehicles for sale and connect with prospective buyers in the United States.

ShiftPeer is not a dealer, broker, lender, financial institution, escrow agent, or party to any vehicle sale transaction. We provide a technology platform only. All sales, negotiations, inspections, title transfers, and payments occur exclusively between the seller and the buyer.

By accessing or using ShiftPeer, you agree to these Terms in their entirety. If you do not agree, do not use the platform.

Section 2

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident or citizen of the United States to use ShiftPeer. By creating an account, you represent that:

You are 18 years of age or older
You have the legal right to sell or advertise the vehicle listed
You are not a licensed motor vehicle dealer acting in a dealer capacity (dealer-licensed individuals selling a personal vehicle they own are permitted)
All information you provide is accurate and not misleading
You are not barred from using our services under any applicable law

ShiftPeer is intended for private party sales only. Commercial dealerships, auction houses, and fleet sellers are prohibited.

Section 3

Listing Fee & Relist Policy

Listing Fee: $25 USD flat per listing. This fee is charged at the time of listing publication and is non-refundable under all circumstances, including if the vehicle sells immediately, the listing is removed by the seller, or the vehicle description was entered incorrectly.

Zero Commission: ShiftPeer charges no commission, percentage, or success fee on the sale. The listing fee is the only charge to sellers.

Relist Policy:

Within 48 hours of original listing creation: seller may re-list the same vehicle at no additional charge (one free relist per VIN per 48-hour window)
After 48 hours: a new $25 listing fee is required. There is no automatic renewal, subscription, or grace period beyond the 48-hour window
A "relist" means a new active listing for a vehicle whose previous listing was removed or expired. Editing an active listing does not constitute a relist

Buyer Fees: Buyers pay no fees to ShiftPeer. Browsing, contacting sellers, and viewing listings are always free.

Section 4

Seller Obligations

By listing a vehicle on ShiftPeer, sellers represent and warrant:

You are the legal owner of the vehicle or have explicit written authorization from the owner to sell it
The vehicle's title is in your possession or you can legally transfer it at time of sale
All information in the listing — including VIN, mileage, condition, accident history, and title status — is truthful and accurate to the best of your knowledge
You will disclose all known material defects, mechanical issues, flood damage, frame damage, or salvage history
You will not misrepresent the vehicle's mileage (odometer fraud is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. §32701–32711)
You agree to conduct all transactions in person or through legitimate, verifiable means
You will provide a signed Bill of Sale at the time of vehicle transfer
You will transfer the title within the timeframe required by your state (see Section 9)
You will not list a vehicle with a VIN that has been altered, tampered with, or removed

Odometer Fraud Warning

Federal law (49 U.S.C. §32709) requires sellers to provide a written odometer disclosure at the time of sale for most vehicles under 10 years old and under 16,000 lbs. Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties up to $100,000 and 3 years imprisonment.

Section 5

Buyer Obligations & Safe Buying

ShiftPeer strongly advises all buyers to follow these guidelines. Failure to do so is at the buyer's sole risk.

⚠ Never Send Money Before Seeing the Car

Do not wire money, send Zelle, CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, cryptocurrency, or any other form of advance payment to a seller before physically inspecting the vehicle and having a signed agreement in place. ShiftPeer will never ask you to use any specific payment method. Any seller demanding advance payment before an in-person inspection is a fraud risk.

Safe Buying Checklist:

Meet in person — always meet the seller face-to-face. Never buy a car you have not seen in person
Choose a safe public location — well-lit public areas such as a bank parking lot, police station public meeting area, or DMV parking lot are ideal
Bring a trusted person — never go alone, especially for high-value transactions
Verify the VIN — confirm the VIN on the dashboard and door jamb matches the title, registration, and ShiftPeer listing
Run a CARFAX or AutoCheck report — every ShiftPeer listing links to a CARFAX report via the vehicle's VIN. Review it before making any offer
Inspect the vehicle thoroughly — take it to an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) before finalizing
Verify the title — ensure the seller's name matches the title and ID. Check for liens, salvage brand, or rebuilt status
Check for liens — contact your state DMV or use a title search service to confirm no outstanding liens
Use cash or a cashier's check — for in-person transactions, cash or a bank-issued cashier's check are the safest payment methods. Verify any cashier's check with the issuing bank before transferring the vehicle
Get a signed Bill of Sale — both parties should sign a written Bill of Sale including vehicle description, VIN, sale price, date, and both parties' names and signatures
Keep copies of all documents — retain copies of the title, bill of sale, and any warranties or disclosures

