Historically, new model year vehicles would come into a dealer’s lot by the end of the summer to replace older inventory. At that point, dealers had motivation to offer discounts on leftover older models. Whether you send an email, call or visit in person, you should get at least three competing quotes from local junkyards before making a decision. Depending on where you buy your car, you may be able to pick it up at the dealership or have it delivered to your home or office. Inspect your vehicle once more when you pick it up or upon delivery. Carvana won’t accept any cars older than the 1992 model year, even if they’re in good condition.
Take the average of all those prices to determine how much to charge. You don’t need to pay for a full detail, but a professional car wash may be worth the cost.
When you sell a car online, you are often still meeting with strangers if you choose to sell to a local private party. One major advantage of using Facebook Marketplace is you can look at the profiles of potential buyers. Looking at profiles can help you eliminate potential scammers and meet only with people who appear to be safe. If you are concerned about meeting a stranger to look at or test-drive the car, this can offer peace of mind. If you want to reach the largest local audience as quickly as possible, Facebook Marketplace is a good option. This platform helps you sell your car online easily, as it walks you through the process step by step. CarMax requires a license plate number or VIN as well as a location to provide an offer.
Other safety tips for selling a car
In many states, the buyer needs to retitle the vehicle, register the car and pay transfer fees, including state taxes. All these steps can be completed at the buyer’s state DMV site. Next, check local listings, such as those on Autotrader, for similar vehicles with similar equipment and options to see what other cars are selling for in your area. You should also be careful when using Facebook Marketplace because the platform does not offer protection for transactions. You must take care of the financial details on your own, which means you have no protection if a check bounces or a person lies about their information. You must vet your buyers carefully if you use Facebook to sell a car online.
If you go over your allotted miles per month, you won’t be able to purchase more, and will be charged a fee for each additional mile you drive. Before joining NerdWallet, she covered personal finance-related topics for financial websites and organizations and has over five years of experience writing about money.
Facebook Marketplace
This means you could find yourself in a situation where somebody no longer wants to purchase the car at the last minute. Exchanging text messages about buying a used car is normal these days, but push for a quick phone chat. As you talk with the potential buyer, pay attention to your intuition. If the buyer makes any unusual requests or if anything makes you uncomfortable, just wait for another buyer. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. When it comes to cars, Matt’s curiosity extends well beyond the powertrain.
Many states require titles for the sale of a junk car, and yards often enforce this requirement, even when the state doesn’t ask for it. If you’ve examined your budget, checked your credit, and researched some vehicles, it might be time to start loan shopping. Learn more about our top auto loan lenders to see why they’re the best. See the best auto loan rates to get started, or narrow it down to the best used car loans.
Read more about sell your car online here.
Once you’ve placed your ads, make sure you keep your car’s specifications, mileage, and other particulars near your phone. Interested callers will want to see the vehicle, so have your schedule ready so you can set a day and time. Read our guide — How to Sell a Car Without a Title — for more ways to sell your car without a title. A pre-sale inspection is worth the investment because it’s just one more tool you can use to put buyers at ease.
Take pictures from every angle, including the odometer, engine, seats and trunk. Turn the car on and show that all the electronics work correctly, like the radio, back-up camera and built-in GPS. Some private buyers will ask for videos or even to FaceTime with you to see the car virtually, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. You do not want to catfish potential buyers about the condition of your car. Instead, make sure you are honest about how well the car runs or what kind of work it might need. You might even be in the car with a stranger for a test drive. Plan to meet buyers in the parking lot of your local police station to protect yourself.
You also want to keep track of paperwork, from the title transfer to the bill of sale and a release of liability. If you don’t have the car’s title, find out how to sell a vehicle without a title.