Consumers are no strangers to using peer-to-peer marketplaces but are a bit leery when it comes to using those platforms to buy cars, according to a survey from the British Columbia Automobile Association.

With that in mind, the group has launched a news online platform, BCAA Auto Marketplace, designed to address the P2P car-buying fears holding some consumers back.

BCAA’s survey, which was conducted by Angus Reid, found that 93% of British Columbians say they have used online peer-to-peer marketplaces, with more than three-quarters saying affordability underscores the importance of such platforms. But 63% found buyers or sellers to be flaky and 72% say buying big-ticket items on these platforms can be risky.

BCAA senior manager Kyla Way says the group’s research has found a good bit of distrust of online P2P marketplaces and shared experiences lacking reliability, ethics or trust.

“The high cost of new vehicles has more people buying and selling second-hand online, but the challenge is finding the best way to do it,” Kay said in a news release. “When dealing with an item that costs thousands, many people are weighing up if it’s worth the gamble, which is why we’re doing things a little differently.”

The BCAA Auto Marketplace includes such safeguards as ID verification, access to vehicle details and history reports verified by VIN, CARFAX vehicle history reports, lien checks and ICBC accident reports.

Sellers can also upload supporting documents like service reports, warranties and inspection reports. The marketplace also provides expert advice for title transfer and insurance support, while also offering a customer service team.

“People are looking for an alternative, to make buying and selling a vehicle a better experience,” Way said. “We created BCAA Auto Marketplace to solve some pain points and create a trusted community of verified users and accurate vehicle details so you can navigate the used vehicle market with confidence.”