While you probably have tons of experience buying all sorts of products online, you may not be aware of how to properly sell. To help you out, we have created this guide on selling your used car online. Read ahead to learn the basics!
Before even venturing online, you need to take care of your vehicle first. At this stage, you would remove all of your personal belongings from your vehicle and remove any stickers (if possible).
Depending on the condition of your vehicle, this might be all you need to do to prepare your car for sale. For instance, if your car is badly damaged, it might not be safe or practical to vacuum the inside or wash the outside.
However, if most of your vehicle is intact, it would be a good idea to detail the interior and give the outside a good wash. Do your best to get stains out from upholstery and the grime off the spokes of the wheels.
Once your car is thoroughly cleaned and presentable, it’s time to take some photos. You’ll need these to create a good listing.
You’ll need to take pictures of both the interior and exterior. These images also need to be honest and accurate. If your car is in bad condition, don’t try to hide the damage.
Whoever purchases it will see the damage eventually anyway, it’s best to be completely transparent about its condition. Doing so will also help you appear more trustworthy to buyers.
Ensure that you photograph the vehicle from multiple angles in bright daylight.
Now it’s time to find the right website, or websites, to list your car on. Just as car manufacturers sell their vehicles at different dealerships, you too can sell your vehicle on multiple platforms including:
However, there are pros and cons to listing on these various sites. For example, Autotrader offers a lot of features like selling tips as well as automatically listing your car on Kelley Bluebook, but you’ll have to pay fees if you want to sell to a private party.
So, to find the right site(s) for you, you’ll have to do some research.
Before you can put your used car up online, you need to decide on a price. This step might seem easy, but it requires some research on your part.
If your vehicle is simply old, without any major damages, it will be relatively easy to find a good price for it. All you’ll need to do is visit websites like Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book to get an estimate for your car’s year, make, model, and trim.
However, if your car has sustained damages or is totaled, a used car estimate will only be your starting point. You will need to investigate further and research the value of vehicles like yours with similar amounts of damage. Then, you’ll have to use your best judgment to create a fair price.
Once you’ve settled on a website, it’s time to create your listing. For this step, you’ll upload the photos you took of your vehicle as well as include the following written details:
This part might take some extra time, but it will be worth it. Creating an accurate and detailed description will help answer potential buyer questions. Additionally, make sure to check for proper spelling and grammar as an ad with errors might turn off potential buyers.
While it’s great that there are so many resources available online to help you sell your used car, CarBrain.com can make it so much easier. When you sell to us, you don’t have to create a listing, meet with potential buyers, or research your car’s price point. Our team takes care of all the heavy lifting.
To start, all you need to do is fill out our online form with information about your vehicle. You’ll either enter your car’s VIN or input details like the year, make, and model. You will also provide information about its condition including details like:
These data points in addition to other factors like local demand and the wholesale value of the car, we’ll be able to give you a fair and accurate estimate. Each of our quotes is unique to each vehicle. Plus, this will be the exact amount you receive on your check.
Once you accept our offer, all that’s left to do is schedule your pick-up, which is complimentary. A local tow driver can arrive at your door in 24 to 48 hours to pick up your car and deliver your payment.
We make it this simple and easy to sell your used car online. There’s no listing, no haggling, no hassle, and no stress. Get your free quote from CarBrain today!
Ready to sell your used car online? It couldn't be easier nowadays.
To sell a used car online you’ll need to:
It's easier than ever to find digital marketplaces to sell your used car online. For instance, you can use Facebook, Craigslist and even eBay.
However, keep in mind that lots of dealerships that specialize in used cars will list your vehicle online for you if you sell to them. Depending on what you're comfortable with and how much effort you actually want to put into selling an old car, you may not be comfortable with that.
Instead of hunting for the right website, consider CarBrain. We provide fair market, guaranteed quotes in 90 seconds with free towing and title transfer included. We can pick up your car in under 48 business hours and pay you on the spot, guaranteed!
It's hard to say that there's just one way to sell a used car online. The best method depends on what you're looking for. Are you hoping to maximize profit, or maximize convenience?
Your options include websites like Facebook Marketplace, which let you vet potential buyers to an extent and negotiate online. You could use a service like CarGurus or CarMax. Or, if you have a less-than-perfect car with problems, you can use CarBrain! Free towing is included with all our offers, and we always provide fair market rates for cars with any kind of problem.