Sell a Car Online

Selling your used car online is a very popular option because you can reach a large market of potential buyers. In some cases, you can even get more money than you would from trading in your car at the dealership. In order to list your car online, you need to figure out how much your car is worth, find a website to list it on, make an advertisement for the car, and complete the sale.

Steps

Determining the Value of Your Car

1. Find how many miles you have on your car. Look at the odometer on the instrument panel of the car to see how many miles you’ve driven. Write down the number somewhere safe and take a clear picture of the odometer for future reference.
   • If you’re having trouble finding the odometer of your car, check the owner’s manual. In some newer cars, the odometer might be located on a screen in the center of the instrument cluster or along the bottom, near the base of the steering wheel.
2. Identify any cosmetic or mechanical problems with the car. Walk around the outside of the car and inspect the paint and body closely to check for scratches and dents. Turn on the car and look at the instrument panel to see if any of the indicator lights turn on, including the check engine light and oil change light. Listen to the engine and walk around the car to ensure that the headlights and brake lights work.
   • If you hear or see any problems with the car, make note of them so that you can disclose them when you’re getting an appraisal.
3. Look up what cars of similar make, model, and year are selling for. Do a general search on a classified website or used car website for your car in the area where you live, including the make, model, year, and mileage. Compare the condition of your car to the cars that are listed in your area to get an idea of the average price.
   • Remember to account for any issues that your car might have that could detract from the value, like scratches, dents, interior stains, and mechanical problems.
   • This will give you a good idea of what people are willing to pay for a car like yours right now.
4. Use an appraisal site to see the car’s value if you can't determine a price. If you’re having trouble finding a price, visit websites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, which provide free appraisal services for cars. Answer questions about the car’s make, model, year, mileage, and general condition. Then, the website will give you an average price for cars like yours in your area, which is considered the "fair market value."
   • These websites use statistics from your specific location and the car’s information to determine what price is considered “fair” for the car.
   • Getting an appraisal from one of these sites can help to show potential buyers that you’re asking a reasonable price for the car.

Deciding on a Website

1. Use classified ads and social media sites to sell the car on your own terms. Sites like Craigslist, eBay Motors, and car forums allow you to list the advertisement for the car, meaning you can take control of the sale. Consider using social media sites like Facebook Marketplace if you’re only interested in listing the car locally.
   • It’s important to be diligent about screening buyers when you list on these websites. They tend to have a higher number of fraudulent buyers and scams than other sites.
2. List the car on a peer-to-peer site to reach a larger audience. There are plenty of different websites that are specifically made to make the process of buying and selling used cars easier, like Carvana, AutoTrader, and True Car. If you’re looking for more protection as a seller, consider using one of these websites, but be sure to check the site’s policies before listing your car.
   • Some of these websites offer an inspection or warranty to the buyer, which can give them peace of mind and encourage them to buy.
   • Other sites offer return policies that can benefit the buyer but can be potentially harmful to the seller.
3. Post on an appraisal website to advertise to individuals and dealerships. Appraisal sites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds also offer listings for used cars. Post on one of these sites if you’re willing to sell your car to a dealership or make a deal with someone who might not live nearby.
   • These sites offer various protections for both the buyer and the seller, including warranties, vehicle history reports, and pre-screening for buyers and sellers.

