Getting A Car Inspected Before You Buy | Piston Tribe Help | Piston Tribe

Question 1

What “What’s been checked” means

Accepted Answer

Every vehicle listing has a “What’s been checked” panel. Each line is one piece of evidence, marked in one of three ways:Checked: by a source outside the seller, with the source and the date. For example, Trustap for the seller’s ID, or DVSA for the MOT and mileage.From the seller: what the seller told us, kept with the date. If they change a declaration, the panel says so and shows what changed.Not checked: there’s no source for it yet. We show this rather than hide it.Mileage. We compare the listing’s mileage with the last MOT reading. If the listing is lower than the MOT says, or the rise doesn’t make sense for the time passed, you’ll see “Ask the seller”, with both figures.Finance, theft and write-off. Piston Tribe doesn’t check these yet, so the panel says “Not checked”. You can buy a history check from a provider of your choice.It’s not a score, and it’s not a guarantee. It’s what’s known, who says so, and when. To have the car looked at by a mechanic, see Getting a car inspected before you buy.

Question 2

What owners say, and owners’ guides

Accepted Answer

On a listing. “What owners say” shows the most common faults for that model and generation, how many owners have reported each one, and what it typically cost them to fix.It comes from members who own one and from solved threads in Technical Help.A fault only shows once at least 3 different owners have reported it.Common faults aren’t about the car you’re looking at. They tell you what to check, or what to ask a mechanic to look at.Owners’ guides. Every model with enough owners has a guide: common faults ranked, what to check when buying, what they typically sell for on Piston Tribe, owners’ builds, guides and the tribe. Find them under Guides › Owners’ guides, or from a listing.How you can help. When your question in Technical Help is answered, mark it solved and pick which fault it was. If you add what it cost to fix, the “typical fix” figure gets better for everyone. If you’ve had the same problem, press “I have this too” on the thread. How we work out the cost to fixAsk the owners. “Ask the owners” on a listing starts a Buying Advice thread with the car already filled in.

Question 3

“This asks you to pay outside Piston Tribe”

Accepted Answer

Piston Tribe protects a deal when you pay through it: the money is held safely by Trustap until you have the item. Money paid any other way isn’t protected, and Piston Tribe can’t get it back.If you see the warning under a message, the other person has asked you to pay another way: by bank transfer, PayPal friends and family, a gift card, crypto, or a deposit “to hold it”. Bank details in the message are hidden until you choose Show.Pay with the Pay button in the deal chat instead.If it looks like a scam, press Report this. Staff look at reports.If you’re asked before sending, your message asks the other person to pay outside Piston Tribe. You can edit it, or send it anyway. If you send it, the deal isn’t protected for either of you, and it won’t count towards your reviews or seller standing.Signs of a scam:the seller can’t meet or show the itemthey want a deposit before an offer is acceptedthey’re “working away” and a courier will deliverthey send a “secure payment” link that isn’t Piston Tribe or Trustapthey ask to move to WhatsApp or email straight awayWe never block or change messages. The check runs on each message as it’s sent. Staff only read messages that are reported, or when someone sends many of these to different people, and then only those messages.

Question 4

After you buy a vehicle

Accepted Answer

Your sold page lists your next steps:Tax it before you drive it. Tax doesn’t transfer with the car. Use the new keeper slip (V5C/2) from the seller. Tax a vehicle on GOV.UKInsure it before you drive it.Check the V5C arrives. The seller tells DVLA they’ve sold it, and your logbook should arrive within 4 weeks. If it doesn’t, tell DVLA. What to do on GOV.UKRate the seller.Finishing the deal on Piston Tribe isn’t the same as the legal keeper change. That happens with DVLA.Get it looked after. The sold page also shows rated mechanics near you for a first service or a check-over. For parts, it shows mechanics who can fit them. Find a mechanic

Question 5

Finding a mechanic

Accepted Answer

Find a mechanic lists local garages and mobile mechanics who take Piston Tribe jobs.Every mechanic listed:has had their ID checked by Trustaphas shown Piston Tribe their public liability insuranceworks to the Piston Tribe job standardRatings come only from Piston Tribe jobs, rated by the member after the job is done. They’re separate from seller and buyer ratings. You’ll also see how many jobs each mechanic has done and how often their reports are on time.Search by postcode and distance, by job (inspection before you buy, fitting, diagnostics, servicing, bodywork), by vehicle type, and “comes to you” for mobile mechanics. Mechanics who aren’t taking jobs right now are listed further down.Requesting a job. Ask one mechanic, or up to 3 at once. The first to quote gets the job. You see the price and times before you pay anything.Mechanics are independent businesses. Piston Tribe introduces you and keeps the record of the job; the mechanic is responsible for their work.

