Selling car on CL...Looking for a little advice...

[leeland]

Hi all,

I am about to venture on craigslist and try to sell a car...everything on the car is good to go...put the add up and got a couple of interested parties...

My question is this...

If/when the party wants to take it for a test drive I know they should have a valid license...should I also ask for them to bring their insurance card to show that they have insurance?

Outside of the actual transaction of money...I think I am set...just not sure about the insurance part.

Any other tips would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Lee

 

[BoomerD]

That will depend on your state. Does the insurance follow the car or the driver?

In most states, your insurance should cover anything that happens while on the test drive...but check with your agent.

 

[leeland]

That will depend on your state. Does the insurance follow the car or the driver?

In most states, your insurance should cover anything that happens while on the test drive...but check with your agent.

Good question...I will have to call my insurance company...probably should have done that anyways

 

[rdiver]

I just sold my car on craigslist about 2 months ago. I got about 20 calls in 4 hours, but sold it for asking price in 3 hours. I met with only two people. The first caller called about 4 times before leaving a voicemail. I met with him and he lowballed me and refused to negotiate, so I walked. (Half asking price). The second couple I met wanted it, so paid cash on the spot. I signed over the title and bill of sale and they were on their way. I asked if they wanted to test drive but the didn't want to.

I met everyone at public places, usually grocery stores or other high traffic areas. Don't be afraid to walk from the deal.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Just be prepared for many calls the first day that you post it, most from scammers and idiots. I sold one last year and many of the calls were people wanting to take over payments, sell me services, etc. Just be prepared for it.

 

[SKORPI0]

I just sold my car on craigslist about 2 months ago. .....

Don't much do you? Mine. :awe:

 

[TonyG]

Please save the legitimate buyers some hassle too, by listing the mileage, and any major flaws, along with decent pictures. I can't tell you how many "immaculate body/paint" or "perfect interior" cars I looked at, minus the baseball bat dents, keyed paint, ripped up interiors, etc. If you tell me it's in great condition over the phone, and when I show up, it barely runs, and has a rattle can paint job, and want a excellent condition price, don't wonder why I am pissed off, especially after driving 30 minutes to an hour one way...and I don't even want to get into salvage titled vehicles that the owner is asking as much or more for than the same car with a clean title.
Hey, look, my beer glass is empty...

 

[leeland]

I just sold my car on craigslist about 2 months ago. I got about 20 calls in 4 hours, but sold it for asking price in 3 hours. I met with only two people. The first caller called about 4 times before leaving a voicemail. I met with him and he lowballed me and refused to negotiate, so I walked. (Half asking price). The second couple I met wanted it, so paid cash on the spot. I signed over the title and bill of sale and they were on their way. I asked if they wanted to test drive but the didn't want to.

I met everyone at public places, usually grocery stores or other high traffic areas. Don't be afraid to walk from the deal.

HOLY LURKER 8 posts in 7 years!

So...basically you brought the clean title and the bill of sale document specific to your state...got the money, removed your plates, gave them the car...anything else?

 

[rdiver]

HOLY LURKER 8 posts in 7 years!

So...basically you brought the clean title and the bill of sale document specific to your state...got the money, removed your plates, gave them the car...anything else?

That's basically it. Went online to my states website (Washington) and reported it sold. I left the plates on though.

FYI- it was a 2002 Subaru forester with 131k and asked $4500. Should have asked for more seeing the response I got, but wanted it gone.

 

[TonyG]

If you have the time, go down to the local dmv with the buyer, so you know that he/she gets the title transferred, and keep the plates if possible. Here in Texas, all you really have to do is sign the back of the title and hand it to the buyer, but it is always wise to keep a record of who bought it, in case they don't transfer the title and end up with a pile of tickets, that could come back to you, since the car is still in your name, which is also the same reason for removing the plates. Texas has a specific form you can fill out to tell the state that you sold the car, to remove the liability if the buyer doesn't transfer the title in a timely matter, and I would guess that most states have similar. I would also try to get the buyer to go ahead and fill out there information on the back of the title, or at least fill in the date portion when you sign it, as that helps to weed out the curb dealers who low ball you for the car, then resell the car without transferring the title to themselves.

 

[leeland]

Please save the legitimate buyers some hassle too, by listing the mileage, and any major flaws, along with decent pictures. I can't tell you how many "immaculate body/paint" or "perfect interior" cars I looked at, minus the baseball bat dents, keyed paint, ripped up interiors, etc. If you tell me it's in great condition over the phone, and when I show up, it barely runs, and has a rattle can paint job, and want a excellent condition price, don't wonder why I am pissed off, especially after driving 30 minutes to an hour one way...and I don't even want to get into salvage titled vehicles that the owner is asking as much or more for than the same car with a clean title.
Hey, look, my beer glass is empty...

Nah...I wouldn't do that...I would feel like a dickbag listing something incorrectly...

The car is a 2003 accord, with low mileage (for the year).

The body isn't terrible (no dents) but it has paint chips and scratches...

The inside is very clean...

I actually got 4 calls within the first day...got an offer to buy the second day...about 300 under asking.

SO...we will see if things pan out.

I have to take it to the dealer because they tested the air in the car and it didn't blow out cold air (did last year)...so I am hoping that it just needs to be recharged...(CROSSES FINGERS)!

 

[Kaido]

That's basically it. Went online to my states website (Washington) and reported it sold. I left the plates on though.

FYI- it was a 2002 Subaru forester with 131k and asked $4500. Should have asked for more seeing the response I got, but wanted it gone.

That's about what they're going for here - I've been looking at used Subarus intensely for the past few weeks. I think you priced it just well enough to sell decently quickly. I just checked out a 2002 Forester 5-speed yesterday with 140k miles on it for $4,900 (granted, at a local Subaru shop, so it was priced higher because they include new head gaskets, timing belt, and a tuneup). The moonroofs are amaaaaaazing on those - it was like being in a convertible, only better!

Ended up with a Volvo somehow :biggrin:

 

[Kaido]

Any other tips would be appreciated as well

I just went through this process as a buyer off Craigslist. My suggestions:

1. Have a bill of sale ready, with a pen (print it off the DMV website)
2. Have the title ready
3. Tell them the warts up front, no games (what's broken, what it needs, etc.)
4. Accept cash only

Your insurance should cover anyone in your car (check with them of course). As mentioned, you'll probably see a lot of scammers and lowballers. Just wait for someone legitimate. If the price is fair, or even better, priced to move, then you shouldn't have any trouble getting it sold unless you live in the boonies or something.

Also, decided on the minimum you'll take for the car. If you're asking $1700 and someone serious shows up with $1500 cash, that might be better than anything else you'll see. But if they offer $1400 and your minimum is $1500 with a $1700 asking price, you might want to wait - so decide on that ahead of time. I saw a LOT of overpriced cars in my searching - people think they can get the world for used piles of junk. The ones that were slightly below market price, per their condition, seemed to disappear pretty quick (at least in my experience, because I kept calling them and they'd already be gone! lol).

Good luck with your sale!