Selling a car is not as easy as selling other assets. Car owners cannot just accept payment from the buyer and hand over the keys. There are certain other steps that have to be followed in order to make sure the sale actually goes through properly.

Those who might not have ever sold their car to a private owner before may be wondering if they require a bill of sale to do so. This may or may not be required depending on where the sale takes place. Different states may have different regarding all the various different requirements for actually selling a vehicle.

The best advice that can be given about a bill of sale is to always make one if you are the seller. If you are the buyer, always request one. This should be the case regardless of what the individual laws are in a particular state. The reason is the bill of sale reflects a very important document that logs the transaction of the actual sale.

What is a Bill of Sale Document?

Not everyone may be familiar with what a bill of sale actually is or why it might be important. The best way to describe a bill of sale would be that it is an official document that accurately reflects the sale transaction between the two parties. Specific details about the sale are also logged. The seller gains a documented record listing when the document was sold and who it was sold to. Various selections of personal information about the buyer such as name, address, phone number, age, and so on are listed on the bill of sale.

Usually a bill of sale document for a vehicle has this kind of information on it:

• Vehicle year, make and model
• Vehicle VIN
• Seller’s name
• Buyer’s name
• Date and time of the sale
• Sale amount
• Odometer reading

You can write one up yourself or you can find various auto bill of sale templates online. They’re easy to find and print out. You can then just add in your own information.

Does it Need to be Notarized?

In certain states, merely writing a bill of sale is not enough. There may also be a requirement to have the bill of sale notarized. While this is an extra step that comes with a cost, no one can credibly claim the document is a forgery once is has been notarized.

The buyer obviously does not want a lemon. The buyer certain would prefer there was some documented proof of who the car was purchased from and how much money was paid for it. Furthermore, the bill of sale can offer a means of being able to check out the vehicle history report on the car.

Vehicle History Documentation

A vehicle history report is not a bill of sale but it may be something that the buyer will want to see. It might be something that they run themselves if you don’t run it. If you don’t want to be surprised when someone shows up with a vehicle history report, it’s best to order one yourself so that you know what’s on it and then you won’t be forced to lower your price.

The vehicle history reveals who many miles are on the car, how much regular maintenance work was done on the vehicle, and if any major repairs were performed on the car as a result of an accident. The vehicle history can be traced from the VIN number of the car as listed on the bill of sale.

Legal Vehicle Title Transfer

One thing that is necessary to point out here is a bill of sale is not a title transfer. The title of a car is the legal, valid state document that proves who actually owns the car. A title has to be ordered from the DMV. When a car is sold, a title transfer request has to be made and submitted to the state DMV offices.

A bill of sale categorically does not provide legal proof of ownership. It only provides documentation a sale has taken place and you should still have one but just know that is not the same thing as transferring the title and that still does need to take place.

The Bill of Sale Protects You

Anyone who sells a car does not want to have to deal with any lingering problems with a vehicle that has been sold to another person. A bill of sale can serve as legal proof that the car has been sold in case any bottlenecks in the registration process lead to unforeseen and unwanted issues. For example, two weeks after selling a car, a letter from the local police department may come in the mail with a citation enclosed. The citation might state a red light camera recorded the car committing a moving violation. The bill of sale could help get the ticket dismissed once the information is presented in traffic court.

This does bring up another point. Sellers should not give away the original bill of sale before making a copy. The copy should then be stored away with the seller’s personal financial records.

Conclusion

When the time comes to sell a vehicle, check with the local laws in your state. This way, you can be sure to remain in proper compliance with all steps. And once again, even if a bill of sale is not required, make one anyway to be safe.

We have more information here on this website about vehicle bills of sale as well as a downloadable and printable bill of sale here:

Bill of Sale Document for Selling a Car

If you have general questions about this topic, please leave them in the comments area below and we’ll try to help. We’re not lawyers but we might be able to give you a good answer. And then also please share this article with your friends over on Facebook.

Just as the World Wide Web has revolutionized the way people conduct their businesses, so too it has produced new ways to sell one’s own car or house. It remains as complicated a process as ever, however, and you need to know how to do it correctly. This article will outline the correct way to sell your car online.

Remember: You are Selling a Product

When you sell your car, online or otherwise, what you are doing is marketing a product, and you want to present that product in the best possible light. Describe what you liked best about your vehicle and give a thorough description of all of its amenities, including radio, CD player, TV, Internet connection, air bags and the like.

When people are looking to buy a car, they’re trying to picture themselves in the vehicle. They might see small things that they like. In order for people to notice those things, you need good pictures and you need to be thorough with your description. Maybe these potential buyers are looking at similar cars and if the seller of another car like yours does a better job describing it and taking good pictures, then they will most likely get the sale instead of you.

Your car is a product. Like any other product you get interested in buying, you have to present people with the benefits. What do you really like about the car? Explain it to them. Write about the features they will really like and why. Get creative.

