Frequently Asked Questions

Still have a question? Email support@carscout.ai and we'll get back to you within one business day.

What is CarScout?

CarScout is a price-intelligence tool for used-car buyers. We scan listings across the lower 48 states daily, compare them against national pricing benchmarks, and surface the deals where local markets are overpriced. You see exactly how much you are overpaying by staying local — and how much you would save by buying cross-state. We are not a marketplace, a dealer, or a broker.

Is CarScout a marketplace or a dealer?

Neither. CarScout is a buyer's research tool — think of it as a pricing terminal for used-car buyers, not a listing site or a dealership. We never take a cut of any car transaction. We do not represent dealers. We show you the data; you do the deal.

How do you make money — are you paid by dealers?

We charge a flat subscription — the Buyer's Pass — at $5/week or $19/month. That is it. No referral fees, no dealer commissions, no lead-selling. Our incentive is to give you accurate data so you renew, not to steer you toward any particular seller.

What's included in a Buyer's Pass?

A Buyer's Pass gives you full access to the deal pool — every listing we have flagged as priced below the national benchmark for its make, model, trim, and mileage. You also get the close-clean playbook for each deal: verified photos, title status, and a fee-stack breakdown so you know what the dealer will try to add at signing. The Pass costs $5/week or $19/month and can be cancelled at any time.

What about taxes and registration if I buy out of state?

Yes, you owe taxes and registration fees in your home state even if you buy the car out of state. The exact amount depends on your state's rate and whether it offers a credit for taxes paid elsewhere. We built a plain-English guide covering the most common scenario at /nevada-registration. Read it before you wire money.

How does car shipping work?

After you find a deal, you arrange shipping through a licensed carrier. Typical cost is $400–$1,200 door-to-door, 3–7 days depending on distance. You inspect the car on delivery before the driver leaves — you never fly out. We do not operate the carrier; we connect you with the same broker network dealers use, minus the markup.

Is CarScout legit — how do I know the deals are real?

Every deal in the pool is photo-verified against the live listing and title-checked for clean, salvage, or rebuilt status. We also scrape the dealer fee stack — doc fees, add-on warranties, paint protection — so you are not surprised at the desk. If a listing sells or is pulled before you act, we remove it from the pool within 24 hours.

Can I buy a car directly through CarScout?

No. CarScout facilitates intelligence and logistics, never the car transaction itself. You negotiate with the dealer directly. We give you the data, the close-clean playbook, and the shipping pathway — you close the deal. That keeps our incentives fully aligned with yours.

Is my data safe?

Yes. We collect only what is necessary to run the product: your account email, Stripe subscription status, and any VINs you submit for lookups. We do not sell your data. See our full Privacy Policy for the complete list of sub-processors and your data rights.

Cancel my Pass — how?

Log in to your account, go to /account/pass, and click “Cancel subscription.” Your Pass stays active through the end of your current billing period. No cancellation fee and no dark patterns — it is one click.

What if I don't like the Pass?

Cancel anytime. If the Pass isn't for you, you'll get a full refund — no questions, no fine print. Email support@carscout.ai with your account email and we'll get it done.