For UK buyers, car dealers, vehicle inspectors & motoring solicitors
Bought a used car privately — and been lied to? Capture the listing before the seller deletes it.
The mileage, “no accidents”, “full service history” — it was all in the advert. Capture it now, because the seller can edit or delete it in seconds. SHA-256 hash + Bitcoin blockchain timestamp. Tamper-evident evidence ZIP in 10 seconds.
In a private sale it’s “buyer beware” — the Consumer Rights Act 2015 does not apply to private sellers. But the Misrepresentation Act 1967 does: a false statement of fact that induced the sale can give you rescission and/or damages. The problem: Autotrader, eBay Motors, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree give you no archive, the seller deletes the advert — and a screenshot gets dismissed as “anyone could have edited that.” ProofSnap seals the live page (mileage, description, seller details, URL) with a SHA-256 hash and a Bitcoin OpenTimestamps anchor — the “copy of the original advertisement” UK guidance says you need. Add an optional EU eIDAS qualified timestamp when stakes are high.
Still buying? Capture the listing in 10 seconds before you hand over thousands — the cheapest insurance there is against clocked mileage and “no accidents” lies.
One-time payment · no subscription · the evidence ZIP is yours to keep forever. See a sample ZIP →
Also available for Microsoft Edge
Help me choose
10 seconds per capture · Pay-per-use from $4.99 · SHA-256 + Bitcoin OpenTimestamps
BMW 320d M Sport Touring
“Lovely condition, no faults, genuine mileage, never been in an accident. Private sale, sold as seen.”
Private seller · Manchester · listed 3 days ago
Captured & sealed
SHA-256 · timestamped
Illustrative example (fictional listing, no real vehicle) — ringed in blue are the typically disputed claims (mileage, “no accidents”). Right: the ProofSnap side panel.
Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture · verify any ZIP yourself with the free open-source Trust Verifier
Quick answer
How do you capture a used-car listing as evidence of misrepresentation?
Capture the live advert with ProofSnap and you get a tamper-evident evidence ZIP in 10 seconds — proof of the claimed mileage, “no accidents”, service history and seller at the exact moment, before the advert can be edited or deleted. Pay-per-use from $4.99 with Bitcoin proof, or from $6.99 with an EU qualified timestamp.
Technical detail: ProofSnap seals the full page (screenshot, page source, listing text, mileage, URL, metadata) with a SHA-256 hash anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain via OpenTimestamps. In a UK private sale the burden of proof is on the buyer, and the “copy of the original advertisement” UK guidance asks for is exactly what this preserves. Cross-check the advertised mileage against the free GOV.UK MOT history check to expose clocking — Carly’s analysis found ~1 in 7 used cars show a mileage or identity discrepancy. Every ZIP is verifiable with the free Trust Verifier. Do this before you contact the seller — once the advert is gone, so is your proof.
Why a screenshot of the listing won’t hold up
When a private seller has misled you, the advert is your most important evidence — and a plain screenshot is the weakest. All four problems are preventable in 10 seconds.
The listing disappears
Once the car is sold, or the moment you complain, the seller deletes or edits the advert. Autotrader, eBay Motors, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree give you no archive — after that, it’s your word against theirs.
No verifiable timestamp
A screenshot has no provable capture time. The seller can claim the mileage or the “no accidents” line was never there — and you have nothing independent to prove when it was live.
“Anyone could have edited that”
Image files are trivially editable. Without a cryptographic hash, the other side can dismiss your screenshot as unverifiable — and in a private sale the burden of proof is on you.
No URL, source, or chain of custody
Screenshots lack the page URL, page source, seller profile, and forensic metadata that a letter before action, a small claims submission, or Trading Standards relies on to tie the claim to its author.
Listing already deleted? You can still preserve evidence.
The seller pulled the advert after the sale? That doesn’t mean your proof is gone. Several sources survive the deletion of the listing — preserve them now, before they vanish too.
The message thread — your strongest remnant
Your messages on Facebook Marketplace, eBay Motors or Gumtree stay in your inbox even after the advert is gone. That’s often where the decisive assurances sit: “genuine 56k miles”, “never been in an accident.” Capture the whole thread with ProofSnap.
The seller’s profile & other adverts
The seller’s profile and any other or re-listed adverts are often still live — and a string of car sales can be evidence they were really trading. If they were acting as a trader, different rules apply. Capture the profile while it’s there.