Prepare Your Car to Sell

Before you even put your vehicle up for sale, it is of utmost consequence that you make sure it is in top condition. Whenever people buy a car, if they are smart, they will examine it thoroughly for any defects it may contain, and may even have it inspected by a professional. No one wants to buy a new car, only to be saddled with the burden of cleaning it and taking care of any dents, scratches or other unsightly marks. That’s a turn off for sure. Try to minimize that as much as possible.

The first step in the cleaning process is to remove any unnecessary clutter so that potential buyers can easily see what the car has. Then, vacuum it to remove the dust. If there are any spills, try to get them out with stain remover; if they will not come out, then conceal them beneath the mats. Wipe the plastic surfaces clean with spray and wipes designed expressly for that material.

Use products like Wipe New to get your car looking really good / in showroom condition. Check over our tips on detailing your vehicle to easily add hundreds of dollars of value with just a little bit of elbow grease.

Having done the interior of the car, proceed to clean the exterior. First, hose down the car. Then wipe the metal parts to remove any dirt or bird droppings, and clean the windows and mirrors so that there are no spots on them (you can buy liquids used to treat windshields so that rainwater does not leave any residue on them; it can save you a great deal of work). Finally, have a professional repair any dents or scratches in the vehicle.

Do Your Research

Once you have gotten the task of preparation out of the way, you now have some research to do. Using the Internet, local car dealers and newspaper auto classifieds, find out how much a vehicle of your model is worth. This is an important step for sure. You want to price the car right to attract buyers.

Take Photos

Take photographs of your freshly-cleaned car and post them online. They should be taken from different angles so as to form as complete a picture of the vehicle as possible. They should also be clear and of high quality so make sure the lighting is adequate. If necessary, enhance the pictures on your computer but not to the point where you’re essentially lying – just fix things like lighting and shadows.

Take a lot of photos of the interior and exterior of the car in a nice location. If the background, behind the car is too cluttered or distracting, that won’t help. Make sure you show all four tires as well as under the hood and in the trunk.

Another, good idea is to create a video of the car. You can do it with a good camera phone even. Just show the interior and go around the entire exterior. It doesn’t have to be Hollywood quality but just an honest and thorough view of the car so that people can see more of it. You should even have it running so that they can hear how the engine runs.

The Online Selling Process

Once again, you must do your homework so you will encounter few surprises. Specifically, you want to know on which site to do your selling. Pick several sites and find out how reputable each one is by reading customer ratings and also seeing what the Better Business Bureau has to say. Posting fees must be considered too. Ask others who have successfully sold their vehicles online what sites they used and why. Avoid those that ask for your personal information; they are certainly not legitimate businesses.

We have a good article here you might enjoy that goes over the process of creating a good ad for your car:

Six Steps to Create and Effective Used Car Ad

Once you find sites on which to sell (you should use more than one to get the maximum number of buyers), follow all their instructions for posting ads. Fill in all the pertinent information about your car (its make and model, the year it was made, its mileage, technical specifications, options, the price for which you are aiming and your contact information). You may be asked for other things as well. If a fee is charged for posting ads, give your credit card details.

What I like to do is have a separate phone number and email account just for selling a particular car. That way, I can turn both of them off and I don’t have to worry about accepting calls or emails about the vehicle ever again. You can use Google Voice for a free phone number and then just up a separate email account with a free service like GMail.

Handle all Communication Promptly

When you do start getting interest in your vehicle in the form of phone calls and emails, make sure you get back to those potential buyers promptly. You’re a salesman/saleswoman now, so get in that mode. Be cheerful when talking with them and sound excited.

In the past, I’ve called people about cars I’ve seen in the paper and I’ve been really surprised at how they talk to me. Some sound like I’m bothering them or they maybe don’t give good answers and I have to keep asking them the same question over and over. Maybe they’ve never had customer service jobs but that’s not an excuse – we’ve all been on the other end of the sales game and have been sold to, so we know how we want a salesperson to act.

Conclusion

This isn’t the end. I want to give you some more, great articles that are here on this website. The more you know, the better – so check out these great articles on how to sell a car:

• What to Do When a Buyer Shows Up
• How to Protect Yourself When Selling a Car
• Bill of Sale Document for Selling a Car

Again, selling your car online is key. That is where your audience is. People can view your car listing while sitting in their living room or on their smart phone when they are riding a bus. They no longer have to come out and first look at it. This is great for you because the calls and interest you get will be genuine interest. Don’t forget to treat those people well and answer all their questions. Be honest and be glad they’ve contacted you… you do want their money after all, right?

If you have any comments or questions, please post them below. And don’t forget to like this website and share it with your friends!

Selling a vehicle isn’t always as easy as we first think. There are a lot of different methods that can be used to sell a vehicle and with each of these different methods comes different possible outcomes. Some of these outcomes involve the successful sale of the vehicle while others involve nothing but problems and headaches. The difference, of course, is in which method is used and how we go about using it.