Crafting an Advertisement for the Car

1. Detail your car inside and out to prepare for the advertisement pictures. Wash the exterior of your car and clear out any items you might have inside of the car. Vacuum the floors and seats, and wipe down all of the surfaces in your car with disinfectant wipes. If you have mats, clean them with soap and water to remove dirt and debris from your shoes.
   • This will give you a good general idea of the state of your car and can help make the car look nicer when it’s time to sell. It also helps the potential buyer to imagine themselves in the car when they see the ad.
2. Take pictures of the interior and exterior of the car from multiple angles. Buyers are more inclined to click on advertisements that include pictures. Take your pictures outside in the daytime, and include photos of the front, back, both sides, the interior front and back seats, and the trunk or tailgate area.
   • You can also snap some close-up pictures of the wheels, the center consul, and the headlights to give the buyer a good idea of what these features look like.
   • If you’ve modified your car in any way, include pictures of the modifications to show the craftsmanship of the work.
   • If you had to replace any of the mechanical parts of the car, include a photo under the hood to show the mechanical components.
3. Write a brief description of the car’s best features. Start the advertisement by focusing on the good parts of the car. Include the make, model, mileage, and year, and specify the trim level if you know it. Try to keep the description short and to the point to keep the potential buyer’s attention.
   • For instance, if your car has low miles for its year, you could say something like, “Must sell! Low-mileage 2010 Toyota Corolla with sunroof, immaculate interior, and plenty of trunk space.”
   • If you’re selling the car because it is older and has a lot of miles, you can spin it into something positive. For instance, you could say, “For sale! Clean and safe 2001 BMW 325i, perfect for an aspiring mechanic or hobbyist. This car would make a great project car for any automotive enthusiast.”
4. Be clear and honest about the condition of the car in the description. If the car has problems, damage, or recently had to have work done, mention it in the listing. Try to be as specific as possible, and include the dates for any mechanical work that has been done.
   • For instance, if you were in an accident and had to have a door replaced, you can say, “Passenger side door was recently replaced due to an accident in 2017.”
   • If your interior has some small stains, be sure to include photos and state something like, “Interior fabric has minor stains throughout the vehicle, which are visible in photos 6, 7, and 8.”
   • If the website offers a vehicle history report or you can afford to get one for yourself, take advantage of it. This can help back up your description and make the buyer more confident in you as a seller.
5. Set an asking price and state your willingness to negotiate. At the end of the listing, state how much you want for the car. If you had an appraisal done, include that the price was determined due to the fair market value. Then, specify whether or not you’re willing to negotiate on the price. Be sure to clarify which types of payment you’ll accept, like cash, bank check, money order, or wire transfer.
   • Never accept a personal check for the car. Some people will write checks that they don’t have the money for, and then you won’t be able to cash the check.
   • If you’re not willing to negotiate, include the word “firm” after your price.
   • If you’re willing to negotiate a price but haven’t decided what you’d accept, say that you’re “open to offers.”
   • If you want to sell quickly and you’re willing to accept the best offer that you get, say “OBO” after your price, which stands for “or best offer.”
6. Include a way for the potential buyer to contact you in the ad. Buyers want to be able to communicate with sellers and receive a timely response. If the website where you’re listing the car doesn’t have a messaging service, include your phone number or an email address that you check regularly.
   • Try to respond to potential buyers within 24-48 hours to ensure that they’re still interested in the car.

Selling the Vehicle

1. Screen buyers over the phone to make sure they're interested. When you receive a response, set up a phone conversation to talk about the car. Clarify the information in your ad, go over any problems with the car, and ask for the buyer’s first and last name. Then, pick a time and place for them to look at the car.
   • If they aren’t willing to talk on the phone, you can ask these questions online through a messaging service or email. However, a potential buyer who isn’t willing to call you might be a sign of a scam.
   • If the buyer is pushy or seems like they might be unreliable, don’t be afraid to back out. You can tell them that you need to think about the sale or that you’ve decided to go with a different buyer.
2. Meet with a buyer and offer to let them test drive the car if they’re insured. Organize a meeting in a public place, like a parking lot where there’s plenty of traffic and people. Let the buyer look at the car inside and out, and ask to see their license and proof of insurance before going on a test drive. Never let the buyer drive the car without you as a passenger.
   • If the buyer isn’t willing to show you their license and insurance, don’t let them drive your car.
   • It’s generally best to pre-plan a short test drive that takes about 5-10 minutes. Then, if the buyer wants a longer test drive, they can ask for one.
3. Negotiate-Buying-a-Used-Car to find a reasonable price for the car and accept the payment. Decide how much you’ll accept for the car, and don’t be afraid to make a counter offer if the buyer offers a price that is too low. If you’re flexible on the price, let them know, and tell them what you consider to be fair. Once you agree on a price and a method for them to pay you, meet at a bank to deposit the cash, bank check, or money order immediately.
   • If the buyer says that your price is too high and threatens to walk away, let them. They will either return with a better price or you can contact them in a day or two to see if they’re still interested.
   • If you accepted an electronic transfer, bank check, or money order, wait until the money is in your account. Then, give them the keys to the car and continue with the selling paperwork.
4. Create a bill of sale for your car for both you and the buyer to sign. Include the car's year, make, model, VIN number, purchase price and current odometer reading. If no warranty is included, the bill of sale should state that the car is being sold "as-is." Have both the buyer and seller sign the document.
   • This acts as a sort of receipt for the sale, and both the buyer and seller should have a copy.
5. Transfer the vehicle's title to the buyer. Go to the local motor vehicle center or a AAA location to do a title transfer, have the buyer re-register the car in their name, and pay transfer fees. Remember that both the buyer and seller must sign the back of the title. Check with the appropriate agency in your state to determine if the title must be notarized.
   • For more protection, you can also inform the local tax-assessor’s office of the sale to ensure that they know the new owner should be re-titling the vehicle.
6. Include any additional documentation if it’s required by your state. Some states require the seller to include proof of a recent inspection and emissions test. Additionally, you may need to provide a Release of Liability form or a smog certification.
   • These requirements vary from state to state, so check with the appropriate agency and prepare your materials before the date of the sale.

Warnings

• If you feel uncomfortable or uneasy at any point during the sale of the car, don’t be afraid to back out of a sale.
• If you’re a victim of a scam or fraud when selling your car, file a complaint with the local law enforcement office and with the appropriate government agencies.

Quick Summary

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