Google cache & web archive
Sometimes a cached copy of the advert is still reachable via the Google cache or the Wayback Machine. Open it in Chrome and capture it straight away — the cache is overwritten constantly.
The MOT history & your saved advert
Run the free GOV.UK MOT history check to lock in the recorded mileage, and if you saved or emailed the advert earlier, open that source (email, download, listing history) and seal it with a timestamp — turning a loose document into verifiable proof.
Prefer no subscription? SnapPack for $4.99 — 10 captures, Bitcoin timestamp.
When the advert decides thousands of pounds
Three situations where the original advert is the decisive evidence — and where every hour counts before it’s deleted.
Clocked car / odometer fraud
The advert said 56,000 miles — the GOV.UK MOT history shows 116,000. Clocking costs UK buyers up to £762m a year (Carly estimate). The advertised mileage, captured and cross-checked against the free MOT record, is your core proof of fraudulent misrepresentation. Capture it before the advert disappears.
Evidence needed: advertised mileage, description, MOT history check
“No accidents” was a lie
Advertised as “no accidents”, but actually a previously written-off or repaired car. A false statement of fact that induced the sale is a misrepresentation under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 — even in a private sale. The advert proves exactly what was claimed.
Evidence needed: listing text, spec list, photos
Faults hidden behind “sold as seen”
The seller hid behind “sold as seen” — but that doesn’t let a private seller hide known faults or make false claims, and selling an unroadworthy car is a criminal offence. The advert (“no faults”, “lovely condition”) contradicts what they later claim.
Evidence needed: listing text, message thread, assurances
From “I just saw this” to court-ready in four steps
No technical expertise required. The whole thing takes about 10 seconds.
Open the listing
Open the advert on Autotrader, eBay Motors, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree while it’s still live — with the mileage, spec and seller details.
Click ProofSnap
One click captures the full page with listing text, price, mileage, URL, metadata, DOM content, and a SHA-256 hash.
Download evidence
Get a blockchain-timestamped ZIP with screenshot, page source, metadata, chain of custody, forensic log, and an evidence PDF.
Take action
Cross-check the mileage with the GOV.UK MOT history, then attach it to a letter before action, a small claims submission, or a Trading Standards complaint.
What’s in the evidence ZIP — up to 15 forensic files, all verifiable with the free Trust Verifier
SnapPack and Professional include the Bitcoin blockchain timestamp (.ots). The optional eIDAS qualified timestamp (.tsr + eidas_validation.json) ships with eIDAS SnapPacks and Enterprise.
Two layers of proof — pick by stakes
Every capture is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain. Add an EU qualified timestamp as an optional premium layer when the stakes are high.
Layer 1 — SHA-256 + Bitcoin OpenTimestamps
Your capture’s SHA-256 hash is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain — decentralised, independent, tamper-evident proof that the advert existed at time T. For a UK private-sale dispute, this is the layer you need.
Included on every paid plan · or standalone via SnapPack $4.99 (10 captures)
Layer 2 — eIDAS qualified timestamp (optional)
An optional premium add-on issued by Disig a.s. — a QTSP on the EU Trusted List. Useful if your matter crosses into the EU or you want the strongest available timestamp. It is not required for a UK private-sale claim — the Bitcoin layer already proves the advert existed.
Add via eIDAS SnapPack from $6.99 · or included on Enterprise
The UK legal basis — private sales
Caveat emptor — CRA 2015 excluded
In a private sale it’s “buyer beware”: the Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects buyers from traders, not from private sellers.
Misrepresentation Act 1967
A false statement of fact that induced the sale can give rescission and/or damages — fraudulent, negligent or innocent. This applies to private sellers.
“Sold as seen” isn’t a shield
It doesn’t let a private seller hide known faults or make false claims. The car must match its description; selling an unroadworthy car is a criminal offence.
Burden of proof & redress
It’s on the buyer, on the balance of probabilities — and a copy of the original advert is core evidence. Route: Citizens Advice / Trading Standards → letter before action → small claims (County Court). Scotland: similar principles, but the Sheriff Court / simple procedure.
ProofSnap is an evidence tool, not legal advice. For your specific dispute, consult a solicitor.
Also for dealers, inspectors and solicitors
If you deal with vehicle listings professionally, you need provable snapshots — defensively as well as offensively.
Car dealers
Your advert text describes the car — and a buyer can later claim you said something you didn’t. Archive defensively what you published and when, against later misrepresentation or “not as described” allegations.
