BBB has car selling tips to help you decide the best method of selling your vehicle, managing potential buyers, and making the best deal.
You're ready to sell a car (and possibly buy a new one).
With all the auto scams around and fraudsters on social media, you want an honest, straightforward transaction with no hiccups—and you want to get paid! That's not so much to ask, right? You can achieve an honest deal by following a few basic steps.
1. Determine your car's value.
Do some research to figure out how much your car is worth.
Use reputable websites like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, or NADA Guides for a reasonable estimate.
Check what dealers and other private sellers offer for your same make, model, year and mileage.
Decide on a price you will offer and the least amount you are willing to accept; this might mean you set your asking price higher to allow for some negotiation.
2. Get your car ready.
No one wants to buy a beater, so spruce up your car as best you can.
- Give it a good clean, inside and out.
- Be sure it has a recent inspection and make any reasonable repairs (or plan to sell as-is).
- Gather all the maintenance records, title or loan information, registration, and any warranty information. Be honest and disclose any paperwork for recent mechanical issues. Put everything in a neat file folder or scan and create an electronic file that will impress your future buyer and help establish trust.
- Take some terrific photos of the car (while it's clean!). Get multiple angles, inside and outside.
3. Decide which way you want to sell.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
| Private sale |
|
|
| Sell directly to a dealer OR trade-in to a dealer while purchasing another vehicle |
|
|
| Online car-selling services |
|
|
4. Check with the Better Business Bureau.
If you're considering selling your car online, to a dealership, or privately to a business, look them up on BBB.org.
Research the dealer or platform: Go to BBB.org/search and look up the business's name. Check the rating, read reviews, and see if they have unresolved complaints.
Are they BBB Accredited? BBB Accredited Businesses meet the BBB Standards of Accreditation and have earned the BBB Seal: It's the Sign of a Better BusinessSM.
Check Scam Tracker: Go to BBB Scam Tracker and search for the name of the business to be sure they haven't been reported as a scam. Read up on our auto scams to be sure you're not falling for one.
5. Place your ad/contact the business.
If you're selling privately, decide where you will list your car for sale. If selling to a dealer, decide which one(s).
Write a great description that includes the make, model, year, mileage, condition, and special features, and gather the photos you took in step two.
Be honest and upfront with all your information and demand the same in return. You want a transaction based on TRUST.
Stay private. Be sure to keep your personal information, like your phone number, private from online searches and use data encryption and two-factor authentication where available.
6. Screen your buyers and offers.
Once you start getting questions and offers on your car, put back on your safety hat and make sure you're dealing with legitimate buyers or dealers.
Be cautious of offers to pay in nontraditional ways, like Bitcoin or gift cards.
Don't trust too-good-to-be-true offers, and be aware of overpayment scams.
Meet in a safe place. Meet buyers in a public space and bring someone with you. Avoid giving out your home address and phone number unless you are confident that you trust the buyer.
7. Negotiate.
Some people see this as the worst part of buying and selling, and others thrive on it. Regardless of your comfort level, unless you're at a "no haggle" dealer, you may have to negotiate.
Decide your bottom line. Know beforehand how low you're willing to go, and stick to it.
Be polite and firm. Don't go below your bottom line. It's okay to say no to an offer.
Leave room for compromise. In step 1, you set a price and your wiggle room. It may be worth taking if you get a fair offer that's below your asking price but above your threshold.
8. Finalize the sale with paperwork.
Never sell on a handshake! Once you have agreed on the price, get it in writing.
Sign over the title. Don't skip this step, or it will lead to headaches later. Both parties need to fill out the necessary information.
Complete a Bill of Sale. Ensure it includes the car's VIN number, sale price, buyer and seller names, and any other pertinent information.
Cancel your insurance. Leave your policy in place until the new buyer has signed the bill of sale. After they drive away, they should be on their own policy.
Transfer your registration. If your state requires it, notify the DMV of the sale. You may need to sign a release of liability informing them that you are no longer responsible for the vehicle. The buyer may also need temporary tags.
Being informed, alert, organized, and honest is the key to a good car-selling process. Following the steps above should help you complete a smooth sale.
Additional auto resources
The article on this page was composed with the help of ChatGPT. OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/c/f1d9ea1d-872a-44df-8d64-8d0307ed2736