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Selling a Car

How to Sell Your Car: The Complete Guide

MyFirstCar Team · · 6 min read

Whether you’re upgrading, downsizing, or just done with car payments, selling your car privately can put $1,000-5,000 more in your pocket than trading it in at a dealer. The catch? You have to do the work yourself.

Don’t worry — it’s not that complicated. Here’s your complete playbook for selling your car from start to finish.

Step 1: Figure Out What It’s Worth

Before you list your car, you need a realistic idea of its value. Not what you hope it’s worth — what the market actually supports.

Check Multiple Sources

  • Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com): The classic. Check the “Private Party” value, not the dealer retail or trade-in value.
  • Edmunds: Offers a similar appraisal tool with good accuracy.
  • Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist: Search for your exact make, model, year, and trim. See what similar cars are listed for — and then subtract 5-10% since most sell below asking.
  • CarGurus: Shows market pricing and whether cars are listed above or below market value.

Be Honest About Condition

Your car isn’t “excellent” condition just because it runs well. Be realistic about dents, scratches, interior wear, tire tread, and mechanical issues. Overpricing your car means it sits unsold for weeks.

Price Strategy

Set your asking price 5-10% above your target to leave room for negotiation. If you want $12,000, list it at $12,500-13,000. Buyers expect to negotiate, and you want to land where you’re comfortable.

Step 2: Get the Car Ready

First impressions matter. A clean car sells faster and for more money. You don’t need to do anything crazy — just make it presentable.

The Basics

  • Wash and wax the exterior. A $20 detail spray and an hour of your time can make a huge difference.
  • Clean the interior thoroughly. Vacuum everything — seats, floor mats, under seats, trunk. Wipe down all surfaces. Clean the windows inside and out.
  • Remove personal items. Everything. Sunglasses, phone chargers, gym clothes, that collection of parking receipts.
  • Address obvious odors. If your car smells like fast food or dog, a thorough cleaning plus an odor eliminator spray helps. Don’t try to mask it with air freshener — buyers notice.

Small Fixes That Pay Off

  • Replace burnt-out bulbs. Headlight, taillight, license plate light — a $5 fix that removes a red flag.
  • Touch up paint chips. A $10 touch-up pen from the auto parts store makes the car look more cared-for.
  • Top off fluids. Oil, coolant, windshield washer. Shows the car has been maintained.
  • Fix the easy stuff. Worn wiper blades ($15), cracked air freshener clips, missing floor mats.

What Not to Fix

Don’t dump hundreds into major repairs unless they directly block the sale. A new set of brakes ($300-500) might be worth it if yours are shot, but don’t repaint a fender or replace a transmission — you probably won’t recoup the cost.

Step 3: Take Great Photos

Good photos are the single most important factor in getting people to click on your listing. Bad photos = fewer inquiries = longer time to sell.

Photo Tips

  • Shoot during “golden hour” — early morning or late afternoon for the best light
  • Clean background — a quiet street or empty parking lot, not in front of your garage full of junk
  • Take 15-20 photos minimum:
    • All four corners (3/4 angles)
    • Both sides straight-on
    • Front and rear straight-on
    • Dashboard / instrument cluster (showing mileage)
    • Center console and infotainment
    • Front and rear seats
    • Trunk
    • Engine bay
    • Tire tread close-up
    • Any damage or flaws (yes, show these — it builds trust)

Pro Tip

Take photos right after washing. A wet car photographs terribly — wait for it to dry or hand-dry it first.

Step 4: Write a Great Listing

Your listing should be thorough, honest, and easy to scan. Here’s a template:

Title: [Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim] — [Key Selling Point] Example: “2022 Honda Civic EX — One Owner, Full Service Records, 35K Miles”

Body should include:

  • Year, make, model, trim
  • Mileage
  • Transmission (auto/manual)
  • Drivetrain (FWD/AWD/4WD)
  • Color (exterior and interior)
  • Key features (sunroof, leather, CarPlay, etc.)
  • Recent maintenance/repairs
  • Condition notes (be honest about flaws)
  • Clean title (or disclose if not)
  • Reason for selling (optional but builds trust)
  • Asking price
  • Preferred contact method

Don’t: Write in ALL CAPS, use excessive exclamation marks, or hide information. Buyers see through it.

Step 5: List It Everywhere

Cast a wide net:

  • Facebook Marketplace — Biggest audience, free to list, easy messaging
  • Craigslist — Still active, especially for older/cheaper cars
  • CarGurus / Autotrader — Reaches more serious car shoppers, may have listing fees
  • Cars.com — Good visibility but charges for listings
  • OfferUp — Growing platform, especially for local sales

List on at least 2-3 platforms to maximize exposure.

Step 6: Handle Inquiries

You’re going to get a lot of messages. Some will be serious buyers. Some will not be.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • “I’ll send a cashier’s check for more than the asking price” — This is a scam. Always.
  • Won’t come see the car in person — Legitimate buyers want to see and drive the car.
  • Wants you to ship the car — For a private sale, the buyer should come to you.
  • Asks for your bank account info — Never share this.

Responding to Lowball Offers

You’ll get them. Don’t take it personally. Respond with something like: “Thanks for the offer, but I’m firm at [your bottom-line price]. Let me know if that works for you.” Then move on.

Step 7: The Test Drive

When someone wants to see the car:

  • Meet in a public place — a busy parking lot, near a police station, or at your bank (convenient for payment too)
  • Verify their driver’s license and take a photo
  • Ride along on the test drive
  • Let them drive on different roads — highway, city streets, parking. A confident seller lets the buyer really check it out
  • Don’t hand over keys until payment clears

Step 8: Close the Deal

Acceptable Payment Methods

  • Cash — King. Count it carefully.
  • Cashier’s check — Go to the issuing bank together to verify it. Fake cashier’s checks are common.
  • Bank wire transfer — Secure but takes 1-2 business days to clear. Don’t hand over the car until it does.
  • Venmo/Zelle/PayPal — Risky for large amounts. If you use these, wait for the funds to fully clear in your bank account (not just “pending”).

Never accept personal checks.

The Paperwork

  1. Sign the title over to the buyer. Fill in the buyer’s name, the date, mileage, and sale price. Sign in the right spot — title errors can be a nightmare to fix.
  2. Write a bill of sale. Include both parties’ names, addresses, the VIN, sale price, date, and both signatures. Make two copies.
  3. Provide an odometer disclosure if required by your state (most require it for cars under 20 years old).
  4. Remove your plates (in most states, plates stay with the seller).
  5. Cancel your insurance on the vehicle — but not until the sale is complete and the car is gone.
  6. Notify your DMV that you’ve sold the vehicle. This protects you from liability if the buyer gets in an accident before registering it.

Step 9: After the Sale

  • File a release of liability with your state’s DMV
  • Keep copies of all paperwork for at least 3 years
  • Cancel any automatic payments related to the car (tolls, parking passes)
  • Enjoy your lighter insurance bill

The Bottom Line

Selling your car privately takes effort — probably a weekend of prep and a week or two of fielding inquiries. But the payoff is real. Compared to a dealer trade-in, you could pocket several thousand extra dollars.

The keys to a smooth sale: price it right, make it shine, take great photos, be honest in your listing, and handle the paperwork correctly. That’s it.

Whether you’re buying or selling, MyFirstCar keeps all your vehicle info organized — service history, documents, costs, and more. Makes the whole process smoother. Get started →