Vehicle inspectors
Pair your report on the car’s actual condition with a timestamped capture of the original advert — a closed evidence chain from what was claimed to what was found, ready for your client’s dispute.
Motoring solicitors
Preserve each client’s advert in seconds before the other side deletes it — with an optional eIDAS qualified timestamp for higher-stakes matters. Team accounts for the whole practice.
Pay per capture, or subscribe
A used-car dispute is usually a one-off — so most people just buy a SnapPack. No subscription required.
Not sure which to pick? Pick by stakes & volume.
Capture one listing now
Bitcoin proof, 10 captures, no subscription.
Tamper-evident copy of the advert.
SnapPack — $4.99 ↓One listing, higher stakes
Optional EU qualified timestamp, single capture.
eIDAS premium add-on.
eIDAS SnapPack 1 — $6.99 ↓Several listings
Multiple vehicles, an ongoing case.
EU qualified, $5/stamp.
eIDAS SnapPack 5 — $24.99 ↓Dealer / inspector / solicitor
Ongoing evidence, a team.
Monthly capture quota.
Subscribe — from $8.99/mo ↓SnapPack
$4.9910 page captures, each with a SHA-256 hash and a Bitcoin blockchain timestamp, in the full forensic evidence ZIP. One-time payment — no subscription, no auto-renewal.
- Tamper-evident proof the advert existed at a specific time
- Chain of custody & provenance certificate PDF
- Capture 10 listings, seller profiles, or message threads
eIDAS SnapPack — optional premium layer
Adds an EU qualified timestamp to your captures — an optional add-on for higher-stakes or cross-border matters. Credits valid 12 months.
Every eIDAS SnapPack capture also includes the Bitcoin OpenTimestamps anchor — both layers in one ZIP.
Or subscribe — for dealers, inspectors & solicitors
For anyone documenting vehicle listings regularly. Annual plans save 20%.
Essential
or $80/year (20% savings)
- 100 captures / month
- SHA-256 hash + digital signature
- No blockchain timestamp — use a SnapPack for that
- Forensic ZIP with chain of custody
Professional
or $160/year (20% savings)
- 200 captures / month
- Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture
- Independently verifiable proof of date
- Team accounts
Enterprise
or $280/year (20% savings)
- Unlimited captures
- Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture
- 10 eIDAS qualified stamps / month
- Email support · response within 3 business days
7-day trial requires a credit card. Cancel anytime within the trial — no charge.
Teams of 2+ can use Company per-seat pricing ($18.99/seat/month). Tax-deductible business expense.
Two pack types. Plain SnapPack ($4.99) gives 10 captures with the Bitcoin OpenTimestamps layer — all you need for a UK private-sale dispute. For an optional EU qualified timestamp, use an eIDAS SnapPack; those stamps add the qualified layer on top of Bitcoin.
Credits don’t expire fast. eIDAS SnapPack credits are valid for 12 months, so you can buy ahead of a dispute. Payments are handled securely by Stripe; a credit card is required for every purchase, including SnapPacks.
vs a screenshot, the Wayback Machine, or a solicitor’s capture
Forensic-grade evidence you keep — in seconds, for a few dollars.
| Feature | ProofSnap | Manual Screenshot | Wayback Machine | Solicitor capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captures the listing before deletion | Manual | Rarely (dynamic pages) | If you reach them in time | |
| SHA-256 hash + Bitcoin timestamp | No | No | Varies | |
| Optional EU eIDAS qualified timestamp | No | No | Rarely | |
| Chain of custody + seller metadata | No | No | Partial | |
| You keep the evidence (no retainer) | Billed per hour | |||
| Tamper-evident, hard to challenge | Easily challenged | Corroborating only | Strong but costly | |
| Entry price | $4.99 SnapPack · $6.99 eIDAS 1-pack | $0 | Free | Hourly fees |
Comparison reflects publicly available 2026 information. Other services’ terms may differ by region or contract.
Frequently asked questions
Don’t let the proof disappear.
The next time a used-car seller’s claims don’t add up, capture the listing in 10 seconds. Start with a SnapPack for $4.99 — or add an optional EU qualified timestamp from $6.99 when the stakes are high.
Capture the listing — 7-day free trial7-day trial requires a credit card. Cancel anytime within the trial — no charge. Prefer no subscription? Buy a SnapPack for $4.99.