1. Sell privately
Step 1: Sell Your Car Privately
You will put more money in your pocket if you sell your car privately rather than trading it in at the dealership. Here are the advantages of skipping the middleman and selling a car yourself:
- Dealerships offer you a lower trade-in value so they can resell at higher retail prices. They make their money by buying low and selling high. Skip the middleman and pocket that cash yourself.
- You have access to a wider pool of potential buyers by selling privately. More buyers means more competition and better offers.
- You drive the deal on your terms; you can control pricing and negotiate the best deal directly with buyers.
PrivateAuto gives you an easy private-party sales experience complete with digital payments, verified identities, and vehicle history reports.
“Highly recommend. I saved a ton of money by selling my car myself compared to what the dealership was offering on trade-in.” —Konner (Google reviewer, 5 stars).
List your car for sale and experience the magic of PrivateAuto’s private sale process for yourself.
2. Price your car right
Step 2: Price Your Car Right
PrivateAuto allows you to choose between a standard sale and an auction.
Price Your Car For a Standard Sale
If you need to sell your car fast, you’re probably willing to take a hit on price. Conversely, if you’re going for top dollar, don’t be in a huge hurry to sell.
Assuming your goal is getting the most for your vehicle, price it at the upper end of its fair market value range. Then wait to see what offers roll in.
PrivateAuto streamlines vehicle negotiations with our innovative “make an offer” feature. Would-be buyers can offer less than your asking price, and you can accept, reject, or counteroffer with the click of a button. Our negotiation capabilities allow you to price your car at the high end of its FMV, while still receiving offers.
Auction For Unusual Vehicles
For rare or enthusiast vehicles, an auction is the way to go. An auction allows you to assess what the market is willing to pay.
PrivateAuto makes it easy to hold your own auction. With low fees, instant payments, and self-serve technology, you’ll be able to get maximum value for your collectible vehicle.
3. Make the car look good
Step 3: List Your Vehicle on the Right Platform
You can list your car for sale on any or all of the many car-selling websites. You want one that fits the following criteria to get the most money for your car:
- Self-serve technology gives you convenience and security.
- An intuitive dealflow takes you through every step of selling your vehicle.
- In-app messaging and scheduling keeps your personal information private.
- An integrated payment gateway lets you receive large sums of money instantly and fee-free.
- In other words, you want PrivateAuto—a fully transactional online marketplace that gives you end-to-end tools to get the deal done.
PrivateAuto’s great and all, but we understand if you want to list your car on other websites to get more views. If you do, we still want you to have the transactional security and convenience that our users enjoy.
That’s why DealNow was created. DealNow allows you to start a deal on any site, and close the sale anytime. Here’s how it works:
1. Invite the buyer to DealNow via a custom link.
2. Enjoy identity verification, in-app messaging, and a test drive scheduling feature (none of which require you to exchange contact info).
3. Meet the buyer and let the buyer drive your car.
4. You and the buyer go together through a step-by-step transaction process in which you each confirm relevant details. From mileage to the vehicle information number to the condition of the vehicle, we help you both prevent any errors.
5. You and the buyer each electronically sign an official bill of sale. This is stored in your DealNow account as a legal record you can refer to down the road.
6. The buyer is prompted to initiate payment.
7. You get a notification of funds received and confirm receipt of payment.
8. You sign over the car title and hand over the keys.
4. Choose the right platform
Step 4: Make Your Car Look Good
You can erase shallow scratches with an artist brush and a small vial of matching body paint, which you can purchase fairly cheaply at most dealerships. You can also pop out small dents and dings with inexpensive at-home repair kits.
Read the instructions or watch an instructional video before you attempt to use these tools, as using them incorrectly can sometimes make matters worse.
High-quality listing photos can help your car sell 20% faster than lower-quality amateur shots. PrivateAuto offers professional car photography services by CarLife for only $295. A photographer will come to your location to shoot up to 50 high-res images and a video highlighting your vehicle’s best angles and features.
Last but not least, don’t forget the air freshener. Scent marketing is a very real thing, and studies show that the “new car smell” increases sales of vehicles.
