1. You need to get organized. Clean out your car, taking out all of your personal things. Next wash it inside and out, making it shine as much as it possibly can. Take all of the service records and put them in chronological order. If you have any spare parts or accessories, be sure to put those back in the car. Your car needs to be ready to be driven away when you show it so that they can drive it away if they decide to buy it. Then you won’t have to deal with it again.

2. The best way to get your car sold is to list it on craigslist. It is free to list your car on “craigslist.org,” and most everyone who wants to buy a used car looks on craigslist first. Your listing should include a detailed description and as pictures as you possibly can. Accurately describe any flaws your car has, and provide pictures of them. Doing this will improve your credibility, and you will stand apart from everyone else who claims that their car is “perfect.” If craigslist just isn’t working for you, you could try AutoTrader.

3. Change your craigslist ad often. The way that craigslist works, you move to the top every time you update your listing. By changing your listing once a day (or even once an hour) you’ll get the most out of your ad.

4. The first phone call or email you get is usually the best one. In our experience with craigslist and similar sites, and even newspaper classifieds, the first person to contact you is usually the person that ends up buying, so treat that first caller like royalty. The first caller is usually motivated, so don’t feel like you have to discount for that person (at least not very much).

5. The most important thing to remember is to be safe. You shouldn’t ever put your address in your listing. This is simply advertising a location to someone who wants to steal a car. List a work phone number rather than using your personal number. Most importantly, always go to a public place to meet potential buyers. A great place is a shopping mall parking lot. Not only are there other people around, there is security. Shopping malls are usually easy for the potential buyer to find.

6. It is important that we also talk about test-driving. Do not go with a potential buyer to test-drive your car if you do not feel comfortable. If you don’t go along, ask them if you could hold the keys to their car. You should tell the buyer to take a hike if you get a bad vibe from them at any point in the process. You should never take any kind of risk.

7. Don’t accept cashier’s checks or bank drafts. Unless you’re inside a bank talking to a bank employee, don’t ever accept a cashier’s check or bank draft as payment. These instruments are extremely easy to counterfeit, so you should only take them from people you know and trust. Insist on cash. If your buyer has to give you a bank draft, meet them at their bank so you can verify it.

8. The last tip is to tie up all loose ends. Be sure to take your license plates off before you allow the buyer to drive away in your car. In order to prove that your vehicle was sold, have the buyer sign a bill of sale. Always ask for identification, and if there are any problems with this, do not sell your car to that person.

Tags: Auto Tips

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