FAQ
The Register
What is the Register?
A free page for your car, for sale or not: its photos, its story and its history. Follow other cars, post, comment and join meets.
Which cars can go on it?
Enthusiast cars, broadly: sports and performance cars, classics, modern classics, flagships, grand tourers and cult favourites. If our quick check keeps a page private, ask for a review and a person looks.
Who can see my car's page?
You choose: private, link only or public. Number plates are hidden in photos unless you show them, and the registration itself is never shown.
When does the Marketplace open?
Area by area. An area opens when 25 cars from there are on the Register, and everyone there can then buy and sell. Early access members can already.
Is there an app?
On iPhone, join the beta. Android is on its way: leave your email to hear first.
Get the appWhat does it cost?
The Register is free. Listing a car for sale is free during early access.
Buying and selling
What does every listing show?
The same photos, a cold start and the same questions, answered on the record.
Listing standardsHow do I pay for a car?
Directly to the seller, as in any private sale. OpenHood never holds funds. We recommend meeting in person, an inspection or test drive, and paying by bank transfer once you have seen the car and the paperwork.
How are viewings arranged?
Agree a time and place with the seller: use Message seller on the listing, or the enquiry form if you are not signed in. We do not arrange viewings for you.
What if a car is misdescribed?
Tell us. We investigate, and it affects whether that seller can list again. Every listing is checked against the seller's V5C and MOT before it goes live, and declaring known faults is mandatory. We are not a party to the sale, so we cannot reverse a completed one.
Is there a deposit or holding-fee system?
Not yet. Reserving a car is arranged directly between buyer and seller. A deposit system is planned for later.
Help
Who do I contact for support?
Email help@openhood.uk, or message us if you are signed in. A person reads every message.
What we check: That the registered keeper matches the seller, and that the mileage is consistent with the full MOT history.
What we do not check: We have not driven or inspected this car. Condition is the seller's disclosure and your own inspection.
Want a professional opinion before you buy? Arrange an independent inspection. You contract and pay the inspector directly; OpenHood takes no commission and carries no liability for the inspection itself.