Do’s & Don’ts for Selling A Used Car as By Owner

Selling your used car yourself can be more profitable than trading it in at the dealership, but you need to do your research to make sure you get the best price and avoid the problems that can arise in used car transactions. Here is a quick list of do’s and don’ts to help your car selling experience go smoothly.

Do: Research online sites like Kelly Blue Book www.kbb.com, Auto Trader  www.autotrader.com and Craigslist www.craigslist.com to help you determine a price for your car based on comparisons with other similar vehicles.

Do: Gather all paperwork associated with your vehicle including title, repair receipts and any other documentation that will be helpful to a potential buyer.

Do: Give your car a thorough cleaning inside and out. Take as many of your personal belongings out of your car as possible and make sure the crumbs are vacuumed up, windows are sparkling and the exterior shines! Let the car feel as “new” to the buyer as possible. 


Do: Have your own mechanic perform an inspection so that you are aware of any issues that a potential buyer may find when his mechanic inspects the vehicle. This will save you embarrassment and surprise that may affect your selling price if the buyer uses this information to try to bargain you down.

Don’t: Run an ad without good clear photos preferably taken on a sunny day. Buyers are looking for “what you see is what you get” and “a picture is worth a thousand words” so be sure to include them in your ad. 

Don’t : Embellish your vehicle’s attributes in the ads you place. Misrepresenting the condition, age, or miles may get you many phone calls and “lookers” but you’ll waste your time and theirs if you mislead them by making the vehicle seem like something it’s not.

Don’t: Fall for scams. Advertising your car on the internet is a great way to find interested buyers but it also opens you up to potential scams. Use your common sense; only sell your car to a local buyer who comes in person with cash. Requests to ship cars and have money wired are fraudulent. Be aware, if something feels fishy, walk away.

If you employ these helpful tips, you’ll soon have a buyer for a no-hassle, private-seller deal and in no time you’ll be rid of that old car and banking the money you made in extra profits! 

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  Surrounding Communities
• Commerce Township
• Novi
• Walled Lake
• West Bloomfield
• Wolverine Lake