How do I sell a car?

[C-2]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

 

[Flatsix66]

Research to find out what price you want to get. Then try Carmax or the online car buyers like Carvana, Shift, Vroom. If they come close to the price you want to get sell it to them. I would sell PP as a last resort these days. It's been 18 months since I sold the last car, used Shift, but I know the market has softened since then so not sure of those buyers are still giving good offers.

 

[82daytona]

You post it in the lounge

 

[poncho]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

I've had really good luck on FB Marketplace but I imagine the area your selling in could dictate the type of buyer your going to get.
No one drives anything I sell, you can go for a ride with me or follow along if its a bike.

 

[Mandelon]

A "What's it Worth Thread" of course.

 

[Hallett_Whacker]

CL has been dogshit the last 4 years. I’ve done OfferUp, FB, CL and Autotrader (the last two are not free).

I sold a Prius via OfferUp and a Sequoia on Autotrader. The cars were also posted on CL, but I got nothing but spam texts there.

 

[CSmith]

Str8uptoytrader.com has been my go to

 

[RiverDave]

Take it down to carmax and be done

 

[fat rat]

Not knowing what you are selling, I had good good luck with CL, sold our last 2 vehicles there within an hour.

 

[Ultra...Good]

wherever you place adds, avoid cookie cutter replies. is this still available. do you deliver etc, you will see. I have used fb and cl to buy and sell, same issues with both. reply with phone txt email whatever just do not give out a lot of info.

cash only. if they must use a check verify with bank before releasing car. once it is gone..........

test drive, no way I'd let someone I don't know leave without me in the car. they can drive if they have a valid license.

if they buy, I want a bill of sale. just basic car with Vin sold to x on such day at whatever time. just a CYA measure.

 

[82daytona]

Str8uptoytrader.com has been my go to

This site worked well for me, but others have said otherwise.

 

[TimeBandit]

In the last year I've sold 2 cars on Craigslist for Kelly Blue Book private party value.

$9500. in cash for the first one in 48 hours, $13,500. cashiers check for the second in 24 hours.

Don't respond to texts asking "is it still available" or if they ask for a "code" to be sent to them, a real buyer asks "when can I see the car".

If it's clean and priced correctly it will sell quickly.

 

[txmxer1]

Either the markets been slow or Ive been overpricing, last few cars I've sold have taken over a month (which I was ok with). I never realized until now that I sold the last three on facebook marketplace, basically no leads on craigslist. I tried str8uptrader, got a few bites but nothing serious.

Have my boat listed on facebook, craigslist, and a couple other sites, not even a bite yet, winter problems.

 

[SKIDMARC]

Car max all the way. So easy and they give you a decent price. And if you want to trade it in form something else they have they usually give you a little more money for your car. I sold two cars to them.

 

[C_J_J_C]

I find it all depends on the vehicle

Less than 5-7 years old and under 100K miles Carmax, Carvana, GiveMeTheVin.com, ect no question. We did GiveMeTheVin.com 2 years ago and it was great. Highest offer and they paid when they picked it up from the house.

Average 15K value and under used car, boat, bike ect with high miles....... handle it yourself and blast it everywhere. Facebook, Craigslist, offer up, auto trader, ect. Spend the $100+ to list it, price it fair, and don't take anything less than 95% in cash or meet inside the bank. Have their bank cash it if you don't bank there. If you blast it and it doesn't sell in 5 days or less it is priced too high.

High end stuff, classics, or unique stuff.... use a broker. I find the broker who takes it to their location is by far easier. You pay the 10-15% to have zero hasstle. No showings, no meeting people at your house, ect. Just wait for your check.

 

[Mototrig]

CL is full of scammers now. Posted an add yesterday and already have 3 people asking if I take cashier's check and they have a delivery driver.

 

[caribbean20]

Sold my ‘16 Caddy to CarMax a few weeks ago. Had the same questions you had. CarMax offered $17K, I told them to pound sand, I need $18K and they let me walk.

They called me back on my way home and they folded. Figured I left $3K to 4K on the table verses a private party sale, but I just didn’t want to deal with the riff raff.

