How to Sell My Car Privately (I Made $3500 Over Trade-In)

Are you thinking of selling your car?  Use these 12 tips for How to Sell My Car privately, to get the most money possible!

How to Sell My Car Privately

So are you wondering How to Sell My Car Privately?  These are the tips I wish I would have known before I recently sold my 10th car via a private party sale.

Now I have sold cars many times in the past. However, this time was more lucrative than ever before. That’s because new and used car prices have been steadily increasing.

How lucrative you ask?  Well, you can often make between $2,000 and $5,000 more selling your own car privately, versus trading it in at the local dealership or selling it through Kelley Blue Book.

In my case, I came in pocketing an extra $3,500 more than the trade-in offer, for about 15 hours of total work.  Not bad, huh?

If donating a few thousand dollars to greedy car dealers is your idea of a good time, then a trade in is for you!

On the other hand, if you’d rather stash that same amount of cash away for your next car, or into your investment account and watch it grow, then read on…

Related: 12 Ways to Save Money on Your Next Car Purchase

#1. How To Deal With Crazy Car Buyers

So how can I sell my car safely with crazy buyers out on the loose?  These tips I am about to share are what I wish I would have known before I recently sold my car.

With car prices skyrocketing, car buyers are under increasing pressure to find a good value for their money.  Unfortunately, this reality can also bring out the crazy in car buyers.  This new environment of crazy car buyers leaves you with no choice but to be extra vigilant when dealing with prospective buyers.

To start, always remember that you are in the drivers seat. It’s your car and you get to make the rules. It’s your right to choose who can look at your car and who can drive it.

The truth is that all car buyers are different.  Your goal is to avoid the crazy ones.  That way the sale of your car can be a positive and profitable experience.

#2. How To Communicate With Buyers

What do you do if someone reaches out to you and asks for your phone number?  If they have questions about the car, simply reply that you are able to answer their questions via the website chat function or with email.

Never provide your phone number right away.

You should only provide your phone number towards the end of an exchange, to help coordinate a car showing and test drive.  Until then, it is usually more secure to stick with website chats or email for communications.

Also, never agree to phone calls.

A phone call will always be in your worst interest.

Buyers will often use a phone call to bully you and try to negotiate price before even seeing your car.   You can always offer to answer questions via text or email as an alternative.

Just pay close attention to their tone.  If the buyer seems angry or really pushy, you may need to cease all communications with them immediately.  You can also always block a phone number if the conversation turns impolite or aggressive.

If someone goes so far as to actually demand to speak on the phone, this behavior is definitely a red flag. You are probably dealing with another one of those crazy buyers!

Ultimately, before you ever respond to an inquiry, ask yourself if you even need to respond to a buyer.  If they are automatically throwing out a lowball offer, feel free to just ignore them.  They are likely just a car flipper looking for a quick profit.

#3. How to Sell a Car Private Sale… and Protect Your Identity

It’s shocking how many malicious phishing schemes are out there.

So when receiving inquires from prospective car buyers, it’s important to protect your identity.  Often, bad actors are simply attempting to get your name and phone number to sell.

So before you provide an email address or phone number to a prospective buyer, verify if the interested party is actually interested in your car.  Are they asking about the car or just asking for your phone number? Are they even a car buyer?

If the buyer refuses to communicate via the website chats or email, this is a red flag.  Likely, they are not shopping for a car, but for your name and phone number.

Yikes!

Related: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

#4. Savvy Car Negotiating In A Tumultuous Market

Clearly, not all buyers are crazy, but you likely won’t know right away. So here is a simple rule that will save you unnecessary heartache and trouble.

When I Sell My Car for Cash, I Don’t Negotiate Price. The simplest solution is to simply say you are firm on the price and avoid the circus.  What circus?  Let me explain…

If you give an inch, the crazy buyers will always try to take a mile.  Crazy car buyers are shockingly barbaric.

Many crazy buyers will try quoting a Kelley Blue Book value that is wildly lower than the price cars are actually selling for.  Don’t fall sucker to this cheesy tactic for a second.

Another tactic of crazy buyers… they will attempt to negotiate the price before ever looking at your car.  Honestly ask yourself this question.  How can they know what my car is worth before even looking at it or driving it?  The truth is that they can’t.  So never negotiate price before a buyer actually looks at your car and drives it.

Even after a sale price has been agreed to, some greasy buyers will be so unscrupulous as to keep trying to negotiate you down in price.  Not just one more time, but multiple times.  If a buyer attempts to negotiate the price more than once, you can be sure that you are heading down the road of a bad faith negotiation.  A buyer trying to pressure you to lower the price again and again and again… this is ultimately a slimy, underhanded way to conduct business.

