Selling a car on craigslist?

[joutlaw]

Cash only or go to the buyers bank. Bill of Sale that clearly states the car is sold as is with no warranty. Keep your tags. If the buyer gets pulled over there should be a grace period based off the date on the Bill of Sale.

I have bought 1 truck and sold 2 cars on craigslist. I got cash for both cars, and the seller and I made the truck transaction at my bank.

 

[alkemyst]

Cash, no other effin way and that too all at one time.

Depends on car.

Craigslist is no different than selling privately.

You want to accept cash or certified funds. If there is a check to be exchanged it would be best to do the transaction at the bank it is drawn on so everything can be verified.

Also call your local DMV to make sure you are following what they recommend.

I sold a car for $2000 got all cash so that was fine, but the dude didn't register it for almost 3 months. In my area I'd have been responsible for that vehicle if anything went wrong legally.

 

[BoomerD]

While I am sure you are 100% correct, that sounds batshit crazy. The tags are tied to a particular driver, and would thus be tied back to that person if someone ran a red light in that vehicle (or tolls as the other guy mentioned). I don't know how much I'd care about the state's laws... if those tags are tied to me, they come off when the vehicle is sold... or there would be a major pain in the ass process of meeting at the bank, and then heading to the DMV with the buyer to get ownership transferred immediately. That just sounds nuts.

Many states, the license plates (tags) are tied to the vehicle, not the owner. When the vehicle is sold, the plates stay with the car. I suppose you COULD remove the plates and turn them into the DMV, but the other person would be prohibited from driving the vehicle until he/she registered the car. (illegal to even drive the car to DMV for registration)

 

[OCGuy]

I am very interested in your item. Is it still the original price?

 

[VoteQuimby]

Just sold my car. I had it listed on Craigslist and Autotrader. I received more e-mail traffic from Craigslist, but a lot of it was spam/scammers. The interested Autotrader people usually called.

Like like people suggested above, print off a bill of sale, and have them pay cash. This will cover your butt if they never transfer the title. Also, make sure you know where your title is, in case you have to dig for it like me 🙂 Oh, also make sure you remember to cancel/transfer your insurance after the sale.

 

[nutxo]

I sold a car a few weeks ago. Be prepared for the no shows and people that just want someone to talk to..

Only accept cash. If they want a test drive and look the slightest bit wrong go on the ride with them. Even if they don't seem seedy at least ask to hold a drivers license. After the sale make sure to report it IMMEDIATELY.

 

[alkemyst]

Just sold my car. I had it listed on Craigslist and Autotrader. I received more e-mail traffic from Craigslist, but a lot of it was spam/scammers. The interested Autotrader people usually called.

Like like people suggested above, print off a bill of sale, and have them pay cash. This will cover your butt if they never transfer the title. Also, make sure you know where your title is, in case you have to dig for it like me 🙂 Oh, also make sure you remember to cancel/transfer your insurance after the sale.

Printed bills of sale do not release you from liability in most places...esp if the person that paid ends up using a fake id and name.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Many states, the license plates (tags) are tied to the vehicle, not the owner. When the vehicle is sold, the plates stay with the car. I suppose you COULD remove the plates and turn them into the DMV, but the other person would be prohibited from driving the vehicle until he/she registered the car. (illegal to even drive the car to DMV for registration)

Yea I was confused about that for a second since CA plates are to the car and not to the owner.

 

[mvbighead]

Many states, the license plates (tags) are tied to the vehicle, not the owner. When the vehicle is sold, the plates stay with the car. I suppose you COULD remove the plates and turn them into the DMV, but the other person would be prohibited from driving the vehicle until he/she registered the car. (illegal to even drive the car to DMV for registration)

Well, here in NE the plates are the property of the person. They are tied to the car through the DMV, but as the person paying for them, your name would come up if someone looked up the plate number. I would assume all states have the license plate number tied to the licensee and the vehicle by VIN. In any of those cases, it would seem absolutely ignorant to allow anyone to take possession with your plates still on the vehicle.

I understand what you all are saying, but if I lived in a state with such restrictions, that stuff would be done immediately at the point of sale, otherwise the buyer would not take possession of the vehicle. If they wouldn't agree to that, I'd find a different buyer.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Yea I was confused about that for a second since CA plates are to the car and not to the owner.

In CA, the top portion of the title is a form (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability) that you bring or send in to the DMV once you sell the car. It tells them that you've sold the car, and that exempts you from the liability of unpaid tickets/tolls/whatnot if the buyer doesn't register the car.

I've sold a motorcycle and car on Craig's List. Cash, of course. Expect a lot of flakes, idiots sending emails with stupid offers, people calling/emailing with rediculous lowball offers without even seeing the vehicle, lots of complicated stories about why they want you to hold the vehicle for them or drive 100 miles to meet them halfway, etc.

Don't post your phone number in the ad. (I posted a disposable cell number on my ad.) If you do, you'll then get calls for moths from people who want to help you sell your vehicle.

 

[simonizor]

CA SF Bay area tolls accepted my word when the vehicle sale was transfered.
I told them that the State of NV was notified and also my insurance company.

Kept getting toll bills for the time the tags were still valid; but CA left me alone after they put it in the system that the tags were not mine.

Maybe it varies by state of person how they handle invalid toll charges

You should NEVER give the person your plates. I know that in WI, you have 72 hours to drive after the date the title was signed over to get your temporary plates from the cop shop or DMV. Then they mail you your regular plates.

Also, I've bought 2 vehicles off craigslist. The first was a car that I drove 2 hours to get. Test drove it, my dad accidentally broke the passenger door so it wouldn't unlock, so we got $500 off the price (cost $50 to get it fixed). The second was my motorcycle. I found an add for it on craigslist, and it was about 20 minutes away from where I live. I went and test drove it, got the money out of the bank, and went back the next day to get it.

 

[careless]

I sold my 1993 Diamante wagon on Craigslist. I'd recommend cash, or a personal check drawn on a local bank. If paid by check, make the buyer wait for delivery of the car and don't do the title transfer until the check has cleared and the funds are in YOUR bank account. NEVER ACCEPT A CASHIER'S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, as they are involved in too many scams. Also, have a bill of sale that discloses any major defects of the vehicle, and also include mileage and a statement that the buyer has inspected the vehicle and agreed to purchase the vehicle "AS IS". This saves you from any potential legal issues.

 

[waffleironhead]

You should NEVER give the person your plates. I know that in WI, you have 72 hours to drive after the date the title was signed over to get your temporary plates from the cop shop or DMV. Then they mail you your regular plates.

Also, I've bought 2 vehicles off craigslist. The first was a car that I drove 2 hours to get. Test drove it, my dad accidentally broke the passenger door so it wouldn't unlock, so we got $500 off the price (cost $50 to get it fixed). The second was my motorcycle. I found an add for it on craigslist, and it was about 20 minutes away from where I live. I went and test drove it, got the money out of the bank, and went back the next day to get it.

Yeah, but laws here in wisconsin are different than other states. If you cross the border to MN the plates stay with the car, not the owner. Having crossed to duluth to buy cars before, I have some useless to me MN plates laying around.

 

[Triumph]

Reading this thread, I'm wondering if you people realize that humans bought and sold cars directly from/to each other long before Craigslist was around, right? How exactly are things any different now?

 

[olds]

There is only one way to sell/buy anything on Craigslist: Cash and face to face.
For a large cash purchase, I'd meet in the police department parking lot.