Question 6

Getting a car inspected before you buy

Accepted Answer

On a vehicle listing (and on engines, gearboxes, turbos and ECUs), “Get it checked before you buy” names rated mechanics near the item.How it works:Ask: pick the inspection (standard or specialist), up to 3 mechanics, the times that suit you, and anything to look at closely.Quote: the first mechanic to quote gets it. You see their price and times in your deal chat.The seller agrees a time. The mechanic sees the town until then, then the address.Pay: you accept the quote and pay. You pay the mechanic directly on the day. That payment isn’t held by Trustap.The inspection: done to the Piston Tribe job standard, with photos, a cold-start video and a fault-code scan. The report is due by 6pm on the day.The report appears in your deal chat. The seller sees it too.The verdict is one of three: Good to buy, Buy with care (things to budget for) or Walk away. Every check is marked Good, Advise, Fail or Not checked.A road test only happens if the seller’s insurance covers it; otherwise it says Not checked.An inspection is a check on the day, not a guarantee or a warranty.After. Make an offer that reflects the report, go ahead, or walk away. If you buy, the sold listing says “Inspected before sale”. Other buyers never see your report.Cancelling:before the seller agrees a time: a full refundafter that: the same rules as viewing depositsif the mechanic doesn’t turn up: a full refundA problem with the job goes through a complaint on the job, like any deal. How complaints work

Question 7

For mechanics: taking Piston Tribe jobs

Accepted Answer

Applying. Press “Apply to take jobs” on Find a mechanic. You’ll need:your business name and address (or base postcode for mobile mechanics)the jobs and vehicles you takeyour public liability insurance certificatea Trustap account (it checks your ID, and it’s how you’re paid)Staff check your application, usually within 2 working days. Your certificate is kept privately, and only staff can see it.Before your first job, you accept the Piston Tribe job standard. When it’s updated, you accept the new version before your next job.Account › Jobs is where you work:Taking Piston Tribe jobs: switch it on to get requests, or off whenever you want. Your page and reviews stay up either way, and booked jobs carry on.New requests: jobs near you that match what you take, closest first. Quote a price and up to 3 times, or pass. The first mechanic to quote gets the job.Booked: the address shows once the seller agrees the time. Start the report on your phone, section by section. It saves as you go.Done, and your money: the jobs you’ve done and what the customer paid you.The report is due by 6pm on the day. Reports on time show on your page.Getting paid. The customer pays you on the day. Piston Tribe takes no fee on jobs.Insurance. We’ll remind you 30 days before it runs out. On the day it expires, “Taking Piston Tribe jobs” switches off until we’ve seen the new certificate.You’re an independent business, responsible for your work, your report and your insurance.

Question 8

The Piston Tribe job standard

Accepted Answer

Every Piston Tribe job follows the same standard, so a report means the same thing whoever did it.Version 2, published 18 October 2026. Read it on its own pageInspection before you buySectionCheckPhoto or videoIdentity and paperworkPlate and VIN match the V5CPhoto requiredDash mileage against the MOT recordPhoto requiredService historyPhoto if advise or failKeysPhoto if advise or failExterior and bodyPanels, paint and gapsPhoto if advise or failGlass and lightsPhoto if advise or failSigns of repairPhoto if advise or failUndersideRust and subframePhoto if advise or failLeaksPhoto if advise or failExhaustPhoto if advise or failEngine and cold startCold start, on videoVideo requiredLeaksPhoto if advise or failBelts or chainPhoto if advise or failWarning lightsPhoto if advise or failOil level and conditionPhoto requiredGearbox and clutchPulling awayPhoto if advise or failAll gearsPhoto if advise or failClutch bitePhoto if advise or failBrakes and tyresDiscs and padsPhoto if advise or failTyre tread and agePhoto if advise or failElectrics and scanFault-code scanPhoto requiredLights, windows, air conPhoto if advise or failRoad testOnly if the seller's insurance covers itNo photo neededInspection, specialist adds specialist checks: gearbox in depth; turbo; eV or hybrid battery.FittingBefore: before photosThe work: parts used; torque settingsAfter: after photos; notesDiagnosticsScan: full fault-code scanFindings: what you found; what you recommendServicingBefore: before photosThe work: parts used; torque settingsAfter: after photos; notesEvery report:marks each check Good, Advise, Fail or Not checked, with a note and a photo for Advise and Failincludes a cold-start video and a fault-code scan for inspectionsends with a verdict: Good to buy, Buy with care or Walk awaysays which version of the standard it usedWhen the standard changes, jobs already booked keep the version they started with.

Question 9

Where is my money right now?

Accepted Answer

If you have paid for a marketplace item, your money is held by Trustap — not by Piston Tribe and not by the seller. Trustap is a regulated payment company whose entire job is to hold money until both sides have done their part.
                    The seller cannot touch it. We cannot touch it. It is released to the seller once you have the item and have had a chance to check it, or returned to you if the deal falls through.
                    You can see the current state of any deal on its page in your offers.

Question 10

Is this an escrow service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you pay on Piston Tribe, your money is held by Trustap, our independent payment partner, not by the seller. The seller is only paid once you&rsquo;ve got the item and confirmed it&rsquo;s as described.
                    You only ever pay through Piston Tribe: never pay a seller directly or through a link they send you.

Question 11

When does the seller actually get paid?

Accepted Answer

After the buyer has the item and the complaint window has passed without a problem being raised. Until then the money sits with Trustap.
                    That wait is the whole point — it is what lets a buyer hand over £8,000 to a stranger in a car park, and it is why sellers get buyers they would never otherwise get.

Question 12

What does it cost to buy or sell?

Accepted Answer

Piston Tribe charges the seller a commission on a completed sale. Trustap charges its own fee for holding and moving the money, which is shown to the buyer before they pay.Marketplace sale up to £1,000: 3.4%. Our share of the seller’s 6.4% + 35p fee. The rest is Trustap’s processing fee, 3% + 35p.Marketplace sale over £1,000: flat fee by deal size. A flat fee by deal size, paid by the seller (£27.25 to £351), plus a buyer protection fee of £19 to £99 on the deposit.Vehicles: max £500. All fees on a vehicle sale, added together.Swaps: from £5 each. Swap fee from £5 each (£10 in total, plus £5 per £500 of items, up to £100, split between you). Cash in a swap: the same as a sale of that amount.The shop: retail margin. We buy stock and sell it, like any retailer.Community and joining: free. Forum, tribes, guides and your account.Every figure is shown in full on the review screen before anyone commits — you will never find a fee after the fact. If a number on a screen does not match what you expected, tell us and we will explain it.