Release of Liability Form
Odometer Disclosure Form
Both you and the buyer will need to sign the odometer disclosure at the time of sale.
5. Choose the best way to receive a payment
Step 5: Don’t Lose Money on Transaction Fees
You don’t just want to command a top-tier price for your car—you also want to pocket all of the money. Yet many forms of payment erode your profits with transaction fees. Not to mention that they are risky and cumbersome.
Before PrivateAuto Pay, there weren’t any good ways to get paid for your car.
- Cash: inconvenient and risky.
- Check: inconvenient and slow.
- Bank transfer: inconvenient and slow, with fees.
- Peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Paypal: transaction limits and fees (inconvenient).
- PrivateAuto Pay is so easy, so secure, and so convenient that you’ll never want to do a deal without it—especially in a high-value transaction. It’s basically Venmo for high-dollar transactions.
Here’s how the magic works:
- Your PrivateAuto Pay account is a bank account that you own, accessed via your PrivateAuto profile.
- You can easily move money between your PrivateAuto Pay account and your external bank account via a balance transfer.
- You can receive unlimited payments instantly from the seller into your PrivateAuto Pay account.
- Instant payments arrive any time of day, every day of the year.
- There is no exchange of contact information or banking info.
- Encrypted info protects your data from hackers.
- You’re able to conclude the entire transaction when you meet the buyer for a test drive.
- You can even sell a car to a remote buyer and forgo costly and inconvenient escrow services.
Vehicle Selling FAQ
What is the safest way to receive money on Facebook Marketplace?
Your safest way to receive money on Facebook Marketplace would be PrivateAuto Pay. Facebook Marketplace is great for getting a lot of eyeballs on your listing, but it doesn’t have much transactional infrastructure. Listings sites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, function as “meetingplaces” to connect a buyer to a seller—and then leave them in the lurch to negotiate issues such as payments, document signing, and the rest.
PrivateAuto’s DealNow lets you start a deal on another platform (such as Facebook) and conclude it on PrivateAuto.
How can I sell a car quickly?
If you want to sell your car fast, you can list it across multiple online marketplaces to get maximum exposure instead of lowering your sale price.
What is the best site for private car sales?
PrivateAuto is the best website for private car sales. We are the world’s only transactional automotive marketplace, with tech-enabled solutions for every stage of the deal.
For more information, take a look at how PrivateAuto stacks up against competitors.
What documents do I need when selling a car?
To sell your car, you’ll need to have your documentation handy. While paperwork requirements can vary somewhat from state to state, these are the documents you’ll typically need:
1. Certificate of title
2. Vehicle history report (optional but recommended)
3. Bill of sale (mandatory in some states, recommended in all)
4. Release of liability form
5. Odometer disclosure form
Title
Your car’s title is the most critical document. It proves you’re the owner, and after you sign it over to the buyer, it will prove that they are the new owner.
If you’ve forgotten where you’ve stored your vehicle title, give yourself some time to find it before listing your car for sale.
If you can’t find it, get a replacement title ASAP.
Replacing a lost vehicle title is a straightforward process:
– Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles or visit their website to begin the replacement title application.
– There is typically a small fee of around $25 to obtain a duplicate title.
– You’ll need to provide your ID, VIN, current registration, and possibly an odometer disclosure statement with the current mileage.
– After submitting the application, the DMV will mail you a new title in your name, typically within 2 weeks.
Read our complete title transfer guide for more info.
Vehicle history report
While a vehicle history report is not mandatory, it can certainly give potential buyers peace of mind and validate your asking price. It covers ownership history and service records and demonstrates how well you’ve cared for your car.
We provide a vehicle history report for all premium listings when you sell your car on PrivateAuto.
Here are some reasons why a vehicle history report is such a good idea:
1. It demonstrates you have nothing to hide and validates your price. Providing a report shows transparency and proactively addresses any concerns about the vehicle’s history.
2. It builds trust and credibility as a seller. A detailed report proves you’re forthcoming about the car’s background.
3. It verifies maintenance and repairs. A history report lists service records, oil changes, major repairs, and other work.
4. It can justify your asking price. Documentation of new tires, battery, regular maintenance, etc. helps support pricing.