Took a while to close the deal as they were corresponding with HQ in FL, but otherwise smooth transaction and the check cleared.

Carvana and another dealer were offering about $4K less.

 

[DanG]

Last couple of used vehicles I have sold through FB Marketplace. As mentioned I had put them on CL, but got nothing but spam responses. Best responses and sale came from FB Marketplace.

Carmax is easy, but I believe they take advantage and you do not get the best dollar for your vehicle. My mom passed in 2020 and I was the executor. My brother was interested in purchasing her 2017 Cadillac XT5 Luxury Edition, which was in like new condition, we're talking dealer maintained and showroom condition with 13k miles. I had my brother take it to Carmax to get a value so we could figure a purchase price. Carmax quoted $30k, which was a low price to begin with. A week later my brother decides he needs a truck and doesn't want to buy the vehicle. I took it back to Carmax on day 10 from original quote and it dropped $2k to $28k. I showed them the original quote and they said it's only guaranteed for 7 days. So, basically in 3 days it went down $2k. I never checked to see what they ended up listing it for but at the time of trade in, they had two in the network with double the miles listed for $36k.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

I'll jump in on this one.... Like you I hadn't bought/ sold a vehicle in many years due to company gave us stuff. So a friend left me a 2004 BMW 545 when moved away and it served me well a couple years but I wanted to dump it and go to Baja. So a friend in auction biz said put it on Craigs for $3K and see who bites.... the damndest thing happened... the minute I posted the friggin ad my cell started buzzing like mad. And it wouldn't stop... the first guy claimed he had $3K in his pocket and its exactly the car he wants and could I please take ad down immediately he's on his way 25 minutes out. He heard my cell buzzing. So it all went down in an hour and he didn't give a fuck about no ability to pass smog. Hell, he didn't even drive it... just started it is all. My auction friend said he most likley parted it out our hit Mexi. Great situation... hope yours is as well. All about pricing em cheap I guess....

 

[f12517]

CL and FB marketplace are both full of scammers. That said, you'll get more money with a private sale. I'd take cash or wire transfer only. Cashiers checks are no longer the secure documents they used to be. Market is definitely getting softer though. If its a newer vehicle, I'd get offers from carmax, etc just to see where the wholesale market is at.

 

[boatpi]

Car is worth less than eight or 10,000 do well on craigslist

 

[NicPaus]

Offer up makes low ballers on CL look good.

FB market place. Have not sold anything or even got a offer on my listings. But bought a enclosed trailer 2 weeks ago new 2023 guy had not used it. Was .60 on the dollar. Was a lot of them to choose from and they were selling quickly from what I inquired on.

Craigslist I sold a car few months ago. Within a week. Got low low offers elsewhere.


Newer car quick sale. Leave a few Gs on the table carmax. My 2018 Silverado the dealer gave me 2k more than trade. The Lexus I listed on here few months ago. Dealer offered more than carmax, carvana and give me the vin.

 

[gqchris]

Givemethevin stepped way up on my last car. Shockingly so. They lost their ass though when the market fell out

 

[Havasu blue label]

Carmax if you need cash today

 

[lbhsbz]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

Cash only.

Get ready for 30 scam contacts for every one real inquiry.

 

[Desert Whaler]

2 neighbors recently used carmax and were more than satisfied.
One had a Subaru with a transmission that was basically toast and $4K to replace. . . he did all the research he could and car max gave him exactly what he throught he could get minus the $4K.

The other had an old ford crew cab 2wd gasser . . . completely thrashed, & flat out DISGUSTING inside. He had backed it in to the cab in the salwater dozens of times at the launch ramp, so it was a complete rust bucket. He was hoping for $3500, and they offered $5500.

You may be able to get a bit more to a private party depending on what you got . . . but to avoid the headaches, tire kickers, & scammers, car max sounds pretty good.

 

[olduner]

Givemethevin was the best offer 2 months ago when sold car.

 

[mjc]

I just traded my 03 in yesterday solved my how to sell problem

 

[Kachina26]

I'l get the ball rollin' for a 2FF style sail. What is it? Got picts?