Question 13

Why am I being asked for a deposit and then a balance?

Accepted Answer

Above a certain value, card payments stop being practical — card limits, fees and fraud checks all get in the way of a £12,000 vehicle.
                    So high-value deals are split: a deposit by card to secure the item, then the balance by bank transfer. Both are held by Trustap exactly as a single payment would be, and the seller is paid only once you have the item.

Question 14

Can I get my money back?

Accepted Answer

Before handover. If the deal is cancelled, the full item price comes back to you — every penny you paid for the thing itself. Trustap's fees are not refunded: they were charged for work already done.
                    On a high-value deal paid in two parts, both parts come back — the card deposit and the bank transfer.
                    After handover. Once you have confirmed you have the item, a cancellation is no longer possible. What you have instead is a window to raise a problem before the money is released to the seller. Raise it in the deal and Trustap decides.
                    A marketplace purchase is not a shop purchase. There is no 14-day change-of-mind right on a private sale, because you are buying from another member rather than from a business. Buying from the Piston Tribe shop is different — see the shop returns answer.

Question 15

How long does the money take to come back?

Accepted Answer

Trustap starts the refund within about an hour of the cancellation going through. After that it is your bank's timing, not ours:
                    Card: usually 2–3 working days.
                    Bank transfer: usually 3–5 working days.
                    A card issued outside the UK: up to 10 working days.
                    We quote 5–10 working days on the deal screen on purpose. It is better to tell you the slow end and have it arrive early than the other way round when it is your money.
                    The money goes back to the card or account it came from. It cannot be sent somewhere else.

Question 16

Why do I not get the whole lot back?

Accepted Answer

The item price is yours and comes back in full. The fees do not, because the work they paid for has already happened: the payment was processed, the money was held securely, and the protection was in place for as long as the deal ran.
                    This is Trustap's policy, not a Piston Tribe decision — the same rule applies to every platform that uses them.
                    On a deal paid in two parts there were two payments, so there were two sets of processing fees, and neither is refunded.
                    If you think a deal was cancelled unfairly, say so in the deal and we will look at it. We would rather hear about it than have you quietly decide the site took your money.

Question 17

Who can cancel a deal, and how fast is the money back?

Accepted Answer

Once money is in, a deal is not cancelled by one person alone. Both sides have to agree — that is deliberate, so nobody can pull out from under the other after a commitment.
                    Once it is agreed, the cancellation goes through immediately and your refund is queued straight away. You do not wait on a review.
                    Once the handover is confirmed, cancelling is not possible at all. From that point the route is to raise a problem inside the complaint window, which is a different thing: Trustap looks at it and decides.
                    If the seller will not agree and you think they should, raise it in the deal rather than waiting. A deal nobody is moving is the one situation we most want to hear about.

Question 18

How does buying something actually work?

Accepted Answer

Three steps, and you can stop at any of them.
                    Agree a price. Buy at the asking price, or make an offer and talk to the seller in the deal chat.
                    Pay safely. Your money goes to Trustap, not the seller. The listing is then reserved for you.
                    Get the item and check it. Collect it or have it sent. Once you are happy, the seller is paid.
                    Nothing is committed until you pay. Saving, messaging and making an offer all reserve nothing.

Question 19

Can I see the item before I commit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you should. Many sellers offer viewing times you can book from the listing.
                    For anything expensive, the sensible order is: view it, agree the price, then pay. Trustap holding the money protects the handover — it is not a substitute for looking at the thing.Can’t get there yourself, or want a second opinion? Have a mechanic inspect it before you buy.

Question 20

A listing says "Reserved" — can I still buy it?

Accepted Answer

Not right now. Reserved means another buyer has already paid through Trustap, and the item has not been handed over yet.
                    It is worth saving, though. If that deal falls through, the listing comes straight back on sale and you will see it here again.
                    An offer on its own does not reserve anything. Until somebody actually pays, a listing stays open to everyone — so if it does not say Reserved, you can still buy it.
                    Sold means the handover has happened. Sold listings stay visible for a week so you can see what things go for, then they leave the marketplace.

Question 21

How do I sell something?

Accepted Answer

Create a listing with honest photos and an honest description, set your price, and say whether you will post it or want it collected.
                    Buyers can buy outright or make an offer. When you accept, the buyer pays, Trustap holds the money, and you will see the money confirmed as held before you hand anything over.
                    Never hand over an item before you can see the money is held. That is the one rule that keeps sellers safe here.

Question 22

Why do I have to verify my identity to sell?

Accepted Answer

Because you are going to receive other people's money, and the law that governs payment companies requires it. Trustap runs the check, not us — we never see or hold your documents.
                    It also does something useful for you: a verified seller gets a shield on their listings, and buyers are far more willing to send money to one.

Question 23

I accepted an offer and the buyer has not paid.

Accepted Answer

An accepted offer holds the listing for a limited time. If the buyer does not pay within it, the hold lapses automatically and your listing goes back on sale — you do not have to chase anyone.
                    Nothing is taken from either side when a deal lapses.

