How to Advertise Your Used Car for Sale

Last Updated: March 4, 2021

Instead of trading in your used car and getting less than market value, try selling it yourself for maximum profit. Advertise your car by posting it on the internet, passing out flyers, or putting a basic “for sale” sign in the window. Write a compelling ad that honestly describes your car while playing up its positive features. Add in as many flattering photos as you can. Then, sit back, relax, and wait for the calls to start coming in!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Advertising Online

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Advertise in a minimum of three places. To bring in the most potential buyers, select three spots to place your ad. You could go all online or do a combination of websites and in-person methods, such as flyers. Make sure that you post the same information to all of these places to avoid any confusion.
- Be sure to update all of your postings and flyers if you choose to change your selling terms, such as lowering your asking price.
2
Advertise on a sales website. There are a number of websites that will allow you to post a used car ad, sometimes even with photos or video. Look into Craiglist, eBay, and AutoTrader for a start.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Hovanes Margarian
Attorney
Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Read over the terms closely to see if you will be charged a fee for posting, how long your post will run on the site, and other details.^{[2]
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- Be aware that some sites will clean out all ads on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This just means that you will need to hop online again and re-post your listing every so often.
- Some of the websites use a fairly straightforward classifieds format where you list all of the information and then wait for a response. Other sites, such as eBay Motors, go with an auction format. This means that your vehicle could be sold with a reserve price (a set minimum) or a fixed amount.^{[3]
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Advertisement
3
Utilize social networking sites. Take a few good pictures of your vehicle and create posts in Facebook and Twitter to let your friends and family know that you are selling. Ask them to share your posts and to spread the information around. Be sure to watch your email and message windows after you post in case someone outside of your friends list contacts you.^{[4]
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- You can also network with your friends, family, and co-workers in person. Ask them if they know if anyone is looking to purchase a vehicle and give them the details in case they find someone.^{[5]
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4
Post on a peer-to-peer website. These sites often cater to people interested in a certain type of car, sometimes a specialty make or model. Beepi, Tred, and Zipflip are all examples of buyer-seller direct marketplaces. Be aware that these sites may require that a seller jump through more hoops by following return and warranty policies.^{[6]
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- If you are catering to buyers with more car expertise, then include additional details in your ad. You might write about any modifications you’ve made or the original dating of the parts.
- A similar option is to post on an auto message board. Instead of a formal ad, you will likely need to put as much information as you can into an informal posting. Some boards will include a classified section just for this purpose.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Advertising in Print or in Person

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Take out an ad in your newspaper. Most local papers and newsletters contain a section devoted to classified listings. Depending on the circulation of the paper and the size of your ad, this can be a cheap way to find possible buyers. The drawback is that your car may take longer to sell because it’s not as visible as other options.
- For example, you might write, "Reliable Car for Sale: 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, Red, 25,0000 miles, One Owner, Maintenance Records and Vehicle History available upon request, Asking Price $7,000 OBO, Call XXX-XXX-XXXX for more details."
2
Post paper signs throughout your community. Create a simple flyer that contains a clear picture of your car, the price, any details on the make and model, and your contact information. Attach these flyers to message boards at your office, church, grocery store, library, and even gym. Include rip-off tabs at the bottom of the sheet to make it easy for buyers to get ahold of you.
- Try printing out your flyers on colored paper to get even more attention. Just make sure that this does not distort the appearance of your car’s photo.
- Go around every few days and make sure that your flyers are still in place. If the location has removed them, it is okay to ask if there is an approved area for posting.
3
Enlist your mechanic’s help. If you have a regular mechanic that you go to, tell them that you are selling your car and would like any advice that they can offer. They might even let you park it on their lot. Or, they may just spread the word to other customers or let you put up a flyer in their waiting room.
- Your mechanic may be able to tell you which features to emphasize, such as especially good tires or a solid alarm system.
4
Write "for sale" on your car with window paint. If you already have another vehicle, park your car off to the side of a main road with "for sale" written in big letters on the windshield. Then, on the other windows, write more details about the car, like the asking price, mileage, and year. If you don’t have another car yet, simply write the same information on one or two side windows and continue to drive it around.^{[8]
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- After you finish the sign, take a good number of steps back and look at it. Make sure that other people could read it from afar.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating the Best Ad

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Price it correctly. Enter your car’s information onto a website, such as Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, to get an instant appraisal. Or, scour the local classified ads to see if there are other people selling cars similar to yours. Find a price point you're comfortable with, keeping in mind that the buyer might try to negotiate with you and you'll probably end up getting less than your asking price.^{[9]
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- Private party sellers generally see the best results with a price that is rounded, such as $11,000.
- After you receive the online estimates, price your car between 97-102 percent of those figures.
- Give potential buyers more information regarding your openness to negotiations by stating “firm” or “best offer” in your ad.^{[10]
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2
Write a specific ad. Provide as many details regarding your car’s condition, model, mileage, and extras as you can. The more details that you provide the fewer random buyer questions you will need to answer. Do your best to avoid cheesy phrases, such as “like new,” as they are just narrative dead weight. Read through your ad’s text a few times to check that it sounds approachable and interesting.^{[11]
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- For example, if your car has a clean accident history, then point this out and state that a vehicle history report is available upon request.
- To draw in thrifty buyers, state if your car has exceptional gas mileage or other cost-saving features. Also, include a brief mention of any warranties that still cover the car.
3
Be honest about any flaws or damage.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Hovanes Margarian
Attorney
Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} To establish trust with a potential buyer, briefly mention any mechanical issues that might need to be addressed. You could even list your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), so that interested parties can do some research on their own.^{[13]
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- Don’t take this too far and list everything that is wrong with your car. Just pick out one or two potential concerns to point out in your ad.
4
Provide a minimum of ten photos. It’s easier for a buyer to envision themselves in a car when they can actually see it. If you are posting online, add photos up until you reach the limit. If you are creating a flyer, choose one or two shots that show off your car’s best features. Include photos of both the interior and exterior, if possible.
- Get a bit creative and add in shots from a variety of angles. You can even include a video ad if the website will support it.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I post on the social media website?

Community Answer

Most social media websites have their own particular rules regarding posting. You will generally need to create an account to start off with. Then, if this is a personal site like Facebook or Twitter, you are free to post a short ad to your circle of family or friends. With other social sites, you may want to look for a classifieds area.