Personally Selling a car Advice.

[Mommypooh]

We are getting ready to sell my car and We have never sold a car before. I need all the advice I can get. What is good info to list about the car? What do you do when you have a buyer? Tell me it all. I don't want to sell it to a place like Carmax or other dealerships cause they won't give me squat for it. It is a nice car in Great condition and runs like a champ. I have already contacted some of the places and they won't give me more than $800, and the car is well worth more than that.

[drabking]

I think edmunds.com is a good place to start. Go to the used cars section and appraise a car. It lets you add the options you have so that you get a pretty good idea of what it should go for.

Also, remember to be wary of taking a cashier's checks since they seem to get counterfieted a lot in these types of transactions.

[Mommypooh]

Thank you I will have to check that site out.

[ramazank2]

Get pricing info at Edmunds.com. Mark it up higher than that price (every buyer is going to negotiate, if you lower the price they feel like they are getting a deal). List it on craigslist or in the autotrader or newspaper if you want to spend some money. Also you can park it at a busy shopping center with a for sale sign from the 99 cent store or home depot if you cant find a cheaper one. Once you get a buyer make sure you get a deed of sale saying there is no implied warranty. For example:


BILL OF SALE - USED AUTOMOBILE



BUYER _______________________________________________


SELLER ______________________________________________


DATE OF SALE ________________________________________


PLACE OF SALE _______________________________________


VEHICLE SOLD _______________________________________


VIN _______________________________________



PRICE PAID $ _________________ PAID IN FULL!


VEHICLE SOLD AS IS. NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER.


SIGNATURE OF BUYER ____________________________________



SIGNATURE OF SELLER _____________________________________



THIS VEHICLE NOW BELONGS TO THE BUYER!
this is taken from here:
http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/autobillofsale.txt

There are many more of such forms on the net. Also check with the DMV cause each state has it owns rules and regs for selling a car. LIke in california the seller is responsible for providing a smog. Last time I sold a car I was unaware of this and so I included in the bill of sale that the buyer was responsible, dont know if that would hold though.

Good luck!

[Mommypooh]

Thank you i didn't even think of something like that. I guess I do need to cover my own butt. I have tried to read the DMV website but it is a bunch of Jargon, My mom said there is nothing like that, that I have to pay for, so I will take her word for it. Keep those ideas coming guys.

edmunds gave me a price kinda pretty low compared to KBB.

[Prngr44]

I'd guess if KBB and Edmunds are in the same area that's probably all you're going to get.

You need to remember most potential buyers will have those same tools at their disposal.

[Markel]

Even though the title transfer probably requires a mileage statement, I would add to ramazank2 (very good) advice by adding a line:

ACTUAL MILEAGE ______________

(assuming that you are certain that your odometer is correct).

[Mommypooh]

I'd guess if KBB and Edmunds are in the same area that's probably all you're going to get.

You need to remember most potential buyers will have those same tools at their disposal.

They are about 2,000 different in price. KBB being the higher one.

[AlpineJay]

They are about 2,000 different in price. KBB being the higher one.

KBB is pretty well known for having an unrealistically high price for their used car estimates - Edmunds generally tends to come closer to what the actual value of the car is.

The one and only time I sold a car myself was through Autotrader. The car sold within a week of listing and wasn't too much hassle save for a few phone calls I received. I got exactly the price that I wanted (listed $3.5K, got $3K) and was generally pleased with the whole process. The bill of sale is a great idea and you should in any circumstance make the buyer sign one to make sure you're covered.

[Prngr44]

I've sold a few cars myself just because of what you're seeing from dealers or other resellers. They give you nothing.

My only hassle was people calling saying they'd show up, or people leave that "definitely want it. I'm going to get the check" and never show back up. It's not that often it happens, but a big PItA when it does.

Best of luck!

[mechmike0034]

Get a phone number from http://www.privatephone.com/ and use that for your ads and For Sale signs.

Put an ad on Craigslist, and specify "cash only" and "scammers / 419ers - don't bother"

[ramazank2]

Never heard the term 419er. What does it mean?

[mechmike0034]

Never heard the term 419er. What does it mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud#419_Fraud

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-33,GGLG:en&q=419

[Mommypooh]

Well I just listed it on Craigs list and a local Yahoo group. I have had one scammer respond, which I just ignored and one real responce asking for body condition. I am not useing my phone number for anything. I don't think I will put a sign in the car for safety reasons. I should have my new van first part of next week then I might put a sign in the car if not sold, but not sure yet.

[kgsilvas]

Some helpful info from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Website http://bmv.ohio.gov/title/tit_info.htm

When You Sell A Vehicle
DO NOT fill out the assignment on the reverse side of the Certificate of Title until an actual sale has been made. Make certain that you know the proper name and address of the buyer before making the assignment. You as the seller, are required to state the actual purchase price and the odometer reading of the vehicle. You must sign the title exactly as the title was issued to you and your signature must be notarized. When sale is to an individual, make a copy of the completed, notarized assignment for your personal record of date of sale/transfer.

[BigJon]

kgsilvas, thanks for the tip.
We plan on going to our local bank with whomever the purchaser may be to have the title filled out and notarized and copies made. Then my next step is to escort them to the BMV and take my plates off of the car.

I don't want to risk them getting into an accident or getting a ticket if they decided to wait on changing over the registration. I know I can always fight it...but it's much less hassle to ensure they get the registration changed right away.

[Paymaster]

I will be selling a car myself soon, so this is very relevant to me. :)

Isn't there some sales tax to worry about too?

Is it realistic to expect the buyer to show up with thousands of dollars in cash? Do people really do this? I'm looking at selling a car for about $3,7000...

[Markel]

I will be selling a car myself soon, so this is very relevant to me. :)

Isn't there some sales tax to worry about too?

Is it realistic to expect the buyer to show up with thousands of dollars in cash? Do people really do this? I'm looking at selling a car for about $3,7000...
In Illinois, sales tax is paid by the buyer when he takes care of the title transfer.

I once had someone show up with $3600 in $100 bills to buy a car I was selling.

[Prngr44]

In Illinois, sales tax is paid by the buyer when he takes care of the title transfer.

I once had someone show up with $3600 in $100 bills to buy a car I was selling.

Same boat here... mine was $4500 in 100's and we just met at the bank, they took the money, counted it, got the title out, signed it all up, notorized, copied, and I was done. I took the plates off the car in the parking lot and he drove off with it. :)

[Mommypooh]

Well we just had the first person out to view it. He came out cause his sister wants the car. According to him she is very excited, and now I am just waiting to hear back from him or her. I hope this car is out the door quick.