How to Find Buyers for a Used Car

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By Virginia Allain
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Find Buyers for a Used Car

Sometimes the trade-in offer is too low, so you decide to sell your old car yourself. Finding a buyer isn't always easy, so here are some ways to advertise and sell that used vehicle.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

FOR SALE sign
Edmond's pricing for the used car

Step 1

Find out what price Edmonds recommends for the vehicle. Be sure to put in all the features (note these for later), condition and location to get the most accurate estimate. The site then lets you print out a sheet with their estimate on it, the price you are asking and even a place to put your contact information.
Place this information sheet in the side window of the car, like you see the dealer's information at a car lot.
Step 2

Take a photo of the vehicle including an overall view, a shot of the upholstery, the dashboard, the tire, and anything else you might want to show off on your ads.
Step 3

Remember all the features you listed on Edmunds? Now use the same wording to compose an ad on Craigslist for your area. The ad is free and stays online for thirty days. Put the pictures with the ad.
Include information like "has a new battery," that helps attract buyers.
Step 4

Print out some copies of the listing you placed on Craigslist. Trim off the info that is specific to Craigslist and what you have left is a nice poster to put on some bulletin boards around town.
Step 5

Take the vehicle to a parking lot next to a well-traveled street. Put the FOR SALE sign in the window and the Edmund's sheet or the Craigslist printout giving the features of the car. The local Walmart parking lot seems very popular for lining up used cars with FOR SALE signs in the window.
Whenever you're shopping or at work, put the FOR SALE sign in the window of the car while it's in the parking lot. You want to give it as much exposure as possible.
You can also write the information in the window with the paint now available for writing on glass.
Step 6

Tell everyone you know and email all your acquaintences asking them if they know anyone who's looking for a car. You never know when you'll hit the right person.
Step 7

Call around to some used car lots and ask if they want to buy the car. This may get the car off your hands if you're running out of time.