How Things Have Changed

Before people began selling their vehicles online, it was typically straight forward. We would simply drive on over to the used car lot to get an offer, place a for “sale sign” in the window of the vehicle, or place an ad in the local paper’s classified section. One of these methods would usually end up working but it usually took much more time than anyone wanted to wait. Then the World Wide Web entered the picture and changed the way we buy and sell everyday items, including our vehicles.

The Internet is, by far, the most effective method used to sell vehicles today and for very good reason. When you place an ad in the local classifieds, or place a “for sale” sign in the window of a vehicle, the possibility of a final sale is limited by the number of individuals that actually become aware of the sale to begin with. To put it plainly, when more people are aware that a vehicle is available for purchase, the possibility of it being sold increases exponentially.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. The Internet isn’t called the World Wide Web for nothing. When you place an ad on the Internet to sell a vehicle, it’s ability to be viewed is only limited by the number of people with the ability to use a computer to get online. Now the “for sale” ad that was once limited to the local community is available for viewing by those in the entire state, country, and world.

While the ad being viewable by the entire world wouldn’t make much of a difference, when selling a vehicle, it being viewable by the entire state as well as surrounding states would. You’d be surprised at just how far people are willing to travel to take advantage of a great deal on a good vehicle. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to find people willing to travel from several states away just to pick up a vehicle that they purchased online.

Sell a Car Online

So now the question becomes how do we successfully sell a vehicle online and get cash for it? The answer to that question is actually much easier than you might think. There are a number of great websites that offer assistance with the sale of used vehicles. Most of these websites are geared towards individuals who want to personally sell their vehicle without having to deal with a middle man. Finding, and using, these sites is the best way to sell your vehicle for cash.

In most cases, you will be able to do enough research online to make a decision on whether or not that particular site will work for you. As a last resort, you can always enter the site name along with the word “reviews” into the search bar to bring up customer reviews on the success or failure of their attempts when using the website. The main thing to keep in mind is that, when it comes to the Internet, there are always other options. You never have to feel rushed into using one particular website if you are not comfortable with it.

Sell Your Car to a Dealer

One thing to consider is selling your car to a local used car dealer. Your car should be in good shape and not a junker because put yourself in the dealer’s shoes – they are going to have to try to sell it, so there should be some demand for a vehicle that they want to buy.

If you do sell a car to a dealer, just know that you won’t get very much for it. Again, they have to fix it up and then market it (advertise it) and sell it. They have to pay for the electricity at their lot. They have to pay a salesman. They have a lot of expenses. If you think your car is worth $5000, then only expect to get maybe $2500 to $2700 for it at the most.

This might not be the best option but if you need some quick cash for your car, then it’s one of the few options you have. To really get the most for your car, you’re going to want to sell it on your own. It’ll take more time and more work on your part but you’ll walk away with more cash than if you sold it to a dealer.

Scrap Your Car

Another option you have is to just junk your car and get cash for it. You can sell your junk car for cash if you want if you take it to a junk yard or place where scrap metal is bought. You won’t get a lot for it but if you need cash in your pocket, this is definitely an option.

Donate Your Car

Yet one more thing to mention is donating your car to charity. No, you don’t walk away with cash but you will walk away with a receipt and that receipt is good to show that you made a donation to a charity and you can use this as a deduction on your taxes (a write off). Make sure the charity is registered as a non-profit organization or else you won’t be able to deduct it.

Selling a Used Vehicle

Conclusion

The great thing now is that it’s much easier to sell a car than it used to be. When I was a kid, all there was were classified ads in the newspaper, hanging up signs at grocery stores and used car dealers. Today, you can do all of that AND also sell your car online. People don’t even have to leave their homes and they can find your car either on their computer or smart phone. That’s amazing if you think about it!

But to get some quick cash for your car, just posting it on Craig’s List might not be enough. It might not work fast enough. Sure, that’s a good place to start and you might try it for one weekend but if you need money faster, then we’d suggest going to a car dealer or scrap yard. Those are your best options.

If you have any comments or questions about this article, please leave them below and we’ll do our best to answer them. Please also be sure to like and share this article in your social media!

If you haven’t sold a car on your own before or even if you’ve sold a few of them, one thing you for sure want to make sure you do is have a car bill of sale document.

If you don’t have the buyer sign one, you could be heading for a mountain of trouble.

What is a Bill of Sale Document?

It’s can help serve as a legal document (sort of) but don’t worry, you don’t have to be a lawyer to make one. Also, there are places to download one yourself for free. What it needs to include is:

• Seller’s name
• Buyer’s name
• VIN of the vehicle
• Vehicle year, make and model
• Odometer reading / disclosure
• Sale amount
• Date of the sale
• Terms of the sale

This document is like a receipt but maybe even better. It states what you’re selling, what the buyer is buying, for how much and on what date. I like to always include that the vehicle is “as is” and does not include a warranty. It’s good to include that the sale is final / no returns – these are your terms of the sale and when the buyer signs it, they’re saying they agree to these terms.

Have a place for them to sign and date it. I like to have a place where they fill in their name, address and phone, too. When you conduct your sale, you should be asking them for their driver’s license. I look at it and will also ask if I can photocopy it or snap a picture of it with my phone for my records. Make sure it’s them and that the address matches up.

