How to Sell a Car Online (USA)
By Benjamin Preston 01/21/2022 8:34am
If you’re planning to sell your car online, you’ve come to the right place. In the old days, buyers needed to wade through scores of classified advertising listings to find the perfect vehicle. Now, online search tools will filter out vehicles that don’t match the search criteria you set. Therefore, as a seller, your ad or posting needs some specifics.
When you are ready to sell a car online, there are several sites available to post ads. There’s Kelley Blue Book, Facebook, Autotrader, etc., of course, but which one you choose depends upon what kind of vehicle you’re trying to sell for cash.
In this article, we’ll cover the following tips for selling a car online:
Top 10 Tips for Selling a Car Online
1. Pick Your Platform
If you’re selling a run-of-the-mill, slightly beat-up 10-year-old commuter car, many head to Facebook because the listing is free, there are no fees after the sale, and you can post many pictures. Craigslist, also free, used to be the go-to. However, it tends to be a magnet for scammers and crazies.
It’s tough to beat Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Both sites, owned by the same company, offer ways to sell used cars to dealerships and private parties through Private Seller Exchange. The sites spread the word of the impending sale farther afield and will most likely filter out scammers. For more unique and higher-value cars and trucks, eBay and Bring a Trailer — with their auction-style listings — can be an excellent way to maximize your sale price. And you can always sell classic and vintage cars through eBay, Facebook, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings, Autotrader, and others.
2. Find Your Car’s Value Before Selling Online
Knowing what your vehicle is worth is the next step, and this is an easy tool that helps you understand how to sell your car online. Checking its value on Kelley Blue Book will tell you how much the vehicle is worth on the private market, a dealer sale, or a trade-in. There’s also an Instant Cash Offer tool that allows dealers to make an offer on your vehicle, essentially setting a floor on your asking price. You can determine whether the extra money you might be able to get on the private market will be worth your time and energy in advertising, showing, and eventually selling your ride.
3. Fix What is Not Working
To fix what is not working is a maxim as old as horse-trading. No one wants to buy a busted car, and you’ll see that in what people are willing to pay. “Needs TLC” is an excellent way to deter potential customers, so replacing bald tires, repairing the brakes, and doing away with the cracked windshield will do a lot to ensure that you get top dollar for your car.
Be especially sure to fix safety-related items — brakes, steering, and lighting components that officials would look at during a state safety inspection in particular. Any buyer worth their salt will request that you take the vehicle to a mechanic to get it looked over. 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 interior and wash and wax its exterior, pay to have someone else do it. Even if you’re selling a $1,500 car, a detailing job could bring the difference of, say, $200 when it comes time for the buyer to fork over the cash and seal the deal. There’s no excuse for posting photos of litter-strewn carpeting and coffee-stained seats in a vehicle. It doesn’t show well, even on the internet.
5. Take Lots of Pictures When Selling Online
When selling a car online, the days of posting one photo are over. Online car shoppers want to see your vehicle from every angle, inside and out. As mentioned earlier, make sure the car is clean. Try to snap your photos in a place with even lighting. Shooting photos after dark is a no-go. Taking pictures beneath bright sunlight can make for harsh shadows in the picture. Choose a spot with a plain background (a blank concrete wall or empty parking lot can be good). Avoid places where trees, poles, and other objects will lay shadows across the image.
Be sure to show multiple angles of the vehicle. A good rule of thumb is to get shots of all sides. Take photos of the front, front 3/4 (that’s an oblique angle) driver’s side, back, back 3/4, and passenger’s side. Also, show the front and rear seats, the dash, the trunk, the engine compartment (which may require a flash), and the undercarriage. If your ad says “rust-free,” be ready to prove it. Some people won’t even consider looking at your car in person until they’ve seen an exhaustive catalog of online photos.
6. Include a VIN Report with Your Listing
Buyers want to know all details of the car up front, and a vehicle history report using the vehicle identification number, or VIN, will help. Try using AutoCheck for vehicle history reports. Give a potential buyer peace of mind about the vehicle’s history. Even if the car is in great shape, a salvage or flood title will reduce its value.
7. Be Patient with Questions When You Sell Online
As mentioned earlier, be ready to take the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection. Most potential buyers will have many questions, some of which photos or a VIN report won’t answer.
Be ready to provide a solid answer for the most telling question of all: Why are you selling the vehicle? If you don’t have a good answer, you may scare away someone who’s otherwise willing to buy it.
8. Be Willing to Negotiate
If you want to know how to sell a car online, know that when you list a vehicle, most people will assume that there’s some wiggle room on the price.
One way to get around this is by asking for a slightly higher price (but not too high, lest you scare off buyers). Most buyers will feel better about the sale if you’re able to take — at the very least — a few hundred bucks off of your initial price.
Don’t sell yourself short, but a little flexibility can go a long way and lead to a quicker sale.
9. Ask for a Deposit
When you’re selling your car online for cash, you don’t want someone to commit to buying, only to have them renege after you’ve already removed the listing. So, to protect yourself, ask for a deposit. How much depends upon the price.
$500 is a good rule of thumb for less expensive cars and trucks, but asking for 50% or better of the final buying price is a perfectly acceptable practice.
10. Offer Multiple Payment Options
Electronic payments like Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal are more common than ever if you’re selling a vehicle online. However, it’s best to check the terms of payment limits for the service you plan to use. Easy payment options can help finalize a cash sale before the buyer has second thoughts. The faster you get the buyer’s money, the more quickly you complete the deal.
Some sellers (and buyers, for that matter) prefer cash transactions. So, it can help to be open to other options, including cashier’s checks.