Red Flags — Walk Away If: The seller refuses an in-person meeting. The seller asks for a wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The VIN on the car doesn't match the title. The price is dramatically below market value. The seller claims to be overseas or in a special situation. The title is not in the seller's name and they cannot explain why.

Section 6

Prohibited Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited on ShiftPeer and may result in immediate account termination, listing removal, and referral to law enforcement:

Listing a vehicle you do not own or have no authority to sell
Misrepresenting mileage, condition, accident history, flood damage, or title status
Listing vehicles with altered, removed, or cloned VINs
Conducting or facilitating fraud, phishing, scams, or impersonation
Requesting advance payment, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency from buyers before in-person inspection
Using ShiftPeer to sell stolen vehicles
Operating as an unlicensed dealer using ShiftPeer as a storefront
Harvesting buyer contact information for purposes outside the transaction
Posting the same vehicle under multiple accounts or listings simultaneously
Listing parts, motorcycles, RVs, or commercial vehicles (ShiftPeer is for passenger vehicles and light trucks only, unless otherwise permitted in writing)
Using automated bots, scrapers, or tools to access ShiftPeer
Interfering with, disrupting, or attempting to gain unauthorized access to ShiftPeer systems

Section 7

VIN Decoding & CARFAX

ShiftPeer uses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) free VIN decoding API to automatically populate vehicle specifications from a seller-provided VIN. This data is provided by the U.S. government and is subject to its own accuracy limitations. ShiftPeer is not responsible for inaccuracies in NHTSA data.

Every ShiftPeer listing includes a link to a CARFAX vehicle history report generated from the listing's VIN. Clicking this link takes you to CARFAX.com, a third-party service. ShiftPeer is not affiliated with CARFAX, does not receive compensation from CARFAX, and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any CARFAX report. CARFAX reports may not reflect all accidents, title issues, or service history.

Buyers are encouraged to independently verify all vehicle information through multiple sources including CARFAX, AutoCheck, the NHTSA safety recall database (recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov), and a physical inspection by a licensed mechanic.

Section 8

Payments & Transactions

ShiftPeer does not process, hold, or facilitate vehicle sale transactions. We are not a payment processor, escrow service, or financial intermediary. The $25 listing fee is the only payment made to ShiftPeer (by sellers, for the listing service).

All payments between buyers and sellers are private arrangements. ShiftPeer makes no recommendation, endorsement, or guarantee of any particular payment method. That said, we strongly advise:

Cash — safest for in-person transactions; verify large bills
Cashier's check or bank draft — verify with the issuing bank before releasing the vehicle; cashier's check fraud is common
Bank wire (only after in-person inspection and signed agreement) — if used, only after physically inspecting the vehicle and having a fully executed Bill of Sale

Payment Methods to Avoid

Gift cards, cryptocurrency, Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, PayPal Friends & Family, and Western Union are commonly used in vehicle sale fraud. These are irreversible and offer no buyer protection. ShiftPeer is not responsible for any losses incurred through any payment method.

ShiftPeer is not liable for any fraudulent transaction, stolen funds, or disputed payment between buyers and sellers. Disputes between parties are the sole responsibility of those parties and must be resolved directly or through appropriate legal channels.

Section 9

State-Specific Vehicle Sale Laws (All 50 States)

Private vehicle sales are regulated at the state level. The requirements below are summaries for informational purposes only. Laws change — always verify current requirements with your state's DMV before completing a transaction.

Universal Requirements (All States): Signed title transfer · Signed odometer disclosure (vehicles under 10 years and under 16,000 lbs, per federal law) · Bill of Sale (required in most states) · Release of liability filed with DMV (strongly recommended in all states)

Alabama

Seller signs title back. Bill of Sale required. Buyer has 20 days to transfer title. No sales tax owed by seller.