Two Documents or Copies

Either have two documents (one for you and one for them) which you both sign or if you have a printer at home with a photocopier, then make a copy of the one document. Make sure you both walk away with a copy.

Ok, So Why Do All This?

Quite simply, it’s protection – for you and them. This is for a number of reasons:

1. What if they want their money back? If they come back later and want their money back (I would bet this happens more often than you’d think), you have this document showing that the car was sold and there are no refunds. This is, of course, subject to local laws – as there may be what is called a “cooling off” period in some local laws where the buyer does have the chance to get their money back. Check with your local DMV for sure.
2. What if they never sign the title / register it? If the buyer of the car never registers the car with your local DMV, then according to your state, you look like the legal owner of the car. It might be abandoned, it might end up at a junk yard (where you might receive a bill for fees) or it might even be used in a crime. The bill of sale document helps to release you from these things. Really, is this not reason enough for you to have one? You might not ever see this person again, so when you have them with you, make sure you’ve both agreed on the terms of the sale. This document helps to prove that you did both agree in person.
3. What if they get in an accident on the way home or before they register it? Just like if they abandon the care or something, having a bill of sale document for the car you just sold helps to make sure you are not liable for that vehicle any longer.

Another Warning: Title Transfer IS Needed!

Please note: the sale might not be legally finalized until a title transfer is done. A bill of sale document does not prove legal ownership of a vehicle.

If possible, go with the buyer to the DMV and get the title transfer done. I know this isn’t probably considered normal but if you’re worried at all, doing this will help you sleep better at night. It’s a business transaction, so do what you need to do.

Where to Get a Bill of Sale Template

A template is something to start with, so a bill of sale template or form is a document which you can start with and edit until it has the information you need for the sale of your vehicle. We have another, good article here on this website about that and it includes a sample template form for you to download and use:

Bill of Sale Document for Selling a Car (cartips.com)

Conclusion

I’m not going to re-hash everything written so far about having a bill of sale since we have another article here on the website about that but I wanted to list some warnings and things to be careful of. No, the bill of sale document isn’t an official document but it certainly can help. It’s something and something is better than nothing. To be sure you’re safely legal and to be sure the transaction has been officially completed, the title transfer must be done because then, your state government is satisfied with the sale and it’s legal.

If you have more questions, please look through other articles here or else post a question in the comments area below. If you liked this article, please share it with your friends and others with your social media accounts so that everyone can find out about it and enjoy it.

Here are some tips and things to remember when buyers come to look at your vehicle.

Welcome Them and Be Hospitable

You may choose to meet at a mall, park or maybe at your home. Either way, greet people with a smile and a handshake. Tell them your name and ask them their names. Look them in the eye and be happy to see them… after all, they’re giving up part of their day to come look at your vehicle.

Give Them a Summary of the Vehicle

If you have a sheet printed out, that’s good. Give that to them. Also talk about the car and give them a nice summary of the history. The more you have on this sheet, the better it will look. You’ll look prepared and it will look like you have a good amount of knowledge about the vehicle you’re selling.

Selling Points

Have a number of selling points ready. These are highlights of the vehicle that they should know about. Here are some examples that someone might give:

• The car has only had one owner.
• We had the oil changed every 5,000 miles.
• We just had these things done to the car…
• Most of the miles are highway miles.
• We had the car detailed and waxed twice a year.
• The car gets great gas mileage.

Only say things that are true, of course, but those are some ideas. Be sure to explain what you like best about the car and why.

Be a Used Car Salesman

Ok, don’t be obnoxious, but be nice and courteous. Point out the features of “their new car” – that’s right tell them it’s theirs from the start. State that it’s new because it’ll be new to them. Buying a car is very emotional, so do your best to work that angle. It’s just being nice and courteous and making the experience the best it can be for the buyer since they’re making a big purchase. Treat them how you would like to be treated.

Watch and Listen

Pay attention to what they like most about the car and then emphasize those details. Don’t move on. Feed their interest by talking more about what they like. If something you pointed out seemed important, then talk more about that. Give more details. Remember these things at the end, too, when you’re negotiating.

For example, if you mentioned highway miles and that seemed important, then mention more and explain that route you take. Ask them if they’re familiar with that route.

Be Funny

It doesn’t help to throw in a little humor. Make sure it’s clean, not offensive. Buying a car is a bit emotional, so if you can make them chuckle a little, that only works in your favor. You’re making them feel more comfortable with you and the car.

Recognize the Trust Factor / Honesty

Part of what a buyer is thinking is if they can trust you. They don’t know you. If you’re honest, you’ll give quick answers that make sense. If you’re lying, your answers won’t come as quickly and you may end up contradicting yourself – so be honest… for sure!

If people sense something you’re saying isn’t right, they’ll probably leave right then and not waste any more of their time. Things will go smoother if you be honest.