Multiple price negotiations only benefit the buyer and almost always gravely erode your net proceeds. So protect yourself and never consider negotiating the price more than one time.

Sadly, you also need to prepare yourself for the woeful personal stories that are designed to coerce you into giving the crazy buyer a lower price.  Don’t fall for it.  Always remember that this is a business transaction and the buyer isn’t your friend.  If doesn’t matter if they seem nice or if they are obviously crazy.

Appearances can be misleading.

Of course you will always be courteous and helpful, but the goal is to sell your car for cash… the highest amount possible.  Not to fall prey to predatory buyers that just hopped off a train from crazy town.

Remember, you can avoid so much drama by simply not negotiating price.

#5. The Do’s and Don’ts Of A Test Drive

Tire kickers and scary people.

You don’t want either of these kind of people test driving your car!

The test drive should be one of the last things to happen before you complete a transaction with a buyer.  So before any buyer test drives the car, it’s important to evaluate how serious they are about actually buying it.

You don’t want to waste your time letting some one test drive your car.  So beware of tire kickers that have no intention of buying the car.  Likewise, you don’t want someone driving your car if they don’t have proper insurance.  And no matter how inconvenient or socially awkward it may feel, never let someone touch your car that makes you feel unsafe.

Here are a few tips to help you weed out the bad prospects.

Before you ever meet in public, carefully evaluate the potential buyer.  Have they asked questions about the car that would indicate a strong interest?  Are they civil and polite?  If you have access to both their first and last names, you can try to research them online to determine if they are a person you would feel safe meeting with?

Ultimately you need to ask yourself, do you feel good about them in your gut?  Trust your instincts and avoid anyone you don’t feel good about.

Also, if possible, try to show your car during a time of day with the most flattering lighting.  Like earlier in the morning or closer to sunset.  You can also save yourself extra time and effort by not showing your car on rainy days when the roads are wet. (so you don’t have to wash it again and again and again)

For safety purposes, I also always avoid showing a car after dark.  Besides, buyers will have a very hard time making a purchase decision if they can’t see the car properly.

Test Drive Rules

Rule #1: Once you feel good about a potential buyer, it’s time to suggest a public time and place to meet during daylight hours.  I suggest a big box store parking lot like Walmart, Target, or Home Depot.  You could also meet as a highly trafficked fast food restaurant.  The key is to pick a convenient location, that is also public and safe.

Rule #2: To protect yourself and your investment, it’s imperative that you protect yourself upfront.  Do this by letting every potential buyer know in advance that you will need to take a photo of their license, current insurance, and that you require proof of funds or a car loan approval letter.

If they balk about any of these items, do not meet with them.  For your own protection, you need to make sure they are licensed and insured before driving their car.  Also, if they cannot or will not prove they are able to buy your car, this is a sign they are not serious buyers.

Believe it or not, I actually met with one buyer who didn’t even have car insurance.

Then, I met with another buyer that flashed me an insurance card that didn’t even have his name on it.  My mistake was that I didn’t look closely at the insurance card photo I had taken until after the test drive.  So please don’t make my mistake.  Before the test drive, carefully analyze both the drivers license and insurance card for accuracy.

Then there were the tire kickers!  These buyers came right on time and sounded nice.  However, they asked hardly any questions, and after barely looking at the car… requested a test drive.  They didn’t look under the hood or in the trunk. They didn’t even sit in the car.  When we finished the drive they took off and I never heard from them again.  Upon reflection, they obviously were never interested in buying the car.  They were just there for a joy ride!

What can I say, I was bamboozled!  So please learn from my mistake and carefully analyze any potential buyers for legitimate buying interest before they waste your time and gas, and rack up needless miles driving around town on your dime.  Remember, if they balk about showing their license, proof of insurance, or funds to buy the car… just walk away.

Also, if you happen to get stood up for a car showing… just brush it off.  I really didn’t enjoy it when it happened to me, but I’ve learned that no shows are fairly common. So don’t let it get you down!

Rule #3: Go on the actual test drive.  Never let someone drive your car without you in it.  They are in fact a stranger and you don’t know anything about them.  It’s also a good idea to bring a second person along with you to the test drive.  Then, have them stay behind and hold onto the prospective buyers car keys during the test drive as collateral.  I also suggest taking two car keys and keeping one on you.

Rule #4: You pick the test drive route, not the buyer.  This gives you two advantages.  First, you can choose a route with less traffic.  Second, this will allow you to select a preplanned driving route with a mix of arterial and freeway driving that will give the driver a good feel for the car.

These tips will greatly reduce the risks of a test drive and probably lower your blood pressure at the same time!

The test drive is one of the most important parts of the sales process.  It’s also one of the hairiest!  So be vigilant and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

#6. How To Price My Car To Sell Fast

So how do you pick the right price to sell your car for cash?

