How to Sell a Car on the Web
Because of the popularity of the Internet, it has become a popular marketplace for cars, although you will have to safeguard yourself against popular scams aimed at sellers. You can advertise in a variety of areas, making sure to reach people both in your local area and outside, increasing your chances of a sale.
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Instructions
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Get your vehicle's title ready and have it on hand for your buyer. Many people forget where they put their title or find they have to order a new one, which can take several weeks, depending on which state you live in (some may offer an instant title). Make sure you have it before you start advertising.
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Clean your vehicle entirely, as you'll have to take pictures to provide with advertisements. Remove all of your personal belongings from the car, and clean it to make it as presentable as possible. The better your car looks, the faster it will sell.
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Take pictures of your vehicle. Some websites allow you to add numerous photos, while some only allow four. Take pictures that show the vehicle's front and back end, side views, trunk area, under the hood, the odometer, the driver's side cabin and the back seat.
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Go online to determine where you want to advertise; some methods are free and some are not. Your local and surrounding area newspapers most likely offer an online classified publication, a paid option. Craigslist is an obvious free advertising method, but be sure to check out Cars.com, AutoTrader and eBay Motors, which do charge a fee.
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Create an account at the advertising websites and include all relevant vehicle details in your advertisement. Include the year, make, model and VIN (vehicle identification number). State the interior and exterior color, maintenance history, overall condition and any extra features, such as leather, heated seats or a sunroof.
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Add information that is specific to your vehicle. For example, say that the vehicle was always dealer maintained, gets excellent gas mileage, is great in the snow, is a one-owner car or add any detail that is relevant to your car and why someone else would enjoy it. Add as many of your pictures as the website will allow.
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Reply to interested buyers. You may receive phone calls right away, but expect to get emails as well. Check your spam folder often, as emails from new addresses may end up in there.
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Set up appointments for test drives. Most people will want to drive the car before purchasing, as used cars are a gamble. Meet with potential buyers until you find one.
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Accept only cash or a bank check (cashier's, certified or teller's check) from your buyer. If you do accept a bank check, verify the information by contacting the bank to verify authenticity and funds. Do not use the contact information listed on the bank check; look up the bank's phone number yourself and call from your own phone.
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Sign the title over to the buyer and create a bill of sale, which lists all of the vehicle information (year, make, model and VIN), the buyer's and seller's name and address, the date of the sale, odometer reading, selling price and that the vehicle does not include a warranty, or is being sold "as-is." Both parties should sign the bill of sale and keep a copy.
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Take your plates off of the sold car and return them to your state's motor vehicle department as soon as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Call your state's motor vehicle department to make sure you have all the necessary forms and signatures in place. Otherwise, you may have to see the buyer again to complete paperwork. Some states require that your signature be notarized on the title, although many do not.
Do a search for used cars in your area to locate publications specific to your state. For example, the Want Ad Digest website has an online and print publication that targets the Northeast.
Do not fall for a scam. Meet your buyer in person and accept payment only while face-to-face. Watch out for emails or phone calls that state the buyer is out of the state or country but wants to buy your car. These scam artists will offer to pay by money order or by wire transfer. Expect to receive scam-type emails that are automatically sent to sellers who are advertising.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit laptop image by martini from Fotolia.com
