How to Sell a Car With Problems

If you have a car that has some mechanical or cosmetic problems, it can be difficult to sell it. When you do attempt to sell a car with problems, you cannot sell it for as much as you otherwise could. Disclosing all of the problems up front is the most efficient way to sell a car with problems. If you don't do this, you could end up showing the car to a lot of interested buyers that never turn into a sale once they discover the issues with the vehicle.

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Step 1

Take the car to a local mechanic to have it inspected. The mechanic can let you know what the specific problems are and how much repairs will cost. You can give this information to any prospective buyers, which can help the buyer to make a decision.

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Step 2

Park the car in a high traffic area with "For Sale" signs posted in all of the windows. The signs should include the price, your contact number and a general description of the problem, such as "Engine Knocks." Only park the car in a lot if you have permission to do so.

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Step 3

Take some photos of the car. If the problems are cosmetic, do close-up photos of those areas. Include the photos in ads listing the car for sale on sites such as eBay Motors, Craigslist, Backpage and eBay Classifieds (see Resources). You can also list the car for sale in your local newspaper. Disclose the problems with the car in your ad.

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Step 4

Complete a bill of sale with the buyer, once you have come to a price agreement with someone. The bill of sale should include the standard "As-Is" line, which states that the car is being sold in its current condition with no warranty. If you don't want to create a bill of sale, you can download a free one from the Cars.com website (see Resources).

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