First, let’s start by clarifying where you shouldn’t look to determine the sales price for your car.  It’s not a dealer trade in price and it isn’t the Kelley Blue Book value.

The true value of your car is what someone is willing to pay you.  So how do you determine what someone is willing to pay before placing your ad?

You want to look on a variety of car sale websites to find comparable cars that are for sale right now.  I recommend looking on CarGurus, Auto Trader, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

Try to find cars that are as close to your car as possible.  Look for cars of the same model, trim, and the same model year or similar model years.  This will give you the most accurate idea of what cars similar to your car are selling for.  When determining a price, you also want to compare the condition of other cars and their mileage, versus your car.

One final factor to consider is whether or not your state charges sales tax for private party car sales.  In Arizona, buyers don’t pay sales tax when they buy a private party car.  So if you are selling your car privately in Arizona or other similar states, you are actually selling a car with a built in 7-9% price reduction. The percentage will vary depending on the local sales tax rates.

Ultimately, it really pays to spend some time researching other cars so that you can price your car correctly.  If you price it too high, no one will be interested.  If you price it too low, you will have unnecessarily forfeited money that could have been used to help pay for your next car!

Once you’ve listed your car and it’s been on the market for more than two weeks without selling… this is a good amount of time to revaluate the asking price you’ve set.

#7. Sell My Car By Blowing Away The Competition

Once you know how to deal with the crazy buyers out there, it’s time to prepare your car for sale.

You really want your car to look outstanding when showing it to prospective buyers.  So consider taking a few simple steps to make it blow away your competition and sell quickly.

Maintenance for a Car Sale: Make sure all regular maintenance is current and up to date.  Focus on items the buyer will most likely notice.  I like to get a fresh oil change and make sure the tires are properly inflated.  Also, if your windshield has a lot of pitting or chips, consider replacing it.  If your air filter looks dirty, definitely replace it.

Also, if emissions testing is required in your area, look into getting a current emissions test completed for your vehicle.  For example, in Phoenix a current emissions test is required for transferring title.

If your car is up to date on maintenance, you will have so much more confidence and peace of mind selling it to someone.  It may cost a few dollars, but it will also make selling your own car so much easier.

Most important, you will make your car massively more appealing to buy!

Car Selling Appearance: It’s a smart move to complete a thorough detailing of your car before selling.  This includes washing the exterior, hand waxing, dressing your tires, and using detailing products to make your chrome and black trim shine.

If you’ve got any hard water stains on the windshield, check out this EASY trick: How to Remove Hard Water Spots.

For the interior, you also want to wash your windows, clean your seats and carpets, and wipe down all hard surfaces with an interior detailer spray.

If detailing your own car isn’t something you want to mess with, go ahead and get some help.  A car wash or professional detailer can do a great job making your car look beautiful.  I recommend asking for referrals from friends, or looking online for businesses with good reviews.  Once you have 3-4 possibilities, take a few minutes to call around to get the best pricing before you commit.

Empty It Out:

Before you show your car to potential buyers, make sure to remove all of your personal belongings from the trunk, glove box, center console, door pockets, under the seats, etc.  Also, don’t forget to check those sunglass holders and other small compartments!

After these items have all been removed, make sure to wipe out all of these storage compartments so they look tidy and clean.

Do you have a built in garage door opener?  Don’t forget to de-program it!

#8. Outsmart Rival Car Sellers! (Expert Car Advertising Ideas)

When advertising to sell your car for cash, you want your car to look immaculate.  You also want to take some nice photos and write up an ad for your car.

Sell My Car Ad Description:

For your car ad, you want to start right off by wowing potential car buyers.  So start your ad by providing unique and appealing details about your car.

I like to mention features that are at the very top of most buyers list of questions.  I list out critically important features like:

• Original Owner
• Clean Title
• Never Smoked In
• Well Maintained
• The Mileage
• Exterior/Interior Colors
• Other popular upgrades (Apple CarPlay, bluetooth, smartphone integration, leather seats, sunroof, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, backup camera, navigation, lane change assist, remote start, etc.)

Next, browse around online for your same car model and trim.  These ads can be used as a template for finding a more comprehensive list of all the relevant features for your car.  Add a comprehensive list of the car features to your ad after the introduction.

Finally, finish your ad by stating that your are responsive and easy to get ahold of.  Being responsive is very important when you are competing against other similar cars for sale. The difference between a buyer picking your car or another car may be as simple as who gets back to them first.

#9. How To Take Photos to Sell My Car

For your car photos, the trick is to photograph your car when it’s sparkling clean.  Then park your car set against an attractive or clean backdrop.