Question 24

What should I do when meeting someone in person?

Accepted Answer

Meet somewhere public and in daylight. Take someone with you if the item is valuable.
                    Do not pay in cash and do not accept cash. The moment money moves outside the platform, neither of you has any protection at all — and that is exactly the situation the person trying to scam you wants.
                    Check the item properly before confirming handover. Once you confirm, the clock on the money starts.

Question 25

How does the handover code work?

Accepted Answer

It is how a collection is confirmed without anyone taking anyone's word for it. The buyer has a code on their phone; the seller scans it when they are standing together with the item.
                    If you are buying: your code stays locked until the seller has added photos of the item as it is on the day, and until you have ticked three things on the deal page &mdash; that you have inspected it in person, checked the paperwork, and accept its condition. Only then does it appear. Do not show it until you are happy: the scan is the moment you accept the item.
                    If you are selling: scan the buyer's code with your phone, or type in the Collection PIN they read out if the camera will not play. Do this with the buyer in front of you and the item still in your hands. Never hand anything over on a promise that they will show the code later.
                    The scan tells Trustap the handover happened. From that point the buyer has the inspection window shown on the deal page to raise a problem; if nothing is raised, the money is released to the seller automatically. Neither of you needs to press anything else.

Question 26

How does it work if the item is being posted?

Accepted Answer

The seller sends it and adds the tracking to the deal. Your money stays with Trustap the whole time.
                    When it arrives, check it before confirming. If it does not arrive, or arrives not as described, raise it in the deal — the money has not gone anywhere.

Question 27

What is the difference between the shop and the marketplace?

Accepted Answer

The shop is us. We buy the stock, we send it, and we are the retailer — so you get the rights you get from any UK business, including returns.
                    The marketplace is members selling to members. We are not the seller; we provide the place, and Trustap, our independent payment partner, holds the money so it&rsquo;s safe. Different protections, different rules.
                    Shop items say "Sold and shipped by Piston Tribe" on the product page. If it does not say that, it is a member's listing.

Question 28

Can I return something I bought from the shop?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 28 days to return anything unused, in its original packaging. If it is faulty or we sent the wrong thing, we pay the return postage.
                    The full terms are on the delivery and returns page. None of it applies to marketplace listings, because those were never our sale to take back.

Question 29

Are the shop reviews real?

Accepted Answer

They are left by people with accounts, checked before they appear, and marked "Bought on Piston Tribe" when we can match the reviewer to an actual order.
                    We do not remove a review for being critical. Reviews only come down for abuse, spam or personal information, and that is logged. You can read every one of them, including the bad ones, on the reviews page — the filters there include a "Critical" one on purpose.

Question 30

How do you work out the cost to fix?

Accepted Answer

The cost-to-fix card on a Technical Help thread comes from one place: the What fixed it note an owner writes once their fault is solved. They say what fixed it, roughly what it cost, and who did the work: themselves, a garage or a dealer.
                    We group those notes by car and fault: the same make and model, and the same fault code, or the same fault tag when there is no code. Fixes that start with the same words count as one fix, so &ldquo;motorway run at 60&rdquo; and &ldquo;a 20-minute motorway run&rdquo; sit together.
                    Costs are shown in bands rather than exact prices: £0, under £50, £50–£150, £150–£500 and £500+. Usually is the band that comes up most often; when not is the range of the rest.
                    The card only appears once at least three owners of that car have recorded a fix for that fault. With fewer, one unusual repair would skew it, so we show nothing rather than a guess. The figures refresh at least once a day.
                    It is what owners paid, not a quote. Labour rates, parts prices and whatever else a garage finds all vary, so use it as a guide and get a quote before you book work.
                    We merge fault tags that mean the same thing so the groups stay clean. If a figure looks wrong, tell us.

Question 31

What does the green shield on a seller mean?

Accepted Answer

That the person has passed an identity check with Trustap — a real document against a real face, plus their bank details.
                    It means they are who they say they are. It does not mean the item is as described — that is what the held payment and the seller's rating are for.

Question 32

The item is not what was described. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

Raise it in the deal, before the money is released. That is the moment you have the most leverage, and it is a lot easier than trying to get money back afterwards.
                    Photograph the problem straight away, including the packaging if it was posted. Say specifically what is different from the listing.
                    It then goes to Trustap, who decide — not us. We are not allowed to rule on who is right about somebody else's money, and you would not want a marketplace that could.

Question 33

Who decides who is right in a dispute?

Accepted Answer

Trustap. They hold the money, so they make the call, using the evidence both sides provide.
                    Piston Tribe's job is to make sure both of you can put your case properly and that nothing is lost in the middle. We will help you assemble evidence. We will not pretend to be the judge.

Question 34

The other person has stopped replying.

Accepted Answer

Your money is still held. Nothing is released because somebody stopped talking.
                    Give it a day, then raise it in the deal. Tell us as well — we can see whether the account is still active, and we would rather know early than be told after it has gone wrong.

Question 35

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Ask us and we will do it. If you have a deal in progress it has to finish first — we cannot delete one side of a transaction somebody else is relying on.
                    Some records have to be kept afterwards for legal and tax reasons. Everything else goes.

Question 36

How do I change my email or password?

Accepted Answer

Both from your account. If you cannot get in at all, use the password reset link on the sign-in page.
                    If the reset email does not arrive, check spam first, then tell us — a person will sort it.