 

[HALLETT BOY]

I'l get the ball rollin' for a 2FF style sail. What is it? Got picts?

Speaking of 2FF , where is he ? And Grads too !

 

[Orange Juice]

Go get a CarMax Quote. Then decide from there if the difference is worth it.

 

[ChumpChange]

You post it in the lounge

Winner!

 

[Kachina26]

Speaking of 2FF , where is he ? And Grads too !

I've seen 2FF posting here and there. Grads just popped up a day or 2 ago.

 

[Havasujaws]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

Sold my 2001 suburban 2500 on Offer Up. Guy tried to play games but got what I wanted. Probably gonna be a cartel dope wagon but I don't care anymore.

 

[CarolynandBob]

Take it down to carmax and be done

givemethevin.com will beat any carmax written offer or give you $100 and will come pick it up. I have sold them stuff. Super easy, but it is wholesale price not retail.

 

[Jefftowz]

What kind of car? I used FB marketplace for my last few sales. Cash only. Try Carmax and if your near the SF Valley I got a guy that buys tons of cars for a used car lot in Las Vegas.

 

[PaPaG]

I have sold roughly 100 cars in my lifetime starting from the Recycler (old days lol), CL, FB market place, Auto trader, Carmax, Carvana and of course RDs.
In the last 10 or so years Craigs list, FB Market place, Carvana and RDs were the best. Carmax gave me an offer of about 1-2k under what Carvana paid me on the last 3 cars that I could have easily sold for 1k more but did not want the headache. FB Market place gave me the best price on my 03 7.3 Excursion from a buyer in the midwest that flew out after it only being on there for a short period and gave me exact price I was asking, 1 F350 also on FB sold to the 1st taker, I have had good luck with Craigslist as well for another few cars.

Since you are an RDer I would post it up here, lots of families that are in need of a decent car from someone honest and lots of buyers on RDs love to trade within the group. I have NEVER gone wrong selling or buying from a fellow member so far.

 

[ChumpChange]

Got the anticipation rising in this thread! @C-2

 

[DLC]

It would probably already be sold

if you listed what you want to sell in the 1st post !

 

[nordictom]

Its FB or Offer up when I sell a vehicle. Sold my 2001 F150, 4x4 in an hour on FB marketplace. The guy didn't care about the smog cert, he said he was taking it to Montana ........ had rolls of $100 bills.
I am a cash only person. Wire transfer, but the paperwork only gets signed after the bank say the funds have cleared. per my WF rep, if its the same bank, the money is good the same day. if it's a separate banks it can take up to 3 days.

Either way, make sure your DMV paperwork is in order. The release of liability is the get out of jail free card. KEEP COPIES. I have had the cops show up wondering about hit & run with a car I sold 2 years earlier. I showed them the sold paperwork, & they then knew who to go after.

GLWS


NT

 

[rivermobster]

I'll jump in on this one.... Like you I hadn't bought/ sold a vehicle in many years due to company gave us stuff. So a friend left me a 2004 BMW 545 when moved away and it served me well a couple years but I wanted to dump it and go to Baja. So a friend in auction biz said put it on Craigs for $3K and see who bites.... the damndest thing happened... the minute I posted the friggin ad my cell started buzzing like mad. And it wouldn't stop... the first guy claimed he had $3K in his pocket and its exactly the car he wants and could I please take ad down immediately he's on his way 25 minutes out. He heard my cell buzzing. So it all went down in an hour and he didn't give a fuck about no ability to pass smog. Hell, he didn't even drive it... just started it is all. My auction friend said he most likley parted it out our hit Mexi. Great situation... hope yours is as well. All about pricing em cheap I guess....

I thought you said it was a 7 Series?

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

I thought you said it was a 7 Series?

Nope.... always was a 2004 545i w/ maybe 100K miles.... you may be thinking of some posting I did some time ago asking for feedback on used 7 series.

 

[PokerRun388]

I know, sounds silly, but it's been 15-years since I sold a car. Cali is the state.

