How to sell a car on Craigslist?

Learn how easy selling a car on Craigslist really is

Selling your car privately can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to potentially maximize your return while maintaining more control over the process compared to selling to a dealership. Craigslist has emerged as a popular platform for connecting car sellers with potential buyers. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to effectively sell your car on Craigslist, from preparing your vehicle and crafting a compelling ad to safely completing the transaction. We’ll cover essential tips for showcasing your car’s best features, negotiating with potential buyers, and ensuring a smooth and secure sales process.

What is Craigslist?

Anyone who wants to sell their car is presented with various options, from dealerships to third-party companies and DIY marketplaces. Craigslist is one of these options, and it’s an online classified platform. You can use it to sell a wide range of items, from household appliances to furniture, apartments, and vehicles. It’s also become a place where job opportunities can be found.

Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about using Craigslist to sell a car.

How do I sell a car on Craigslist?

To be successful with the sale of a car on Craigslist, you must present your vehicle well and confidently navigate the sales process. Let’s walk you through the essential steps of how to sale a car on Craigslist.

1. Gather the documents you need to sell your car

The first step is to organize your paperwork, as it plays a key role in the car-selling process. It can be a challenging and time-consuming endeavor, but it’s important you’ve got all your bases covered before putting your car on the market. Every state has its rules and regulations, but you can check DMV.org for an overview of the requirements.

For general guidance, most states require the following:

• Vehicle title: The title must be in your name. If the title has multiple names, it must have a legal signature from everyone before you can sell it. If you haven’t yet changed the name on the title from the previous owner's name, you must visit the DMV and transfer ownership.
• Bill of sale: This is a contractual agreement between a buyer and seller and includes information about both parties and the vehicle being sold. Not every state requires one of these, but it’s good to have one for your records. You can create one yourself or download a generic bill of sale from the DMV.
• Damage disclosure statement: Again, this isn’t a requirement in every state, but it’s a useful document to have. It records any previous or existing damage to the vehicle. It’s not common documentation, as most private used car sales are “as-is, where-is.” If you’re not sure of the car’s history, you can download a report on sites such as CarFax.
• Emissions test documentation: Some states require regular emissions testing, so you’ll need this documentation if you’re buying or selling a car in Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, and several other states.
• Warranty information: Quite often, a vehicle will have a warranty remaining when it comes time to sell. The warranty could be from the original manufacturer or purchased separately. You need to find out what the transfer process is because such a warranty can increase the value of your car and make it more attractive for potential buyers.

2. Clean and repair your car

This might not seem like an important step but a presentable vehicle could make all the difference to a potential buyer. We all know how attractive a polished, clean car can be, particularly when it’s got that new car smell about it. While a full detail might not be realistic, at the very least, you should vacuum the car and wash it before you take any photos for your listing.

Here’s a quick checklist to make sure all bases are covered:

• Wipe down and sanitize the inside of the car, paying close attention to the center console, dashboard, side compartments, seats, and steering wheel. These are the areas that a potential buyer will notice first.
• Vacuum the floor, seats, floor mats, and carpet, removing any stains if possible.
• Clean the windows, mirrors, windshield, and sunroof if you’ve got one.
• Fix anything that’s needed, such as burnt-out lightbulbs, loose screws, and other simple fixes.
• Wash and wax the car’s exterior.

3. Decide on the right market price

This is an important part of the process and often the most difficult if you’ve no experience selling cars. Luckily, there are a wealth of resources available to help. The first stop for many car sellers is Kelley Blue Book (KBB).

It’s popular with car sellers because it has a powerful search engine that takes information such as mileage, add-ons, and overall condition into account when calculating an estimated value range for your vehicle.

Alternatives include autotrader.com and cars.com. These websites give dealership list prices across the country for comparison. They are useful sites to visit to find what price range your car falls into. Another option is to browse Craigslist to see what similar cars are available.

4. Take some great photos

You must have heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and this is very valid. However, when it comes to selling cars, it’s not words but dollars that are the value. You want to present your vehicle in the best possible light, taking great photos to show off every detail. Include multiple-angle shots of the interior and exterior.

Don’t be afraid to include any cosmetic faults or damage on the car, either. Potential buyers are looking for honest sellers who hate unpleasant surprises, particularly if they’ve traveled a long distance or are from out of state.

5. Write a detailed and accurate description of your car

For the description, you need to be accurate and transparent. The more information, the better. Include details of the car’s make, model, and history. You want to provide as much information upfront as possible. This makes you appear more trustworthy and means the buyer won’t need to ask as many questions.

