How to Sell Your Car Yourself

Buying a new car, but want to sell the one you have right now yourself? Here’s a handy guide to get you going that will bring you from taking pictures of your car for prospective buyers to actually having the sale off your back.

How to Sell Your Car

• Take many pictures

Take it from Kolosso Chrysler’s Internet sales staff, if you take only a few pictures and poor ones, you will not sell the car for good money.  Whether it is Craigslist or eBay, you will attract maximum interest in your car if you have 20-30 real good pictures taken.  Use a dedicated camera or your cell phone and take pictures of everything.  Take pics of all four sides, the engine, the interior, the odometer, even underneath if you can.  Remember to clean out your car before you take these pictures!

• Select the best sales method

For many sellers it is a two way decision; either sell your car on Craigslist or on eBay.  Let us begin with Craigslist. Craigslist is by definition a local marketplace so you may not have much interest in your car but if you price it right, it will likely sell.  The greatest part of Craigslist is that it’s 100% free.

eBay is another option. eBay is an international marketplace with millions of prospective customers.  If your car is in good shape, is an unusual model or has great mileage, eBay may be the place for you. The issue with eBay is that sometimes people don’t come through after winning the vehicle.

• Put together a good description

A couple dozen words won’t cut it.  This is one time you go long.  Write a thoroughly detailed essay about your vehicles’ condition, what you have done to it over the years, how long you’ve owned it, what’s good about it and what it needs.  Be honest–not only will the buyer trust you for that, but you will avoid any buyers remorse after they buy the car.

• Put a good price on it
  If you’re selling the car via eBay’s auction service, put on a low reserve. eBay’s own research illustrates that low reserves produce higher sale prices, because once the reserve is met, bidding happens. On  Craigslist, research what other people are asking for similar vehicles and price yours accordingly.

• Sell the thing
  If you are selling on Craigslist, post your ad on Thursday so it’s not lost in the billion ads posted by other people the weekend arrives. If you’re selling on eBay, end your auction on Sunday evening. Post your phone number and make yourself available to answer your phone when the ad is live. Also note that not everyone wants to carry thousands of dollars into a stranger’s house so be reasonable and ask for a certified or cashier’s check.

If you are signing over a title, fill it out entirely and make a copy. Even if you’re not signing over a title, create a bill of sale but it should be dated and signed by both parties. Include the VIN and sales price and keep this with a copy of the check.