Alaska

Seller must release title. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 10 days of purchase.

Arizona

Title must be signed, odometer disclosed. AZ requires an emissions test in certain counties (Maricopa, Pima). Bill of Sale required.

Arkansas

Seller signs title. Odometer statement required. Buyer has 30 days to register. Sales tax paid by buyer at registration.

California

Seller must file Release of Liability online with DMV within 5 days. Smog certificate required for vehicles 4+ years old. Transfer fee applies. REG 262 form for a lien-free title transfer.

Colorado

Signed title and Bill of Sale required. Emissions required in certain counties. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Connecticut

Seller signs title and H-78 Bill of Sale form. Emissions test required. Buyer has 60 days to register.

Delaware

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 60 days. No general sales tax in DE.

Florida

Seller signs title. Seller must complete HSMV 82050 (Notice of Sale) within 30 days. No odometer disclosure required for vehicles over 10 years. Buyer pays sales tax at registration.

Georgia

Signed title and Bill of Sale required. Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) paid by buyer at registration. Seller should file Form T-8 release.

Hawaii

Seller signs title. Bill of Sale required. Annual safety inspection required for buyer registration. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Idaho

Signed title required. Seller should notify DMV. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Illinois

Title signed with odometer statement. Seller must remove license plates. Emissions test required in Cook, DuPage, and other Chicagoland counties. Bill of Sale recommended.

Indiana

Signed title and State Form 44237 (Affidavit of Transfer) required. Buyer registers within 45 days.

Iowa

Seller signs title and completes Iowa Odometer Statement. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Kansas

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 90 days.

Kentucky

Signed title and TC 96-182 (Notice of Transfer of Motor Vehicle) required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 15 days.

Louisiana

Notarized Bill of Sale required. Seller signs title. Title must be transferred at DMV by buyer within 40 days. LA is strict — notarization is mandatory.

Maine

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 30 days. Prior inspection may be needed.

Maryland

Seller signs title with odometer statement. MVA Form VR-181 (Security Interest/Lien Release) if applicable. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Massachusetts

Seller signs title. Bill of Sale (Form RMV-1) required. Emission/safety inspection required at buyer registration. Buyer registers within 7 days.

Michigan

Seller signs title. Odometer disclosure on title. Seller must remove plates. Buyer registers within 15 days. No emissions test statewide.

Minnesota

Signed title with odometer statement. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 10 days. Seller liable for tickets until title transferred.

Mississippi

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 7 working days.

Missouri

Signed title with odometer and lien release. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 30 days. Safety inspection required.

Montana

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. No statewide sales tax. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Nebraska

Signed title and Odometer Disclosure Statement required. Seller should notify DMV. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Nevada

Signed title and Notice of Sale (DMV Form VP016) required. Emissions required in Clark and Washoe counties. Buyer registers within 30 days.

New Hampshire

Signed title required. No statewide sales tax. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 20 days.

New Jersey

Signed title and odometer statement. NJ requires emissions (where applicable). Buyer registers within 10 days. Seller must keep Bill of Sale copy.

New Mexico

Signed title required. MVD Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 30 days.

New York

Seller signs title. MV-912 (Odometer Reading) required. Seller must file MV-215 (Report of Sale). Emissions required. Buyer registers within 10 days.

North Carolina

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. Emissions required in 48 counties. Buyer registers within 28 days.

North Dakota

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. Buyer registers within 90 days.

Ohio

Signed title and Odometer Disclosure Statement required. Seller keeps a copy. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Oklahoma

Signed title with odometer disclosure. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Oregon

Signed title required. Oregon DMV Trip Permit required for buyer to drive home. Emissions required in Portland metro. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Pennsylvania

Seller signs title and MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return). Emissions required in some counties. Buyer registers within 20 days.

Rhode Island

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. Emissions required. Buyer registers within 10 days.

South Carolina

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer must obtain 45-day temporary registration. Buyer registers within 45 days.

South Dakota

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. No statewide emissions. Buyer registers within 45 days.

