How we verify
Trust is the whole point. Here's exactly what each badge on a listing means and how we check it.
VIN-verified specs
Every listing must pass a VIN check before it can be published. We decode the 17-character VIN against the NHTSA vPIC database — the same source the manufacturer files with the U.S. government — and refuse the listing if the make or model the seller entered doesn't match the decoded vehicle.
A green VIN-verified badge means year, make, and model were all decoded from that database. An amber VIN incomplete badge means part of the decode came back blank (common on imports and pre-1981 vehicles); the listed specs are the seller's claim, not ours.
Manufacturer warranty status
We only display a green warranty badge once a human at Paddock Gate has reviewed the documentation the seller uploaded and confirmed the program, transferability, and expiry date. Until that happens, no warranty badge appears at all — there's no 'pending' or 'self-reported' state.
Sellers can list without a warranty; the badge will read 'No verified warranty' so buyers know the difference between 'we checked and there isn't one' and 'we haven't checked yet'.
Listing age and edit history
Every listing carries the date it was first published and the date it was last edited. If a seller changes price, mileage, condition, or description after publishing, the 'Last edited' timestamp updates so buyers can see the change.
We deliberately surface this rather than hiding it. A two-year-old listing that's been edited five times tells you something different than a fresh one.
Seller verification
Seller identity verification is in active development. When it ships, verified sellers will have completed government-ID verification and will show a green seller badge.
Until then, sellers display without a verification mark. We won't show a verified badge unless the verification actually ran — no exceptions.
See something that doesn't match these rules? Email trust@paddockgate.com.