Best place to list it - Auto Trader, CL, or FB?
Phone contact only, text, email - what works best?
I'm assuming cashier's check only?
Test drive - ride with them?

What else? All input welcome.

Thanks for all insights you may be able to provide.

If you have a lot of free time & you’re willing to deal with all of the potential bullshit & time wasters, that it takes, to sell it private party, then you’ll probably make a few extra grand. It really just depends on your patience level & if you’re willing to trust a stranger.

Personally, I would just go straight to CARMAX, take their offer & have them cut me a check within 45mins. I don’t have to worry about any fraud or scams, no gimmicks & they will also take care of all of the DMV paperwork. I also understand that CarMax is a business, so they have to make money on the sale & be ok with accepting an offer $4-7k less than what the vehicle is actually worth. Just go down to your local CarMax & ask for an appraisal. They’ll inspect your vehicle & hand you a written offer that’s good for 7 business days.

 

[rivermobster]

Nope.... always was a 2004 545i w/ maybe 100K miles.... you may be thinking of some posting I did some time ago asking for feedback on used 7 series.

Probably.

 

[rivermobster]

If you have a lot of free time & you’re willing to deal with all of the potential bullshit & time wasters, that it takes, to sell it private party, then you’ll probably make a few extra grand. It really just depends on your patience level & if you’re willing to trust a stranger.

Personally, I would just go straight to CARMAX, take their offer & have them cut me a check within 45mins. I don’t have to worry about any fraud or scams, no gimmicks & they will also take care of all of the DMV paperwork. I also understand that CarMax is a business, so they have to make money on the sale & be ok with accepting an offer $4-7k less than what the vehicle is actually worth. Just go down to your local CarMax & ask for an appraisal. They’ll inspect your vehicle & hand you a written offer that’s good for 7 business days.

Well shit howdy!!!

Hope all is well with you!

 

[Wedgy]

Sold a GF's '06 325 11 years ago in San Diego. Decent all commuter miles, dealer serviced zero issues. Nice car. Carmax SD offer was a fucking joke. Over $5K less than it sold for.

CL cash buyer in person at the bank. $13.5 and got her into a Priius V. Way less maintenance. BMW's are Karen cars. High maintenance. SD BMW SUX.

 

[Boozer]

I’ll echo what’s others have said.

If it’s an older vehicle OfferUp or FB marketplace. I sold a toy hauler a few years ago through FB marketplace and it was a pretty good experience.

I don’t remember the name but the last car I sold to an online buying company like Carvana. The car was a 22 that I had bought brand new. I sold it for $3K more than I paid for it brand new. I went to all the online car buyers and found the one that paid me the most. Super easy transaction, they direct deposited the money into my bank account and had me drop the car off at the local auto auction. 100% hassle free deal.

I’ve sold 2 trucks to Carmax, both for more than what I paid for them after having them for 2 years and beating them up.

I recently sold a Harley. Rumble On bought it for what I saw people asking private Party on FB marketplace. Same deal as the online car thing. They Direct Deposited the money into my account same day and a guy with flatbed showed up to my house to get it. Another 100% hassle free deal.

After using these online buyers I don’t think I’d ever want to sell a vehicle any other way. It’s just too easy and you don’t have to deal with tire kickers or scammers.

 

[C-2]

Thanks for the responses guys!

It's the wifeys commuter Honda Accord Sport, 2013 with 248K miles. Mobil 1 full syn, body is nearly perfect, interior great shape, AC works good w/good tread tires, brakes, already got the smog done (legit in July and last week). Only getting rid of it because we bought wifey an Acura RDX, and the Honda is a 5th car and I can't haul horse feed in it. Thus, it no longer serves a purpose.

I doubt CarMax would be interested?

Not interested in selling to anybody here.

 

[Cobalt232]

Get a Google Voice phone number for free. Use that number in your ads. I do it for the things I sell and also for car dealers so they don't have my real phone number.

 

[ChumpChange]

Not interested in selling to anybody here.

Where’s the fun in that? No chance for a future call-out thread.

That’s a good car for OfferUp.