How to Make a Car for Sale Ad

Write a car ad so it looks attractive to potential buyers.

There is more to selling a car than washing and shining it to look good. To attract as many potential buyers as possible, you need to write an effective ad. The best ad will contain basic information to give the public a good idea of the car you're selling. You don't need to include every detail in the ad--especially since you'll be charged by the word if you use a classified ad. You will need to provide a good description of the car to make it an attractive buy.

Things You'll Need

• Local newspaper auto classifieds

Instructions

1. Study local newspaper classified ads. You will note that a standard format is used for the way the ads are written, according to Carsforgirls.com. The year, make and model of the car is stated first. Don't forget to state whether the car has an automatic or a manual transmission. This is an important fact to share with potential buyers because not everyone can drive the latter.

2. Assess your car's condition. Determine whether it needs work or whether you believe it to be in poor, fair, good or excellent condition. Kelley Blue Book can help you decide. Include the rating in the ad. Your ad should list other relevant information such as the main accessories and options that come with the car, the color of the car and other pertinent facts such as whether the title is clear or whether you are the original owner.

3. Provide accurate contact information at the end of the ad. To avoid confusion, you should include your name if other people answer your phone. Otherwise, simply listing your phone number in the ad is sufficient.

Tips & Warnings

• Use universal abbreviations in your for sale ad. Examples include "PS/PB/ABS" which stands for "Power Steering/Power Brakes/Anti-Lock Brake System"; "A/C" stands for "Air Conditioning" ; "OBO" means "Or Best Offer" in regards to the asking price. These shortcuts will lessen the amount of words you need to use in your ad.

• Use your own judgment about whether you should include the mileage and the price of the car in the ad, according to Carsforgirls.com. Including these facts can reduce the number of calls you receive from potential buyers who ask for the information. However, placing this information in the ad could be off-putting to potential buyers.

• Be honest in your ad. Don't mislead potential buyers.

References

• Carsfor girls.com: How to Write a Good Used Car Ad
• Autos.msn.com: Kelley Blue Book FAQs