5. It highlights that the car was well cared for. Regular servicing and repairs indicate responsible ownership.
6. It can ease buyer concerns about accidents or damage. The report documents any collisions or insurance claims.
7. It avoids headaches later if issues arise. A thorough history provides proof if questions arise after purchase.
8. It makes your car stand out. Providing a report shows your willingness to go the extra mile as a seller.
Bill of sale
Many states require a bill of sale when you sell your car. Whether or not your state requires it, a bill of sale protects you in case the buyer ever wants to contest the sale. It memorializes the vehicle identification number, selling price, vehicle mileage, and other key vehicle details—and it has the buyer’s signature.
PrivateAuto makes it easy with an official bill of sale right in our app, specific to your state. You and the buyer simply review the details, then digitally sign the bill of sale after the buyer inspects the vehicle. No printing or scanning; simply sign electronically in the PrivateAuto app. You always have it as a record if you ever need it.
Release of liability form
File a release of liability form when selling privately. This notifies your state that you no longer own the vehicle. It protects you from legal and financial liability for the car after the transfer. It releases you from responsibility if the vehicle is damaged or involved in an accident after you close the sale.
File your release of liability with your local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent organization for your state.
Odometer disclosure form
Per the federal Truth in Mileage Act, private sellers must reveal in writing the exact mileage of the car at the moment of transfer of ownership.
Never round up or estimate when filling out this document. Both you and the buyer will need to sign this at the time of sale.
In many states, the odometer disclosure is included on the vehicle title.
Do I need to take off my license plates when selling a car?
In 48 out of 50 states, you must remove your license plates when selling your car.
California and Minnesota are the exceptions—they allow plates to stay with the vehicle when ownership transfers.
Detach your plates after the sale is completed, before the buyer drives away with the car. Keep them to put on your next car (if your state allows), or turn them in to the DMV. Check your state’s rules for what to do with old license plates to be sure you’re following protocol.
Removing your plates yourself ensures you don’t receive tickets or violations on a vehicle you no longer own.
How do I transfer a title when selling the car?
After removing your license plates, it’s time to officially transfer the title to the buyer.
Carefully fill out the certificate of title with the buyer, ensuring all relevant fields are completed and all information is accurate. You and the buyer will each sign in the appropriate fields.
Sign your name, transferring ownership to the buyer.
Who pays the highest price for junk cars?
Junkyards and companies that specialize in buying junk or severely damaged vehicles pay the highest prices for junk cars.
Do I need a bill of sale when selling a car privately?
The bill of sale is a pivotal document when selling your car privately. It legally confirms the ownership transfer from seller to buyer.
But in private sales, you don’t know the buyer. Should you sign the bill of sale before payment? Or could that leave you high and dry without the cash?
With PrivateAuto, you don’t have to worry about payment timing or the order of operations. Our process protects both parties in an orchestrated, step-by-step workflow.
Here’s how it plays out:
1. Inspect the vehicle together, and then both you and the buyer electronically sign the bill of sale in our mobile app.
2. Both of you get notified that the other party has signed the bill of sale.
3. Buyer is notified to release payment, and feels confident doing so, given that you have. signed a legally binding document.
4. Payment immediately appears in your PrivateAuto Pay account.
5. You confirm payment, then sign the title over to the buyer.
No delays. We make it easy to get paid quickly with legal protections in place.
Selling a car privately doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking.
Is there a market for classic cars?
– According to Statista, the global classic car market revenue is estimated to be 31.6 billion U.S. dollars for 2022, with an expected growth rate of 9.6 percent annually until 2026.
– The global classic car market is projected to grow steadily from roughly 30.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 to some 31.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.
– Prices are dropping for used cars, but when it comes to classic cars. A study by The Classics Valuer found that used selling prices have risen more than 12% in 2023.
Helpful Links
How To Sell Your Car In Every State
Landon Epperly
Contributing Author
Landon Epperly is the Product Manager at PrivateAuto, where he thrives on turning innovative ideas into reality. With a deep passion for cars and boats, Landon combines his love for vehicles with his expertise in product development to enhance the online marketplace experience….