Ask for the Purchase

Don’t forget your “call to action” and make sure you ask them if they want to buy it. Don’t wait for them to finally bring it up. Don’t ask too soon but a good way to ask is, “Is there anything else I can answer for you or are you ready to take the car home?” or something like that. This gives them two options… either ask more questions or buy it.

When it Comes Time to Haggling

Of course, it’s always better to wait for the other person to list a price but you already have a price for the car listed in your ad, so this is already done. You should always assume that the price listed there is the current price. Don’t come down in price right away until they say something first.

One show on TV I like is “Pawn Stars.” I really like the haggling they do when they buy something from someone. If you get a chance, watch that show and pay attention to how they haggle. They have a bottom line price in mind and usually won’t go beyond that price. That’s a good strategy. Don’t be afraid to let a buyer go – another one will be by soon. Have patience and you’ll make more money.

Have some vehicle estimate sheets printed out from KBB.com, Edmunds and NADAGuides.com. It’s good to have the one with the highest price listed (usually NADA) because if the buyer happened to do their homework and shows you the lowest one, you can whip out the highest one, which can help you negotiate in your favor.

Conclusion

When you go to a store or buy something from someone, you like to be treated well, right? That’s why you should treat people well when they come to see your vehicle. It’s not hard to do. Smile and be friendly to them. Answer their questions. If you don’t know something, maybe offer to find out and get back to them. Be honest with them. Don’t dodge questions but answer the question they’re asking without changing the subject. Make a joke or two. Tell a good, short story about a good time you had with the car. You have an advantage over a salesperson at a local car lot – unlike them, you’ve had firsthand experience with the car you’re selling. Use that to your advantage!

I’ve tried to pack a lot of good information and advice into this article. If I missed something, please leave a comment below. Don’t forget to share this post with people you know.

If you’re selling a car, there are lot of things to think about. One that’s really important is how people are going to pay you. You want to be careful about how this is done so that you don’t lose your car or lose money on a deal.

Only Accept Cash for a Car

Your safest bet is accepting cash for a used car. If they somehow can’t do it, then maybe they are not the right buyer and instead need to go to a used car dealer.

I did actually accept a bank check on a car I sold last year. The check looked good and I trusted them but I was a bit nervous about it. I did have a copy of their driver’s license and their address, so that made me feel better. What you can probably do in this instance if you want to be sure is to call the bank (if they’re open) and ask them to verify that a check is good. They’ll ask for the routing number and the account number and the amount of the check. They should be able to verify this for you. Just tell them you have a buyer for your car and you got a bank check (I’m not talking about a personal check here – never accept a personal check… how do you know that the account is still open, etc.?).

Taking a Deposit

I don’t mind taking a deposit on a car. When I do this, we set a time that their check or cash will hold the car for. Maybe it’s for 24-48 hours or something like that. Don’t make it too long.

At this point, I’ll still take a check because I still have the car. When it comes time to buy the car, I tell them that I’ll want the full amount in cash and they can have their check back at that point.

Credit Card or PayPal

Unless you have your own merchant account where you can take credit cards, you can’t even take a credit card. Most places that deal with transactions over a thousand dollars or more might not even take a credit card because the fees start adding up on their end.

With PayPal, I might take a deposit but that’s it. It’s just a little too messy and there are a bunch of PayPal scams out there – maybe something that’s new and not many people have heard of… which means it might look legit and might not be. I wouldn’t take a PayPal payment for a car.

Get to Know Your Buyer a Little

No, it’s not like you’re going to become friends with whomever buys your car but don’t be afraid to ask for identification. Take a picture of their driver’s license with your cell phone. Look at the picture and them to make sure it’s them. Hold the driver’s license yourself and make sure it seems real. Look for holograms and special markings, etc. If they won’t do this, then you really have no right to trust them.

Deposit Your Money

Once I get the money for a car sale, I like to get it into the bank as soon as I can… maybe that’s just me though. I figure if the bank accepts the money, then I’m golden and the deal is done. I also don’t like having a lot of cash around the house… what if there’s a fire or a robbery or something? You might not get that money back.

Again, maybe this is just me that feels this way but I thought I’d pass this tip on so that people can feel better when selling a car – that’s what this whole website is about anyway.

Conclusion

Again, just be smart and only accept cash. Don’t compromise on that and you should be fine. Even someone scamming you on a deposit check means that much money less that you’re making. Scammers can put on a good show, so don’t be fooled. Of course, don’t take this to the extreme and scare off your buyers but just asking for identification or a driver’s license for someone buying a car is really reasonable and they can’t really blame you for asking for that. Good luck!

If you think I missed some good tips in this article, please just put them in the comments area below so that everyone can enjoy your ideas. Please share this article with your friends, too!

Use Your Brain

When posting something on Craig’s List, you have to be smart. Sure, there are a lot of good transactions that take place (people buying other people’s stuff) but you also can easily expose too much information about yourself if you’re not thinking about it.