Question 37

How do I talk to a real person?

Accepted Answer

Send us a message and a person reads it — not a bot, and not a queue that forgets you. Tell us your order or deal number if you have one; it is the difference between an answer today and three emails.
                    Three things are worth checking first, because they are the answer most of the time:
                    
                      Money you cannot see is almost always held rather than gone — where your money is.
                      A seller who has gone quiet usually reappears within a day — what to do meanwhile.
                      Something actually wrong with a deal has its own route, and it is faster than email — raise a problem.
                    
                    If money is held and something has gone wrong, raise it in the deal rather than by email. That puts it in front of us with the deal attached, and it stops the clock while we look.

Question 38

Can I stop the emails and notifications?

Accepted Answer

Marketing emails, yes — there is an unsubscribe link on every one.
                    Emails about a deal you are in are different: those tell you that money has moved or that somebody is waiting on you, and switching them off would mean missing a deadline that costs you. Those stay while the deal is live.

Question 39

What is a build log?

Accepted Answer

A build log is the story of one car, told in updates. You start it in the forum under Build Logs, then post an update whenever something happens: a stage finished, parts fitted, a problem solved.
                    Each update can carry photos, the parts you used (with prices) and its stage, so the page reads like a timeline. Other members comment under each update, like it, and follow the build to hear about the next one.

Question 40

What is the difference between following a build and following the builder?

Accepted Answer

Follow build (the heart at the top of a build) tells you when that one car gets a new update.
                    Follow [name] (on the side card, next to Ask the owner) follows the person: you hear about everything they post, not just this build, and they see you among their followers.

Question 41

How is Build of the week picked?

Accepted Answer

Each week one build log is picked to feature on the forum, the community page and the home page.
                    To be picked, a build needs at least 3 updates, at least 8 photos, an update in the last 14 days, and a car from your Garage. We look at how members responded that week: new followers, comments and likes, plus new updates from the builder. Sometimes we pick a build ourselves.
                    The same build can&rsquo;t win again for 8 weeks.
                    Winners get a ribbon on their build for the week, a trophy card on the build that stays for good, an award on their profile, and a place on the Past winners page.

Question 42

Build logs: how they work

Accepted Answer

Starting a build. In the forum, start a new topic on the Build Logs board. Pick the car from your Garage, add a cover photo and say what the plan is. That first post is update 1.
                    Adding updates. On your build, use Post an update whenever something happens: a stage finished, parts fitted, a problem solved. Each update can carry photos, the parts you used and their prices, and the stage you are at, so the page reads like a timeline.
                    Comments and following. Members comment under each update, reply to each other, and quote a comment into a new one. Follow build tells you when a new update goes up; Follow on the side card follows the builder.
                    Build of the week. Each week one build log is picked to feature on the forum, the community page and the home page.
                    To be picked, a build needs at least 3 updates, at least 8 photos, an update in the last 14 days, and a car from your Garage. We look at how members responded that week: new followers, comments and likes, plus new updates from the builder. Sometimes we pick a build ourselves.
                    The same build can&rsquo;t win again for 8 weeks.
                    Winners get a ribbon on their build for the week, a trophy card on the build that stays for good, an award on their profile, and a place on the Past winners page.

Question 43

How do I reply to or quote a comment?

Accepted Answer

Reply opens a box under that comment, so your answer sits with it.
                    Quote puts their words into the update&rsquo;s main comment box, so you can start a new comment that answers them. To quote just part, select those words and tap the small Quote button that appears.
                    Type @ and a name to mention someone; they get an alert. Paste one of our links and it turns into a small card.

Question 44

How do I report a comment or a thread?

Accepted Answer

Tap ⋯ on the comment (or the thread) and choose Report, then pick a reason. Our team reviews every report. The person you report is not told who reported them.

Question 45

Community guidelines

Accepted Answer

Piston Tribe is for everyone who loves anything that moves: cars, motorcycles, vans, quads, karts, campers and boats, whatever they ride or drive and whatever they spend. Seven rules keep it that way:
                    
                    Every machine counts, from a first moped to a supercar. They all get the same welcome.
                    Answer the question asked. If someone wants to fix their vehicle, help them fix it. "Just buy a different one" is not an answer.
                    No sneering at budgets. People do what they can afford. Help them get the most from it.
                    Disagree with the point, not the person. Argue about machines all you like. Never make it about someone personally.
                    No politics. That includes fuel, tax and EV arguments that are really about politics. Talk about the machines.
                    No selling in threads. Use the marketplace, where your buyer’s money is protected. A link to your listing is fine when someone asks.
                    Report, don’t feud. If something is wrong, tap ⋯ and Report. Mute or block anyone you’d rather not see.
                    
                    Break a rule and a moderator may remove the post and tell you which rule and why. Repeated breaks earn a strike; three strikes and the account is suspended. You can reply once to any strike if you think we got it wrong.

Question 46

Can the owner of a build remove my comment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A builder can remove comments on their own build, the way you would on your own social post. If they do, you get an alert saying so. Our team can see every removal and can put a comment back if it was removed unfairly. Comments from our moderators cannot be removed by a builder.