Tennessee

Signed title with odometer disclosure. Bill of Sale required. Emissions required in some counties. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Texas

Seller signs title. Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title) required. Seller must file Form VTR-346 (Notice of Transfer) within 30 days. Emissions in major metro areas. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Utah

Signed title and TC-843 (Bill of Sale) required. Emissions required in Wasatch Front counties. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Vermont

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. No sales tax on private party sales. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Virginia

Signed title with odometer disclosure. VSA 70A (Bill of Sale) recommended. Emissions required in northern VA and Hampton Roads. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Washington

Signed title required. Seller must file Release of Interest online with DOL within 5 days (same as CA). Emissions required in Puget Sound. Buyer registers within 15 days.

West Virginia

Signed title required. Bill of Sale required. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Wisconsin

Seller signs title and completes MV2547 (Title & License Plate Application) section. Seller must notify DMV. Buyer registers within 30 days.

Wyoming

Signed title required. Bill of Sale recommended. No statewide emissions. Buyer registers within 60 days.

Washington D.C.

Signed title with odometer disclosure. Bill of Sale required. Emissions test required. Buyer registers within 30 days. DC requires seller to cancel registration.

ⓘ State requirements change. Always verify current requirements at your state DMV website before completing a transaction. This table is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Section 10

Title Transfer Requirements

A clear title is the most important document in any private vehicle sale. Sellers should ensure they can provide a clean title in their name (or with a valid lien release from the lienholder) before listing.

Clean Title: No outstanding liens, not salvaged, rebuilt, or flood-branded
Salvage or Rebuilt Title: Must be disclosed prominently in the listing. Many states restrict or prohibit the sale of certain salvage vehicles to private buyers
Lien Release: If the vehicle has a loan, seller must obtain a signed lien release from the lender before transferring title
Out-of-State Titles: Some states require a VIN inspection before registering an out-of-state title. Buyers should verify before purchase
Electronic Titles: Some states (FL, TX, CA, others) issue electronic titles. Sellers in these states may need to request a paper title from the DMV before selling privately

Bill of Sale minimum required fields: Seller's full legal name and address · Buyer's full legal name and address · Vehicle year, make, model · VIN · Sale price (use actual price — understating price to avoid sales tax is illegal) · Date of sale · Odometer reading · Both parties' signatures

Section 11

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SHIFTPEER LLC, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR:

Any loss, damage, or injury resulting from a transaction between a buyer and seller facilitated through the platform
Fraudulent listings, misrepresented vehicles, or stolen vehicles listed by third parties
Inaccuracies in VIN-decoded data or CARFAX reports
Any payment fraud, wire fraud, or financial loss incurred during a transaction
Physical injury or property damage arising from a test drive or vehicle inspection
Any consequential, incidental, indirect, punitive, or special damages

ShiftPeer's total liability to any user for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or use of the platform shall not exceed the amount paid by that user to ShiftPeer in the 12 months preceding the claim (i.e., not more than $25 per listing transaction).

Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties or consequential damages. In such states, the above limitations may not apply to the fullest extent, but ShiftPeer's liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Section 12

Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Informal Resolution: Before initiating any formal proceeding, users agree to contact ShiftPeer at [email protected] and attempt to resolve any dispute informally for at least 30 days.

Binding Arbitration: If informal resolution fails, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall take place in Sacramento, California, or by remote hearing.

Class Action Waiver: You waive any right to bring claims as a plaintiff or class member in any class action, collective action, or representative proceeding.

Exception: Either party may seek emergency injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.

Disputes Between Buyers and Sellers: ShiftPeer is not a party to disputes between buyers and sellers. Parties may pursue resolution through small claims court, state consumer protection agencies, or civil litigation independently of ShiftPeer.

Section 13

Privacy

Your use of ShiftPeer is also governed by our Privacy Policy, incorporated herein by reference. We collect only the information necessary to operate the platform. We do not sell personal data to third parties.

Section 14

Changes to Terms

ShiftPeer reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective" date at the top of this page and may notify users by email. Continued use of ShiftPeer after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Section 15

Contact

Questions about these Terms: [email protected]

General inquiries: Contact page

ShiftPeer LLC · www.shiftpeer.com