How can I sell a car online?

[FirstTimer90]

I have an 8 year old Honda and wanted to sell it and buy a slightly less used car. I have already started saving money in a savings account just for this car upgrade as I won't take an auto loan. Trade ins won't give me anything near KBB value. I heard some people use online sites such as Craigslist but I am not sure how to go about that in a responsible and safe and legal way. Can anyone help please?

[bjl584]

Use Autotrader. You will pay to list the car, but it's a thousand times more reputable than Craigslist. The buyers on there are more serious and there is much less chance of getting scammed. You can pick an option to pay a one time up front fee, and your vehicle will be listed until it sells. You get something like 15 pictures and plenty of space to write up a detailed description of your vehicle.

[disneysteve]

I've never sold a car privately. The one thing I worry about is the test drive. How do you let some stranger get in and drive off in your car? I wouldn't be okay with that. I also wouldn't be okay with getting in the car with a stranger for him to take a test drive. So how do you handle that part of the deal?

[FirstTimer90]

I've never sold a car privately. The one thing I worry about is the test drive. How do you let some stranger get in and drive off in your car? I wouldn't be okay with that. I also wouldn't be okay with getting in the car with a stranger for him to take a test drive. So how do you handle that part of the deal?

That's a great safety point! Can anyone help answer this?

[kork13]

I've never sold a car privately. The one thing I worry about is the test drive. How do you let some stranger get in and drive off in your car? I wouldn't be okay with that. I also wouldn't be okay with getting in the car with a stranger for him to take a test drive. So how do you handle that part of the deal?

Easy. Demand a hostage. They take the car, you take their wife/child/wallet/etc. While you're at it, snap a photo of them standing by the license plate of your car before you hand them the keys. That way, if they run off with the car, you've got a full-frontal image of them with your car to hand the police, and something(-one) theoretically of value to them.

(I'm only half-joking... Seriously, I would take a photo & keep a photo ID of some form)

I haven't bought/sold online, but I would be willing to. Perhaps I'm just naive & overly trusting... If anything ever seemed shady, I would walk away, or take precautions as mentioned or otherwise.

[feh]

I sold a car on ebay, although that was 11 years ago. I sold it privately because dealerships were not willing to give me fair value.

I went with the buyer when he test drove it. My personal safety was never a concern.

[FirstTimer90]

I've never sold a car privately. The one thing I worry about is the test drive. How do you let some stranger get in and drive off in your car? I wouldn't be okay with that. I also wouldn't be okay with getting in the car with a stranger for him to take a test drive. So how do you handle that part of the deal?

That's a great safety point! Can anyone help answer this?

[FirstTimer90]

Use Autotrader. You will pay to list the car, but it's a thousand times more reputable than Craigslist. The buyers on there are more serious and there is much less chance of getting scammed. You can pick an option to pay a one time up front fee, and your vehicle will be listed until it sells. You get something like 15 pictures and plenty of space to write up a detailed description of your vehicle.

Do people buying on auto trader come to my house to test drive or do we meet some place?

[kork13]

Do people buying on auto trader come to my house to test drive or do we meet some place?

You can set it up with them to meet anywhere. At a restaurant, mall, gas station, or wherever. Autotrader is basically a Craigslist for cars -- it operates essentially the same, where the seller posts, the buyer responds directly to the seller, and they arrange the meet & sale.

[mo0n]

Remember to set up the transaction on your terms, not theirs. And you can meet any where you'd like, but I'd recommend a public place.

Cash or certified checks only!

[bjl584]

Do people buying on auto trader come to my house to test drive or do we meet some place?

Meet where ever you like. You are the seller, so you set the terms. I've sold a few cars privately, and I've always had prospective buyers meet me at a shopping mall parking lot that's a few miles from my house.

[bjl584]

I've never sold a car privately. The one thing I worry about is the test drive. How do you let some stranger get in and drive off in your car? I wouldn't be okay with that. I also wouldn't be okay with getting in the car with a stranger for him to take a test drive. So how do you handle that part of the deal?

I've always let people test drive around the parking lot that I would meet people, but not allow them to take the car on the street. I ride with them, and my friend would come with me for the ride. Not ideal, but safer than if I went in alone and let them take the car out on the highway.

[disneysteve]

Do people buying on auto trader come to my house to test drive or do we meet some place?

Meet in a busy, public place during the day. A good choice is the parking lot of your local police station.

I've always let people test drive around the parking lot that I would meet people, but not allow them to take the car on the street. I ride with them, and my friend would come with me for the ride. Not ideal, but safer than if I went in alone and let them take the car out on the highway.

I would not buy a car without driving it on the street and highway first. Just because things seem okay on a parking lot going 5 mph doesn't mean there aren't problems that you won't notice until you're doing 50 or 60 mph or go over a couple of bumps. I'm surprised that has worked for you.

[JoeP]

CraigsList. We had the husband and wife meet us at our house, they looked it over very thoroughly, and then asked to take it for a test drive. They left they car, with some dogs they breed, in our driveway while they drove it around. Never had a concern.

As far as logistics, they wanted to pay mostly cash (like actual hundreds) and a small car loan check. I drove the car to their bank, we opened an account and had it deposited right there, signed over title and bill of sale, I drove the car to his house while wife followed and took the plates off.

[bjl584]

Meet in a busy, public place during the day. A good choice is the parking lot of your local police station.

I would not buy a car without driving it on the street and highway first. Just because things seem okay on a parking lot going 5 mph doesn't mean there aren't problems that you won't notice until you're doing 50 or 60 mph or go over a couple of bumps. I'm surprised that has worked for you.

The last car I sold, the guy didn't even want to take it for a test drive. I made him drive it. So, it worked fine for me.