Question 47

Deleting your posts

Accepted Answer

What you post is yours. Here’s what you can take down, and why some things stay:
                    
                    Your thread, before anyone replies: open the ⋯ menu and Delete thread. It goes straight away.
                    Your thread, once people have replied: Remove my post takes your words and photos off the opening post. It then reads “The author removed their post.” The replies stay, because they’re other people’s help and someone with the same problem may need them. You can also Detach my name, so the thread shows as by Former member and leaves your profile.
                    Your comments and replies: delete them any time from their ⋯ menu. If no one has answered, they disappear. If someone has, it shows “Comment removed by its author”, so their answer still makes sense.
                    Deleting your account: in Account › Privacy & security. Your threads and comments are kept for others but show as Former member. Photos you uploaded are removed, and your profile, Garage, albums and messages are deleted. Records of deals you took part in are kept, because the law and any dispute need them, but they’re only seen by the other person in the deal and our team. You can’t delete your account while a deal is in progress.
                    
                    Our team can still remove anything for legal or privacy reasons. Contact us if you need something taken down.

Question 48

How standing, ranks and prizes work

Accepted Answer

Piston Tribe keeps two separate records about you. They never feed each other.Seller standingCommunity rankWhat it tells peopleHow much buyers can trust you to sell to themHow much you help the communityComes fromReal paid deals on the marketplaceThings other members found usefulLevelsNew seller, Established, Trusted seller, Top sellerNewcomer, Regular, Helper, Fixer, Mentor, Master, LegendWhere you see itYour listings, profile and dealsBeside your name in the community, and your profileSelling never earns community points, and helping never changes your seller standing. A great mechanic who never sells anything can reach Legend. A careful seller who never posts can be a Top seller.See both of yours on Your standing. It shows where you are, what’s left to reach the next level, and every point you’ve earned with the date.More: Seller standing · How seller ratings work · Ranks and points · Leaderboards and the Hall of fame · Competitions and prizes

Question 49

Seller standing

Accepted Answer

Seller standing shows buyers how you’ve sold on Piston Tribe. It’s worked out every night from your real deals, and nobody can set it by hand, staff included.The levels (last 12 months):LevelYou needAndNew sellerFewer than 3 salesEstablished3 sales to 3 different buyersRated 4★ or more as a seller, if you’ve been ratedTrusted seller10 sales to 8 different buyersRated 4.5★ or more from 5 or more seller reviews · ID checked by Trustap · no disputes lost in 90 days · no open strikeTop seller30 sales to 20 different buyersRated 4.7★ or more from 15 or more seller reviews · 95% handed over or posted on time · you usually reply within 4 hours · everything for TrustedWhat counts as a sale. A deal on your listing that was paid through Trustap, with the money released to you; £10 or more; and with a buyer who isn’t linked to your account. Sales arranged outside Piston Tribe, or marked as sold without paying through Trustap, don’t count.What counts against you:A full refund takes that sale off.A dispute you lose takes the sale off and pauses Trusted and Top seller for 90 days.A strike pauses them while it’s open.Different buyers matter. Ten sales to one person count as ten sales but one buyer, so standing reflects how many people have trusted you.Linked accounts. If our checks think two accounts belong to the same person or household, deals between them don’t count for either, until staff have looked. You don’t need to do anything. If they’re not linked, staff clear it and the deals count from that night.Falling below a level. If a nightly check finds you’ve dropped below your level, you keep it for 30 days. Your standing page shows what you need and by when, and buyers see no change until then. A lost dispute or a strike is different: it takes Trusted or Top seller away straight away.What each level gets you:EstablishedTrusted sellerTop sellerBadgeOn your profileOn your listings, profile and dealsTop seller, everywhere Trusted showsOffers to followers3 a week3 a week5 a weekPhotos per listing203040New listingsChecked in orderChecked firstChecked first“Trusted and top sellers” search filterIncludedIncludedNew selling tools earlyYesEvery listing is still checked before it goes live, whatever your level.What standing isn’t. It isn’t a guarantee, and it doesn’t change how your deal works. Every deal is protected the same way: the money is held safely by Trustap until the item is handed over or delivered. How Trustap protects youID checked by Trustap is separate from standing. It means Trustap has checked your identity. What the green tick means

Question 50

How seller ratings work

Accepted Answer

After a deal is finished, the buyer and seller can review each other. Reviews only open on deals paid through Trustap.Two ratings, kept apart. Your profile shows:As a seller: reviews from people who bought from you. This is the rating on your listings, and the only one that counts towards seller standing.As a buyer: reviews from people you bought from.How the number is worked out. Each rating is the average of its stars, shown as stars and as a percentage: 4.8★ is 96% positive. Every review counts the same.Blind reviews. Neither of you sees the other’s review until you’ve both written one, or 14 days have passed, so nobody changes their review because of the other one.What can’t happen:A rating can’t be left by someone who wasn’t in the deal.A rating can’t be bought, or left from an account linked to yours.A hidden review doesn’t count.Changing a review. You can edit your own review for 30 days. If you got 3 stars or fewer, you can ask the other person to reconsider once, and you can always reply publicly.Disputes. A dispute’s outcome doesn’t change a review. A lost dispute does affect seller standing.Reporting a review. Use Report on the review if it’s abusive, about something else, or reveals personal details. Staff read every report. We don’t remove reviews for being critical.