The golden rule I use for anything online – be it Facebook, Twitter, a website or whatever is that whatever you put online essentially stays online. You can never be sure where your information goes. There could be someone sniffing traffic (yes, that’s an actual name for a hacker method) or people trying to stalk you or whatever. Just be very careful about what you put on any website. That’s the first rule, Craig’s List aside.

For example, when posting a phone number, I never use my own number. I go over to Google Voice and get a free phone number there. You can have it forward to your phone or to voice mail or text. Once you’re done with your sale, you can throw that number away or use it later on.

Even when you meet someone to test drive the car, you might want to meet at a store parking lot or something so that people don’t see where you live – although your address might be on the car’s title… at least there’s no option for them to step inside your house to use your bathroom or sign something, etc.

There are stories about people being robbed when trying to sell something on Craig’s List – do be one of those stories and use your brain.

At some shopping malls and store parking lots, there are surveillance cameras. They can be your friend in this instance and catch a picture or whomever comes to meet you. Just make sure you give the store some business while you use their private property in case you do end up needing their help.

Watch for Bogus Offers

Used Car Selling Scams / Buyer Scams

It might be exciting to start getting offers on your car but if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. For example, you might hear someone asking if the car is still for sale – that’s usually what they ask first. Then they offer you a price without coming by to look at it. They usually give you some sort of story how they were in the Armed Services or are not in town and they want you to ship the car or something. They might even offer you more than what you’re asking for, too.

Say no to these offers!

Don’t fall for them. It’ll get into this whole big thing where they wire you money and then it’s too much and you have to send some back or whatever and then you find out it’s fake or bogus. Save yourself the trouble and only sell your vehicle to someone who comes by to test drive it and check it out.

Only Accept Cash

I keep it simple and only accept cash. I did take a bank check on a car last year but that made me nervous. You are best off just accepting cold, hard cash. You can’t really go wrong there.

I also take a copy of their driver’s license and I have a Bill of Sale document that I have them sign (and have a copy for them, too).

The Used Car Dealer on Craig’s List Scam

This one is more for people buying cars but I thought I’d mention it.

Some people are reporting how used car dealers will try to sell cars as private citizens on Craig’s List. You’ll find a car and everything will look like it’s a private citizen but it’ll actually be a dealer. The problem here is that they bypass the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and state laws regarding how dealers can’t sell “lemons” and have to get the car up to certain standards, etc.

Conclusion

Scams on Craig’s List work both ways – for people buying and selling. Remember this as you sell your car there. You want to watch for scammers and yet make buyers feel comfortable that you are for real, too. If something doesn’t seem right, then trust your gut and back out… another buyer will be by shortly, just wait. It’s better to wait for the right buyer than take a chance and have it not swing in your favor. The thief buyer will probably also move on to try the next person, so it’s better you both just part ways.

Thanks for reading. Please leave comments if you have them and be sure to pass on/share this article with your friends!

If you are looking to sell your car, you may face some challenges. There are many factors which determine the price of a used car. If you are planning to sell a used car yourself, you need to consider all these factors and take action where needed.

When you plan to sell your car, take some time to review the following tips. These tips will help you make the most out of your deal. You will be able to extract more value on your car. Some of these tips require a bit of money, while others require a bit of time. However, if you use these tips while selling your car, you will be assured of a great deal. You will be able to significantly increase the car’s selling price.

Mechanical Issues

If there are any mechanical issues with your car, buyers may be scared away. You need to fix all the mechanical issues if you can. Even if you don’t want to fix mechanical issues, at least talk to a mechanic so that you can tell the buyer about an estimated cost when selling your car.

Tune Up and Inspection

Before selling your car, take it to a garage for a thorough inspection. This will let you know about the condition of lights, tires and brakes. Everything should be working and in good condition if you want a high price. Ask the mechanic to change the oil and inflate tires properly.

Vehicle History Report

Usually, buyers tend to get a report from CARFAX or other similar services If your buyer gets a report and you don’t have one, any issue listed on the report may come as a surprise to you. Even if your car is in good condition, there still may be some issues that may scare away buyers. Get a report, read it and ask the reporting company to fix any errors if there are any.

Detailing the Car

Almost every buyer loves a clean interior. In fact, one of the things that a buyer hates most in a car is smelly or dirty interior. Thus, detailing your car should top your priority list.

A full detail including cleaning cup holders, they engine bay, doing stain removal, wax, tire shine and carpet cleaning is extremely important. You should ask the car detailer to remove window and bumper stickers. Also ask him to remove any sticky residue. Seat conditioning is also very important as it makes your seats look brand new.

Don’t forget to have the carpets steam cleaned and put in a light air freshener. Smelling is a strong sense and you don’t want it smelling bad. If the car smells too strong of perfumes, that might turn people off, wondering what you’re hiding.

Cleaning

In case you park the car outside, it is important to rinse it off every week before each scheduled showing. If you are still using your car, it is important to keep the interior clean. Cleaning your car regularly gives the impression it was kept in good condition.

