How To Sell Your Car Privately
When the time comes to sell your car, doing so as a private seller can result in the highest returns; however, this can also be the hardest and longest method. Selling privately means that you must actively market your car and find a buyer opposed to trading in at a dealership, donating to a charity or selling to a dealership.
- Check your car's title and history. Make sure that there are no issues. Should you find any, go to the DMV to clear up the issue.
- Fix any mechanical or cosmetic problems you're willing to fix. You might want to not invest any more money in the car, but fixing small problems can have huge returns and means you'll make more money off the car.
- Clean the car thoroughly inside and out. The better your car looks, the more money you'll get for it. Consider hiring a professional service to detail the iniside and outside of the car for you.
- Take pictures of the car from several angles to use in your marketing offers.
- List the car for sale on online classified websites. Make sure that you are honest in the ad and do not mislead, but try to emphasize the positives about the car. Make sure to upload the pictures that you took and include information about how you wish to be contacted. You might want people to call you only during certain hours. For best results, let people both call and email you.
- Place a "For Sale" sign on your car and park it at the end of your driveway, in your yard or in a parking lot (with ower's permission). Be sure to include a contact phone number for any passersby to jot down and call you.
- Let the potential customer test drive the car, but make sure to go along for the ride. Answer any questions.
- Give the parties all documents that belong to the car, but remember to remove your license plate and belongings when the car sells.