Question 51

Ranks and points

Accepted Answer

Your community rank shows how much you help. You earn points when other members find what you did useful, not for how much you post.Earning points:What you didPointsLimitYour reply is picked as the best answer by the person who asked153 or more different members mark your reply helpful2Once per replyA guide you wrote is published40A build update with 3 or more photos33 a dayYour build wins Build of the week50An event you hosted runs, with 3 or more people marked as came202 a weekA tribe you run reaches 10, 50 or 200 members10, 25, 50Once eachA friend you invited makes their first approved post or paid deal2510 a monthYou complete your profile (photo and bio)5OnceYou add your first car to your Garage5OnceWhat doesn’t earn points:replies and new threads on their ownlikes, follows and viewsbuying, selling and writing reviews (sales count towards seller standing instead)You can’t earn points from your own threads, your own likes, or accounts linked to yours. Test and staff accounts don’t earn points.Ranks:RankPointsWhat it gets youNewcomer0Regular50Helper250No daily limit on starting new message threadsFixer750Mentor2,000New features before everyone elseMaster5,000Legend12,000Your name on the Legends wall in the Hall of fameWhen you reach a rank you get an alert, and the new rank shows beside your name straight away. Any perk starts at the same moment.Seeing your points. Your standing lists every point with the date and what it was for. The list is the total: nothing is added that you can’t see.Points taken back. If staff remove a post, or the best answer moves to another reply, those points are taken back. The line stays in your list marked Reversed, with the reason. Staff can also add or take off points to fix a mistake, and the line shows their note. Your rank follows your points, so it can go down after a reversal.

Question 52

What happened to rep?

Accepted Answer

On 18 October 2026, rep was replaced by two separate things: seller standing for selling, and community points for helping.What we brought over. Everything you’d done to help (best answers, threads, replies, tribes joined, profile, followers) was added up at the old values and added to your points as one line, “Brought over from the old rep system”. You’ll see it at the bottom of your list.What moved. Points you earned from buying and selling didn’t come across as points. Your sales now count towards seller standing, which is worked out from the deals themselves, so nothing is lost there either.The old rank names (Scout, Rookie, Driver, Wrencher, Fabricator, Tuner, Racer, Expert, Legend) have gone. The new names work for anything with an engine, or without one.Codes you already had stay valid until they expire, and anyone who had free merch shipping keeps it.If your new rank looks wrong, contact us and say which line you think is missing. Staff can see your full history.

Question 53

Leaderboards and the Hall of fame

Accepted Answer

Leaderboards show the top members each month, on these boards:BoardCountsTop helpersAll community pointsBest answersReplies the asker picked as the answerTop buildersBuild updates, Respect from others, Build of the weekGuide writersMembers who read your guides to the endEvent hostsPeople marked as came at events you ranTop sellersPaid sales to different buyers. Trusted and Top sellers onlyPeriods. This month, last month, this year and all time. The monthly boards start again on the 1st at midnight, UK time.Your place. Every board shows where you are, even if you’re not near the top. Each board’s full page shows the top 50 and can be narrowed to one tribe, where that makes sense.Who’s left out:test and staff accountsmembers who’ve switched the boards offanyone below the board’s minimum, for example 10 points on Top helpersTies go to whoever got there first.The Hall of fame keeps every month’s winners for good. Winners also get a line on their profile, such as “Top helper · Oct 2026”. Build of the week has its own winners page, linked from the Hall of fame.Turning it off. Switch off “Show me on the leaderboards” at the bottom of the page or in Settings › Privacy. Your name is left off every board, and you can’t win a prize. Your points, rank and standing still count as normal, and you can switch it back on whenever you like.

Question 54

Competitions and prizes

Accepted Answer

Every monthly board has winners. The top 3 get a trophy on their profile and a place in the Hall of fame, and some boards add a prize, such as a week on the home page for your post, build or guide. Each board shows its prize for the month, and prizes can change from month to month.This month’s prizes:BoardOctober prizeTop helpers1st: a week on the home page · 2nd: a trophy on your profile · 3rd: a trophy on your profileBest answers1st: a trophy on your profile · 2nd: a trophy on your profile · 3rd: a trophy on your profileTop builders1st: your build on the home page for a week · 2nd: a trophy on your profile · 3rd: a trophy on your profileGuide writers1st: guide on the home page for a week · 2nd: a trophy on your profile · 3rd: a trophy on your profileEvent hosts1st: a trophy on your profile · 2nd: a trophy on your profile · 3rd: a trophy on your profileTop sellers1st: top seller of the month badgeHow winners are picked. At the end of each month the boards are frozen and the top places become the winners. A change to points after the month has ended doesn’t change the result.Before a prize is sent, staff check that the winner’s points came from members who aren’t linked to them, and that there’s no open strike on the account. If something needs a closer look, the prize waits while staff check, and we’ll tell you.When you win, you get an alert and an email.Trophies and badges appear on your profile straight away.A week on the home page: we pick your best post, build or guide from the month and tell you the day it starts.Every winner goes into the Hall of fame, with or without a prize.Fair play. Prizes are for real help. Points from linked accounts, swapped likes or arranged answers are taken back. An account that tries it can lose its prize and be left off the boards.No purchase needed. You never have to buy anything to take part. The Top sellers board’s prize is always a badge.The full rules are in the competition terms.