Your vehicle description should include the following:

• Make, model, and submodel
• Engine size and type - is it diesel, EV, hybrid, or gasoline
• Interior and exterior color
• Interior type - fabric or leather
• Mileage
• Transmission type - automatic or manual

When it comes to features and add-ons, provide details of the following:

• Air conditioning
• ABS
• Apple CarPlay
• Automatic headlights
• Bluetooth
• Cruise control
• Dual airbags
• Power door locks
• Power windows
• Rearview camera
• Sunroof
• Tinted windows
• Tow hitch

In addition, try to include any maintenance or repair history, providing details of what happened to the car and what work has been done. Include any cosmetic faults or damages in your description and whether you’re willing to negotiate on the price.

When selling a car on Craigslist, location is important. So, it will also be helpful to include a general location without going into specifics. When buyers search for cars, they often use the search phrase, “vehicles for sale near me on Craigslist,” so if you include a location, it’s more likely to appear in search engine results. Also, remember to offer some ways the buyer can contact you.

6. Creating a Craigslist posting

If you’re wondering how to list a vehicle on Craigslist, the process is very simple, especially now you’ve made all the necessary preparations.

• Visit the list of available sites. Choose the geographic location for your posting.
• Click on "Create a posting"
• You may need to confirm the geographic location for your posting
• Select a type for your posting.
• Select a category for your posting.
• Enter the text of your posting. Required fields are highlighted in green. When you are done, click "continue" at the bottom of the screen.
• Confirm that the map correctly displays your ZIP code area or address.
• Click "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.
• You may add images to your posting. When you are finished adding images, click "Done with images" at the bottom of the screen.
• Review the unpublished draft of your posting. Make sure it looks exactly how you want it to. You can edit the posting before you publish. Paid postings will show their price and require payment.
• Click "publish".
• You may need to check your email for a link to complete your posting. Emails come from robot@craigslist.org.
• If you received a confirmation email, you must click the confirmation link in the email. If you are unable to click on the link, try copying and pasting it into your web browser.
• You may also need to verify your phone number to finalize your posting.

Your posting should appear on Craigslist about 15 minutes after confirmation. The Craigslist website has a very useful help section for more information about posting on Craigslist.

7. Prepare yourself for potential buyers

It’s good to have a plan in place for when buyers start approaching you. Think about where you’ll meet them, whether you’re willing to negotiate, and how you’ll screen potential buyers before you let them test drive your car. Be sure to prepare for any questions and allow enough time to accommodate each potential buyer.

8. Seal the deal

Hopefully, it won’t be long before you’ve found the right buyer and are ready to seal the deal. However, there are some important things to keep in mind before you conclude the negotiations, the most critical of which are the safety of your and your car.

The smart thing is to meet in a public place to complete the transaction. Decide on a suitable location and meet during the day in a fairly well-trafficked area. For extra security, consider bringing a friend along. While they might not be involved in the actual sale, having them nearby can be very reassuring.

What if the buyer of my car is out of state?

It’s not uncommon for potential buyers to come from across state lines or even across the country. Don’t worry if this is the case because there are ways to facilitate the sale. For example, professional auto shipping companies like WeShipCars specialize in shipping vehicles of all shapes and sizes anywhere in the continental US. Distance should never be a barrier to finding the right buyer for your vehicle.

What is the best way to accept payment for a car on Craigslist?

Cash tends to be the best and simplest payment option. Two alternatives are a cashier’s check or money order. However, it’s best if you don’t hand over the keys and title to your car until the money order or check clears in full. Depending on your bank, this could take several days. Be sure to include your preferred payment method in your listing.

How much does Craigslist charge to sell a car?

If you want to sell your car, Craigslist is a great place to do it because you can advertise and sell it for a low price. In answer to the question “Does Craigslist charge to sell a car?” the answer is yes, but it’s not very much.

A listing costs just $5, and this charge covers you for 30 days. If you want to renew your listing after 30 days, it will cost another $5.

Should I sell my car on Craigslist?

Selling your car on Craigslist can be a viable option, but it’s crucial to weigh the potential benefits against the potential drawbacks. This section explores the pros and cons of selling your car using this popular online platform to help you make an informed decision.

The pros of how to sell a car on Craigslist

Potentially, you could make more money than you would with third-party sellers and dealerships. With Craigslist, you can name your price and pocket all the money.

