How Do I Sell a Car on the Net?

Using the Internet can help you sell a car.

Years ago, the options for selling a car were relatively limited. A seller could list an ad in the local newspaper or even a magazine. They could also park it on a street corner with a for sale sign in it and hope that someone would see it. But thanks to the advent of the Internet, it can be far more convenient to sell a car or truck. You can list detailed photos and there are countless places to advertise the vehicle for sale.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Detailing equipment (soap, towels, water, etc.)
• Computer

Instructions

1. Wash and detail it thoroughly. A thorough detailing can add hundreds of dollars to a vehicle's value as well as make it far easier to sell to a prospective buyer. Start by steam cleaning the engine. Armor All the plastic parts, clean the sheetmetal and polish any chrome or stainless steel components. Detail the wheels (including inside and behind the spokes) and apply Armor All to the tires. Wash and wax the paint and apply Armor All to any rubber exterior pieces. If the vehicle is a classic or has chrome trim of any kind, use chrome polish to clean and polish any chrome on it. Vacuum the interior and use Q-tips to clean the vents and areas where dust can accumulate. Armor All any vinyl and use leather treatment on leather surfaces. Lastly, Windex the glass inside and out.

2. Photograph the car in detail. This will be key in selling a car successfully online, since detailed, thorough photos will let the buyer know exactly what they are buying. Use a digital camera. Borrow one to use or have a friend who has one take the photos. Take detailed photos of the wheels and the exterior. Show any flaws that the car has, including dents and scratches, and show every corner of the car. Take photos of the engine bay, interior, the trunk and the underside of the car. When you take the photos, try to take them in bright sunlight for the best photos. Also, if you have stacks of service records, lay these out in an organized stack and take a photo. The point is not necessarily that the potential buyer will read the receipts but see proof that you have properly maintained the vehicle.

3. Advertise the vehicle in as many places as you can online. Most newspapers now feature an online classifieds section, so check with your local paper. Other good online sites to sell cars are The Auto Trader and Craigslist. Both of these venues allow you to post an image or a few images. Upload the detailed photos that you took of the car that you are selling to a free photos site like Flikr. Put a hyperlink in the ad that you place for the car so that potential buyers can see the car in detail. Craigslist only lets you upload small photos that don't show the car to the best effect, so a photo hosting site may be crucial. EBay is another potential selling venue, but be aware that this is an auction-style format, though you can sell for a set, "Buy It Now" price, and you will have to pay a percentage of what the car sells for. Other good places to list your car for sale are on the enthusiast forums that cater to specific cars. For instance, if you are selling a Mustang, you could try listing it on a Mustang forum.

4. Be honest and price the car accordingly. This is extremely important if you want to avoid problems later on with unhappy buyers. It's a well-known fact that buying goods online can be risky, since it is so easy to misrepresent what is being sold. Do yourself and any potential buyers a favor and list any and all defects or problems the vehicle has. If they still see the car in person before buying it, they will at least have an idea of what to expect.

References

• Car Buying Tips: Selling Used Cars