Question 55

Questions about standing, ranks and prizes

Accepted Answer

I’ve made lots of sales but I’m not Trusted. Check Your standing. It shows each requirement and how close you are. The usual reasons are sales to the same few buyers; sales under £10; deals not paid through Trustap; and fewer than 5 reviews as a seller.My standing dropped. Most drops start a 30-day grace period, and your standing page says what’s needed. A lost dispute or a strike removes Trusted and Top seller straight away; it comes back when the 90 days have passed and you still meet the rest.A sale isn’t counting. The deal list on your standing page says why for each one: refunded, under the minimum, not released yet, or waiting for a linked-account check.I’m missing points for a best answer. Points are added when the person who asked picks your reply, not when you post it. If it was picked and the line isn’t there, contact us with the thread.Some of my points say Reversed. The post was removed by staff, or the best answer moved to another reply. The reason is on the line.Can I pay for a higher rank or standing? No. Neither can be bought, and staff can’t set your seller standing.Does my rank change my fees? No. Fees are the same for everyone today. Our feesCan I hide my points? Your rank shows beside your name in the community, and your points show on your profile. You can leave the leaderboards in Settings › Privacy.Do points expire? No. Your total stays. The leaderboards start again each month.

Question 56

Swaps: how they work

Accepted Answer

See the swaps page
                    What a swap is
                    Trade one or more of your listings for someone else’s, with or without cash. Swaps are face to face.
                    What your swap fee covers
                    Any cash is held safely by Trustap, and only goes across when you’ve both scanned at the meet.
                    Nothing’s final until you both scan, so you see the other kit before anything changes hands.
                    You’re both identity checked: you can only swap once you’re Verified.
                    For vehicles, the VIN, frame or hull number shows privately once you’ve both paid, with the DVSA MOT history for road vehicles.
                    A short list of what to check for your type of vehicle, part or tool.
                    A record of everything: chat, identities, items, photos, and when and where you swapped.
                    What it doesn’t do: we can’t guarantee the kit itself. Like any private sale, a swap is final once you’ve both scanned. Check it properly at the meet, and if it’s not right, don’t scan: walk away and nothing has moved.
                    What it costs
                    The swap fee is split between you. It’s £5 each for swaps under £500, then £2.50 more each for every £500, up to £50 each. Any cash is charged like a normal sale of that amount, paid by whoever receives it. You see your exact cost before you send a swap.Items on the bigger sideTotalEachUnder £500£10£5£500 to £999£15£7.50£1,000 to £1,499£20£10£1,500 to £1,999£25£12.50£2,000 to £2,499£30£15£2,500 to £2,999£35£17.50£3,000 to £3,499£40£20£3,500 to £3,999£45£22.50£4,000 to £4,499£50£25£4,500 to £4,999£55£27.50£5,000 to £5,499£60£30£5,500 to £5,999£65£32.50£6,000 to £6,499£70£35£6,500 to £6,999£75£37.50£7,000 to £7,499£80£40£7,500 to £7,999£85£42.50£8,000 to £8,499£90£45£8,500 to £8,999£95£47.50£9,000 and over£100£50Worked out from the value of the items on the bigger side of the swap. Cash isn’t counted.
                    If it falls through
                    Changed your minds? Cancel together. Once the other side confirms, everything goes back to whoever paid it.
                    They didn’t turn up, backed out, or their kit isn’t as described? Report it in the swap. Any cash and your half of the fee come straight back. They lose their half, unless they disagree within 48 hours. Then our team decides from the listing, the photos, the chat and the meet times.
                    Reported, and it was them? Report them back within the same 48 hours. It goes to our team, the same as disagreeing.
                    After the swap
                    Download your swap record from the swap: the chat, the items, the payments and the times, ready for the police, your insurer or a small claims court.
                    Found a problem later? Open a Swap case in the Resolution Centre within 30 days. You can both agree to swap back: it’s a new swap, with the usual fee.
                    Swapping privately
                    You can arrange a swap yourselves in chat, but nothing is held by Trustap and it’s at your own risk.
                    Posting
                    Swaps are face to face for now.

Question 57

Why do we both pay for a swap?

Accepted Answer

You both get the same cover: nothing moves until you’ve both scanned.
                    Each of you pays half of the swap fee, from £5 each. How swaps work.

Question 58

Is there a free swap?

Accepted Answer

Not through Piston Tribe. Every swap through Piston Tribe has a fee, even item for item.
                    Swaps arranged outside the swap flow aren’t held by Trustap, and they’re at your own risk.

Question 59

Can I swap by post?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Swaps are face to face.
                    You meet, check each other’s items, and both scan each other’s code before anything moves. How swaps work.

Question 60

Listing in a minute: plate, link or your own words

Accepted Answer

Create a listing gives you three quick starts. Each one fills in the normal form, so you can check and change everything before it goes live.Number plate: fills the make, model, year, colour and mileage history from DVSA.Paste a link to your listing:Other sites give the title, price, description and main photo, where the site allows it.Facebook doesn’t allow it; use your own words instead.Paste your words: copy your ad from Facebook or anywhere. We pick out the make, model, year, mileage, price and town, and your words become the description.Check this. Anything we weren’t sure about is marked “Check this”. “68k” becomes 68,000 until you add the exact miles.Only your own listings. You confirm it’s your listing and your photos.Every listing is still checked before it goes live, as usual. Leave your other listing up until it sells here, then end it.

Question 61

Pallets and transporters

Accepted Answer

Engines, gearboxes, body panels and vehicles are too big for a parcel.Arrange a courier with the seller in the deal chat.How the deal works:You pay for the item through Piston Tribe, held safely by Trustap as usual.You book and pay the transport company yourself.When it’s collected, the seller adds the company, the reference and a photo of it loaded.When it arrives, you confirm it, or raise a complaint within the complaint window. The money is released to the seller after that.Piston Tribe doesn’t move the item or hold the transport money.