Also try to take your car photos in good lighting.  I highly recommend taking advantage of golden hour.  The one hour leading up to sunset, or the one hour after sunrise are an optimal time to photograph your car.

A newer smartphone camera should be more than capable of taking beautiful car photos if you take the photos in good lighting.

Get creative and take more pictures than you think you’ll need.  Try taking multiple angles of the exterior, wheels, interior, dash, etc.  Remember, a picture is worth 1,000 words!

Finally, take some time to edit your photos to further optimize the color and clarity of your photos.  You’ll also want to take a moment to blur out your license plate for privacy.

#10. Use Strong Descriptive Words In Your Car Ad

Another simple trick when writing your car ad is to use strong descriptive words to capture the attention of prospective buyers.  For example…

Is your car extremely clean inside?  Use words and phrases like: immaculate interior, pristine, etc.

Does your car have any unique features?  Use words like: popular, rare, premium, technology packed, sporty, smooth, whisper quiet, spacious, etc.

#11. List Your Car For Sale On Multiple Sites

Not all buyers use the same sources when searching for cars.  So consider listing your car on multiple sites to reach a greater number of buyers.

I listed my car on Auto Trader, Car Gurus, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

I was expecting Facebook Marketplace to bring in a lot of leads.  In fact, it brought in zero interested leads, even though my ad to sell my car was viewed 70+ times.

Craigslist surprisingly brought in more leads than any other website.  The $5.00 fee they now charge for auto ads was money well spent.  However, with Craigslist you don’t have secure messaging available on their platform. So when responding to ad inquiries, whatever email address you use to respond to emails will be visible to those inquiring about your car.

I also received a lot of interest from AutoTrader.  One strong benefit from using this platform was that Auto Trader has secure messaging built available.  This meant I didn’t need to provide my phone number or email to a buyer, until I was able to screen them first.  Auto Trader did charge the highest fee for their ad at $50, but based upon the large number of leads generated, I felt this price was reasonable.

CarGurus is a newer site that provides convenient car searches for buyers.  The site also ranks the value of a car listed, compared to other cars for sale.  This is really helpful feature when buying or selling a car, as you will know if a car is priced competitively or not.  When I listed with CarGurus to sell my car, I received a surprising high volume of leads, making the $5 ad fee a good value.  I also really liked how Car Gurus had secure messaging available on their platform.

#12. How To Transfer A Car Title To New Owner

This is a part of the car selling process that requires some extra diligence.

First, before you transfer the car title to a buyer, make sure you have payment for the car in hand.  No payment = no title.  It’s that simple.  Any other less straight forward scenario can open you up to unnecessary risk.

Cash is simplest.  But if you are being paid with a Cashier Check, you can meet at the bank or financial institution that is issuing the cashiers check to confirm the funds are valid.  Or you can call the bank issuing the cashers check to verify the validity of the funds before signing over your title.

For a paper title, look on your title to see if a notarized signature is required.  If so, notaries are commonly available at banks, FEDEX stores and UPS stores.  If a notary is required, make sure to call ahead to verify what days and hours a notary will be available.

With paper title transfers, I also recommend having the buyer sign and date a simple bill of sale that includes a description of the car, the license plate number, VIN, and current mileage.

In some states like Arizona, you can also transfer a car using an eTitle.  This online option can be more secure and convenient.  It’s more secure, because both buyer and seller identities will be verified using an app called AZ Mobile ID.  It’s more convenient in that it gives you the flexibility to transfer the title from any location, any time of day using the using AZ MVD NOW website.  In Arizona, I also like how it notifies the state immediately about the sale.

If transferring an eTitle in Arizona, consider meeting at an Office Max, Staples, UPS store or FEDEX store with printing serves.  After the eTitle has transferred, the car buyer will receive an email with the car registration.  Meeting at a store with printing services will allow them to print the registration on the spot, so the buyer can place the new registration in the car for the drive home.

Finally, determine if your state requires that you remove the license plate when transferring car ownership.  If so, make sure you bring the proper tools along to remove the license plate once the transaction has been completed.

Patience Pays Off

Taking the time to sift through good car buyers and crazy car buyers can take some time, but it’s worth the extra effort.  Just don’t be in a hurry.

During the first week or so you can expect the low ballers will come in like a flood.  Just ignore them. Remember, you’re not in a hurry, and they could cost you thousands if you accept their low-ball offers.

So stay patient and be strong.  Selling your own car can net you literally thousands of dollars, making it an incredibly savvy use of time!

As always, the content on this site is not financial advice, but shared just for informational purposes.  The information you’ll find on this site is never a substitute for financial advice obtained from a professional familiar with your specific situation and individual circumstances.

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So have you recently sold a car privately?  What are your favorite tips and tricks for how to sell your car for cash?

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