Craigslist has a wide reach if you’re wondering how to sell auto on Craigslist, but you can target local buyers for a quicker sale. Local buyers can drive to your location for a quick sale, but if you need to ship the car to their location, an auto transport company like WeShipCars can help.

The cons of how to sell a car on Craigslist

There are a few downsides to consider. For example, creating a listing on Craigslist requires some research, particularly regarding your price. Luckily, tools like truecar.com, Edmunds, and Kelley Blue Book make the valuation process much easier.

Another downside is that your town or city might not have its own Craigslist site. This means you might have to advertise your car for sale in the next closest city or town.

Finally, because so many people choose to sell their cars using Craigslist, there is a risk that your ad could get lost amongst other car-related results and become less visible. This is why it’s so important to write a thorough, accurate, and appealing description for your ad.

Craigslist car scams

There are many reasons why Craigslist is so popular with car sellers, but they also make it a very dangerous place to sell your car. Thousands of eyes will be able to see your ad, some of which you’d rather avoid. To avoid Craigslist car scammers, you must be diligent and take every communication with a pinch of salt. You never really know who you might be talking to.

How to spot a Craigslist scammer?

You might think spotting a scammer is easy, but many of them are very good at what they do, knowing exactly how to get people to trust them. Here are some things you should keep an eye out for if you want to avoid getting scammed.

• They don’t want to talk on the phone: This is a blatant red flag because it might quickly become obvious they’re not who they say they are.
• Someone wants to buy your car without seeing it: It’s extremely uncommon for a buyer not to ask to see your vehicle before purchasing it.
• The buyer asks you to ship the car out of the country: This is where a potential buyer asks if you will ship the car to another country, offering to use a wire transfer or something similar. You pay the shipping costs, but they never wire the money, so you’re out of a car and the shipping cost.
• The buyer is in a hurry to complete the sale: It’s not always a red flag, but if a buyer is ready to buy your car from the get-go, they’re likely attempting to scam you.

How to sell a truck on Craigslist?

Selling your truck on Craigslist follows a similar process to selling a car.

• Prepare your truck, clean it thoroughly, address any minor repairs, and gather all necessary documents.
• Create a compelling ad: Include high-quality photos, a detailed description, and a competitive price.
• Screen potential buyers carefully: Respond to inquiries, ask qualifying questions, and be wary of scams.
• Arrange safe test drives in public locations.
• Use a bill of sale and accept secure payment methods.
• Complete the necessary paperwork to transfer ownership.

By following these steps and prioritizing safety throughout the process, you can successfully sell your truck on Craigslist.

Alternatives to selling a car on Craigslist

Craigslist is a popular platform for selling cars, but it's not the only option. Here are some alternatives to consider, each with its own advantages:

• Facebook Marketplace: Unlike Craigslist's anonymity, Facebook Marketplace allows potential buyers to see your profile and pictures, potentially fostering a sense of trust and security during the transaction.
• Dealerships: While dealerships may offer lower prices than private sales, they provide a quick and hassle-free solution. You can negotiate a cash deal and finalize the sale within a few hours.
• eBay Motors: Compared to Craigslist, eBay Motors offers a wider audience of potential buyers. However, it requires setting up a seller account and managing the auction process.
• Cars.com: This platform caters specifically to car buyers and sellers, making it a targeted marketplace to reach potential car owners.
• Online Car Buyers: Websites like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book offer instant cash quotes for your car. This simplifies the selling process but may result in a lower price compared to private sales.

Ultimately, the best platform depends on your priorities. If speed and convenience are paramount, dealerships might be ideal. For a wider audience and potentially higher returns, consider online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Cars.com.

If you need to ship your used car to its new owner, WeShipCars’ shipping advisors can walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have.

Things to keep in mind when selling a car online

Buying a car online offers convenience and access to a wider selection, but it's crucial to consider several factors:

• Environmental impact: Buying a used vehicle significantly reduces your environmental impact. You’re helping reduce the demand for new car production, minimizing the consumption of raw materials, and diverting vehicles from landfills.
• Market trends: Online platforms like Craigslist provide valuable insights into current market trends. You can easily research vehicle availability and pricing trends and compare prices for specific models in your area.

Regulatory changes: Stay informed about any relevant regulations that may impact your online car sales, such as sales tax laws, registration requirements, and interstate purchase regulations.

Helpful public discussions on this topic

• Advice for selling a car on Craigslist/Marketplace
• What are some best practice tips for selling your car on Craigslist?
• Can I get some tips on selling a car on craigslist/facebook?