Mention Everything

Always mention everything about the car / be honest. While posting an ad, you should mention the make, year, model, condition, features, mileage and any kind of history that a buyer may want to know. For instance, if your car was involved in an accident, you should disclose some details about the accident and repairs that were made. You should also tell the buyer about any long-term effects. Usually, mechanical issues, accidents or cosmetic issues don’t kill a deal. However, misleading facts and dishonesty may.

Extensive Listing

List your car extensively on online forums and websites. There are even some specific websites which help buyers find used cars. Extensive listings will ensure maximum exposure and you will be able to get many options to choose from.

Prompt Response

Whenever a potential buyer calls or emails, you should respond promptly. It is important to respond within minutes or within the hour if at all possible. Buyers tend to look at numerous options at the same time. Usually, the first to return a call is able to make a sale.

Take Lots of Good Photographs

You should take multiple photographs of the car. Take shots from all angles and sides. You should photograph everything including the wheels, exterior and interior. This will help you for marketing purposes. You should also photograph all the features like the sunroof, navigation screen, satellite radio and DVD player. Take pictures of each tire as well as the engine.

Go to a place near by that looks good. If you can get the car on some nice grass or else an expensive looking place, then the car will look better. Of course, be careful and ask permission if necessary. Sometimes a local park will work or by a river, lake or ocean might be nice, too.

Make sure the lighting is good and that you don’t have a glare in the lens. Partly cloudy days work good for car photographs because if you catch the sun the right way, you can have blue skies in the background and no glare from the sun on the car.

Look through all the pictures you’ve taken and then decide on the best ones to put in your advertisements.

Pricing Your Car

Again, do your research and know what the car should sell for. See what other cars of your make, model, year and mileage have sold for. Have a price in mind of how low you will go and then stick to it. Go up about $500 or so from your bottom price so that you have some room to negotiate with buyers.

Conclusion

All the tips mentioned in this article don’t require too much money or time. However, they will significantly increase the value of your car. Always use these tips to make the most out of your car sale and get the most cash for your car.

If you have more great car selling tips, please leave them in the comments. Feel free to share this article with your friends.

Below are helpful tips on how to sell your car yourself for the most cash.

Selling Your Vehicle

You shouldn’t make your car look like something you’ve gotten tired of, something you are just too eager to let go. Even if that is the case, the impression you should give when selling your car is that of someone who is so much attached to it, and who values it very much. This kind of attitude will make potential buyers think that you’ve always taken great care of your car, even if it has suffered some few accidents, poor maintenance and numerous dents.

1. Make Your Car Look Great

Think about your car like a bride being led away to her bridal home. She must be well coiffed, embroidered with pearls, and made to reveal the best of her beauty. You should not bring your car to the market in bad shape, looking dirty and with noticeable scratches and dents. This should not surprise you; people will want to buy clean and attractive cars. You’ll not get much for your car if it looks like something picked from the junkyard.

Always remember how you felt the very moment you made up your mind to buy the car you are about to sell and work hard to create that feeling in your prospective buyers by cleaning your car, replacing old parts, and improving the paint. In short, make it shiny.

2. Think like a Car Dealer: Detail and Service Your Car

Car dealers can make the most of old cars that look useless and completely worn out. The secret to their success is common knowledge today: they have cars detailed. Spending $100 bucks to service your car will bring great rewards when you finally sell it.

Car detailers improve the paint, remove scratches, shampoo carpets, remove grease from the engine and replace floor mats. With the proper detailing, you can make your car look brand new and attractive.

Some repairs you’ll need to do to improve the overall rating of your car will include changing tires, fixing the locks that do not work well and fixing dents.

3. Prepare the Necessary Paperwork for Your Car

This may not seem very necessary, but it can be one of the major elements to think about when selling a car. By presenting maintenance papers, you’ll put the buyer’s mind at ease.

After polishing up your car, and getting it ready for the market, you should, like a valiant soldier showing off his brass buttons on an army uniform, prepare to present good papers.

Buyers will also trust you more when they see your CARFAX Vehicle History Report and service records.

4. Be Smart About the Entire Transaction

Where you sell your car can determine how much you get for it. Before deciding where to sell the car, it is important to work out its real value.

You may have done a lot of research on car sales and have greatly improved the condition of your car, but buyers will have done their research,too. Buyers have an idea of the market price of cars like yours. By being realistic, you’ll come off more convincing, whether you’re selling to a dealer or to an individual. Make sure you give a reasonable price for your car.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of selling your car in a dealer trade-in and decide accordingly; the price will certainly be lower than what you can get if you sell the car to an individual.

5. Advertise Your Car

After improving the condition and general appearance of your car, you should get the best advertising for it. The Internet offers free avenues for advertising and you can reach out to a good number of interested buyers. Get the best photos of your car and create free ads on sites like Craig’s List. Post photos on your Facebook profile and announce on social media platforms that you’re selling your car. This way, you’ll reach out to many potential buyers.

If you use a good advertising strategy, you’ll definitely receive many calls, which gives you the opportunity to take the highest bid for the car.

