Selling a Car Online: A 10-Step Guide

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Find out how to sell a car online. In the old days, buyers had to browse dozens of classified ads to find what they were looking for. Now, online search tools will filter out vehicles that do not match your search criteria.

There are a number of sites available to post ads Kelley Blue Book, Facebook, Autotrader, etc. – and which one you choose depends on the type of vehicle you are trying to sell your car for for cash.

Top 10 Tips for Selling a Car Online

1. Choose your platform

If you’re selling a regular, slightly damaged 10-year-old commuter car, it’s hard to beat Facebook. Registration is free, there is no after-sale fee, and you can post lots of photos. If you try Craigslist, which is also free, it tends to attract scammers and crazy people.

Quotation platforms like Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader have publicized the impending sell-off further and will most likely screen out scammers. For more unique and more valuable cars and trucks, eBay and Bring a Trailer – with their auction style ads, can be a good way to maximize your selling price. Classic and vintage cars can be sold through eBay, Facebook, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings, Autotrader and others.

2. Find the value of your car

Knowing what your vehicle is worth is the next step and it’s a simple tool that helps you know how to sell your car online. Checking its value on Kelley Blue Book will allow you to know the value of the vehicle in the private market, a sale by a dealer or a trade-in. There is also an instant cash offer tool that allows dealers to bid on your vehicle, essentially setting a floor on your asking price. You can determine if the extra money you could get in the private market will be worth the time and energy you put into advertising, showcasing and selling your vehicle.

3. Fix what is not working

It is a maxim as old as the horse trade. No one wants to buy a broken car, and you will see it in what people are willing to pay. “Needs maintenance” is a good way to deter potential customers. Therefore, replacing the bald tires, repairing the brakes, and removing the cracked windshield will go a long way in ensuring you get the best price for your car.

In particular, be sure to repair safety-related items – brakes, steering, and lighting components that will be examined during a particular state safety inspection. Any buyer worthy of the name will ask you to take the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection. Be ready.

4. Clean the car

No one wants to look at a dirty car. If you don’t have time to vacuum and clean the inside and wash and wax the outside, pay to have someone else do it. Even if you’re selling a car for $ 1,500, a cosmetic job could make the difference of, say, $ 200, when it comes time for the buyer to shell out. cash and seal the deal. There really is no excuse for posting pictures of trash-strewn carpets and coffee-stained seats in a vehicle. It doesn’t show up well, even on the Internet.

5. Take lots of pictures

When you sell a car online, the days of posting a photo are over. Online car buyers want to see your car from all angles, inside and out. As mentioned earlier, make sure the car is clean. Try to take your photos in a location with even lighting. Taking pictures after dark is prohibited. Taking pictures under sunlight can create harsh shadows in the image. Choose a location with a plain background (a blank concrete wall or an empty parking lot may be good). Try to avoid places where trees, poles, and other objects will cast shadows in the image.

Be sure to show multiple angles of the vehicle. A good rule of thumb is to take pictures from all sides. Take pictures of the front, 3/4 front (this is an oblique angle) driver side, rear, 3/4 rear and passenger side. Also, be sure to show the front and rear seats, dashboard, trunk, engine bay (which may require the use of a flash), and undercarriage. If your ad says “rust free,” be prepared to prove it. Some people won’t even consider looking at your car in person until they see an extensive catalog of photos online.

6. Include a VIN report with your ad

Buyers want to know all the details of the car in advance, and a vehicle history report using the vehicle identification number, or VIN, will help. Try to use Automatic verification for vehicle history reports. give a potential buyer peace of mind about the history of the vehicle. Even if the car is in great condition, a salvage or flood title will reduce its value.

7. Be patient with questions

As mentioned earlier, be prepared to take the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection. Most potential buyers will have many questions, some of which cannot be answered with photos or a VIN report.

Be prepared to provide a solid answer to the most telling question of all: why are you selling the vehicle? If you don’t have a correct answer, you might scare off someone who might otherwise be willing to buy it.

8. Be prepared to negotiate

If you want to know how to sell a car online, know that when you put a vehicle up for sale, most people will assume that there is wiggle room in the price.

One way to get around this problem is to charge slightly higher (or too high, however, for fear of scaring off buyers). Most buyers will feel better about the sale if you are able to cash out – at the very least – a few hundred dollars off your original price.

Don’t sell yourself short, but a little flexibility can go a long way and lead to a faster sale.

9. Request a deposit

When you sell your car online for cash, you don’t want someone to commit to buying just for it to flake off after you’ve already removed the ad. So ask for a deposit. How much really depends on the price.

For cheaper cars and trucks, $ 500 is a good rule of thumb, but asking for 50% or more of the final purchase price is a perfectly acceptable practice.

10. Offer several payment options

If you are selling a vehicle online, electronic payments like Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal are more common than ever. Easy payment options can help finalize a cash sale before the buyer has any doubts. The faster you get the money from the buyer, the faster you will complete the sale.

Some sellers (and buyers, for that matter) prefer cash transactions. So, it can help to be open to other options, including cashier’s checks.

With Kelley Blue Book Instant Money Offer, you can get a fine-tuned amount at a participating dealership and use it towards the purchase of another car.

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