Sell My Car My Way

The best way to sell your car quickly and easily so you’ll get the most cash is to sell it online using Autotrader.

1. Organize your paperwork, thoroughly clean the vehicle and then determine your car’s value in order to price it accordingly.
2. Write a detailed description of your car and take many good photos, both inside and outside of the car.
3. When buyers start contacting you, you’ll need to be prepared to deal with questions about your car and requests for test drives.
4. Once you have a qualified buyer lined up, come to an agreement on price, finalize the transaction while protecting yourself financially and legally and then transfer the title and ownership. Read more about how to make the best used car online ad.

Regardless if your car is an exotic, an everyday driver or a junker, there are seven documents you’ll need to sell your used car privately:

• Vehicle History Report
• Maintenance records
• Transferrable warranty (if applicable)
• As-Is documentation
• Odometer disclosure
• Vehicle title
• Bill of Sale

Read more about what paperwork you need to sell your car.

These are the most common scams fraudsters may try to use:

• Fake, forged or counterfeit cashier’s check, certified check, money order or wire
• Offers to pay by personal check
• Offering to buy the car sight-unseen
• The fake shipping scam: A potential buyer who insist on shipping a seller’s car internationally or across the country
• Distant buyers either overseas or on a “business trip”
• Offers to pay “asap” via Pay Pal, gift card, Cash.Me, Venmo or other online payment service
• Overpayment scam, which may sometimes include a third-party website or entity
• Payment plan
• Anyone who asks you to purchase a service (such as a VIN history report)

Read more about how to protect yourself from scams and frauds when selling a car.

To sell your car in the fastest way and to get the most money, you’ll want to make sure you write the best possible online ad using the following key points:

• Explain why you are selling the car
• Define the forms of payment you are willing to accept
• Disclose what vehicle paperwork or maintenance records you have
• Disclose any issues which need to be fixed
• List the car’s key and unique features
• Mention any added or custom modifications
• Take lots of clear high-quality photos, both close and wide shots
• Use proper punctuation and grammar
• Price your vehicle accurately using Autotrader’s car values tool.

Read more about how to make the best used car ad.