Conclusion

Some people may feel rushed to sell their car and lose out on hundreds of dollars that they could have received if they would have taken some time to get the car ready to sell. Spending a couple weeknights improving your car will fetch you more for it when you post it on Craig’s List Saturday morning.

We hope this article provided you with some good tips to get you the most cash for your car. If we missed something, please leave a comment for us. Please also share this article and pass it on to others.

A second hand car is known to be considerably cheaper than a new one – even so, you can still get a nice price provided that you take into account the following 10 great tips for selling your used car yourself:

1. Have All the Papers Ready

The first thing you need to do before you move on to advertising your car is to have it inspected and get all the warranties and maintenance records. Buyers will probably ask for the car’s papers and service records, so make sure you have all of them prepared. If the buyer sees they are up-to-date and you have them organized properly, he will surely trust you more.

2. Pay Extra Attention to the Ad

One of the parts of selling your car all by yourself is that you will have to take care of every detail, including advertising – even so, the benefit is that you will get all the money and you do not have to split it with a car dealer. Having said that, it is essential to design a great, attractive ad that will make your vehicle stand out from the rest of the ads.

If you want to advertise your car in the local newspaper, then take several professional photos (including the interior, exterior, engine and all the important parts) and write a specific, customer-oriented ad. On the other hand, if you plan to advertise it online then make a video ad as well – videos are far more appealing than plain text, so make sure you point out your car’s qualities!

3. Advertise on a Budget

Now that you have designed the ad and you have taken the pictures, the key is to never stick to just one advertising place. Sell your car online and make good use of specialized online marketplaces (Facebook, Twitter or Craig’s List are also extremely useful), but don’t limit yourself just to that. Post signs and posters wherever you can, and you can even put a “For Sale” poster on your car’s windshield, so that others will see it when you drive your car around town.

Be inventive, customers love original ideas!

4. Offer a Test Drive and Be Flexible

Most, if not all the prospects will ask for a test drive of your car, and that is perfectly normal – in the end, they must know what they will buy. Only discuss the price after the test drive and always be flexible, especially if you are on a really tight schedule and you can’t afford asking for a small fortune on your vehicle. If you want to sell it quickly and effortlessly, then being flexible in terms of price is certainly the key.

5. Know Your Car’s Pros and Cons

If you plan to sell your car, then the chances are that there are some minor flaws that can impact its price. This is why it is vital to be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of your car, before your potential customer points them out for you! Is the windshield slightly cracked, or is there a problem with the trunk? Find the problems and address them – if you can’t, at least hide them effectively.

6. Put Yourself in the Shoes of Your Buyer

This is the easiest and most objective way to see if you’re selling your car the right way. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and pretend you are interested in buying the vehicle for yourself. Be very careful and pay attention to the tires, the switches, controls, scratches, the wipers, the sound system, the lights and everything.

To take this a step further, ask a friend or neighbor to take a look at the car as if they were a buyer. They can give you some valuable feedback and they might ask some questions that a buyer might ask. This will help you prepare for when you actually have a buyer in front of you.

7. Find the Right Time to Sell Your Car

Believe it or not, there is such thing as the wrong time to sell your car. Buying a vehicle is a serious, long-term investment – don’t sell it during winter or bad weather, as the unfavorable weather conditions don’t allow your car to shine and show its full potential.

Also, another great tip is to avoid selling your car if you are short on money, since you may be tempted to sell it for a very low price.

8. Don’t Be Too Harsh on the Buyer

This is actually one of the most common mistakes people do when they try to sell their car – don’t be too judgmental and don’t laugh at your buyer if he can’t drive properly or if they try to negotiate badly. In the end, it’s their right to see if they can get a better price for the vehicle.

If a buyer is interested in your car and has the money, that’s all that matters!

9. Know the Market, Know Your Car

Knowing the market is vital if you want to get the best price for your car’s value. If the price is too high, it will scare off buyers right before they even get a chance to look at it. Is your car a hot commodity at the moment, or is it just an inexpensive transportation option? If you own a convertible or a sports car, then you should know that these cars are seasonal and they should be sold in spring/summer.

Trucks and vans are the most sought-after and they have competitive prices, while collector cars usually take longer to sell but they are a great deal and have an unexpected value for a genuine collector.

See what other cars like yours have sold for recently. You can look on eBay Motors and look for cars that were just recently sold.

10. Give Your Car the Ultimate Makeover

Wash the car, vacuum it, remove dings and scrapes, get rid of all the clutter in your car, clean the brakes and clean the windows, both on the inside and on the outside. Also, don’t forget to empty the ashtray and you can even opt for a low-cost repair that will address all these issues for a low price.

Even going to a local place that does car detailing might be worth it. If you pay $50 for a good wash and detail, you might get hundreds more for the car because of how good it looks. Car dealers know this and it’s something you should take advantage of.

Conclusion

You might not have sold a car before in your life but it’s not too difficult. Don’t be scared by it but be smart about selling your used car yourself. Find out all your can. We have other great articles on our website that might help you, so browse through some more of them.

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