How Deals Work on Motrade
How a car deal works on Motrade, from the dealer's price offer to the locked price, the reserved inspection window, final confirmation and verified reviews.
Updated 29 September 2026
A Motrade deal turns a chat about a car into a recorded agreement: a locked price, a car held for you while you inspect it, and a confirmed sale with verified reviews on both sides. It's free, and it works for Marketplace listings and for cars offered in response to your car-wanted demand.
The stages of a deal
- 1
Agree a price in chat
Talk to the dealer in the listing's Chat. When you've agreed, the dealer sends you an official price offer. A deal always starts from the dealer's offer.
- 2
Confirm or decline the price
Open the offer on the car page or in My Deals. Confirm to lock the price. Or decline and, if you like, say why — the dealer sees your reason and can send a new offer.
- 3
Reserve the car for inspection
Either side can request an inspection window of 1, 2 or 3 days. When the other side accepts, the car is reserved — it shows as "Reserved — inspection in progress" and nobody else can deal on it.
- 4
Inspect
Check the car yourself, or let Motrade find you a professional inspector who submits a report. See car inspections.
- 5
Confirm the final price
The dealer submits the final price. Confirm it and the deal is closed — even if the price changed after inspection, you both agree to the final number.
- 6
Leave reviews
You review the dealer and the dealer reviews you. Reviews only come from confirmed deals, so they're verified.
Deal statuses
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Price proposed | The dealer sent an offer — confirm or decline it. |
| Price locked | You both agreed the price. You can now request an inspection or go to final confirmation. |
| Inspection reserved | The car is held for you for the agreed days. |
| Inspection report ready | A professional inspector has submitted their report. |
| Inspection expired | The inspection window ended. You can still confirm the final price. |
| Final pending | Waiting for the final price to be confirmed. |
| Confirmed | The deal is closed. Leave your review. |
| Cancelled | The deal was cancelled and the car is available again. |
| Disputed | A problem was reported. Motrade's team is reviewing it. |
Where to find your deals
All your deals are in My Deals. Every step also sends you a notification, so you can tap straight into the deal.
Don't leave the dealer waiting
If you stop responding at final confirmation, the dealer can close the deal without you. A deal closed that way is marked unverified and neither side can leave a review.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a deal myself?
No — agree the price in chat first, then the dealer sends it as an official offer. This makes sure the price in the deal is one the dealer has actually committed to.
Can I cancel a deal?
Yes, you can cancel before the deal is confirmed. The listing becomes available to other buyers again.
Does Motrade take a commission on the deal?
No. Deals are free for buyers. You pay the dealer directly for the car.
Related guides
Benefits of Making Your Deal on Motrade
Why closing your car deal on Motrade is safer than taking it offline: a locked price, a car reserved during inspection, verified reviews and support from Motrade if something goes wrong.
Car Inspections and Reservations
Reserve a car for 1–3 days while you inspect it, and book a verified professional car inspector near you through Motrade. How requests, inspector offers and reports work.
Close a Deal and Leave a Verified Review
How final price confirmation works on Motrade, and how verified buyer and dealer reviews are left after every confirmed deal.
Cancel a Deal or Report a Problem
How to cancel a deal before it's confirmed, and how to report a problem so Motrade's team can review it.
Still need help with deals & inspections?
Tell us what you’re trying to do and our team will get back to you, usually the same day.
Contact support