31. 10. 2026

A car sale ad may be a scam: 7 warning signs from the MIA Main Service Centre

The MIA Main Service Centre warns that a car sale ad may hide an offer to buy a car that does not exist. A scammer can often be recognised while reading the ad or talking to the seller, so do not rush to agree on a purchase.

In short:

• the MIA Main Service Centre has named seven signs of possible fraud;
• they include a demand for prepayment, refusal to meet and a price well below the market;
• before buying a car, check the ad and the seller;
• a purchase can be officially made at an MIA service centre or in Diia.

7 signs of a scammer

Be careful if the seller or the ad:

• creates artificial hype;
• demands prepayment or a deposit;
• refuses a personal meeting or a check of the car;
• offers to complete the deal without your participation;
• insists on communicating only via a messenger;
• offers a price well below the market;
• has comments under the ad blocked.

How to buy a car officially

The MIA Main Service Centre advises making the purchase through official channels, as this reduces the risk of a fraudulent deal.

At an MIA service centre. The sale and purchase agreement is drawn up free of charge. After re-registration, the new owner receives a registration certificate in their name and number plates.

In the Diia app. The seller and buyer conclude the agreement online and sign it with a qualified electronic signature. The data is checked in state registers.

More about the documents for both options is in our article on car sale contracts. More about online fraud is on the National Bank website.

FAQ

Should I pay a deposit for a car before meeting the seller?

The MIA Main Service Centre names a demand for prepayment or a deposit as one of the signs of fraud. Do not rush to agree on a purchase until you have checked the ad, the seller and the car.

How much does it cost to draw up an agreement at an MIA service centre?

The sale and purchase agreement is drawn up at an MIA service centre free of charge.

Why can a below-market price be dangerous?

A price well below the market is one of the signs the MIA Main Service Centre advises paying attention to, as the ad may hide a car that does not exist.

Source: MIA Main Service Centre (in Ukrainian)