Selling a Used Car

Back to first Five Things

Thing No 6  

Nobody likes a hardass. 

Price your car fairly but be prepared to take a few hundred bucks less on the final deal.  At the same time, don’t take any crap off these fools who point out every tiny scratch and try to negotiate half the price.  This is called “normal wear and tear.”  Remind them that this is already accounted for in the depreciated value.  If you have to, push ‘em down and kick ‘em in the face.  Don’t say we told you to.

Thing No 7  

Send ‘em home with something to remember you by.

Start with a hard copy version of your online ad and perhaps add more photos, more detail – don’t forget things like “original owner” or “non-smoker” or “only driven by a little old lady back and forth to church.”  That stuff makes people feel good.  

Thing No 8  

You go wherever the car goes. 

We never like to be too uptight but we can’t let you hang back and smoke a cigarette while a potential buyer takes the car for a test drive.  You must go with them.  That counts for visits to a mechanic…anywhere.  And, as long as you’re being a car Nazi, check their driver’s license and insurance. Consider this, if they’re driving your car and they run over a baby and they don’t have a valid driver’s license or insurance… you are so screwed.  And, while we’re at it, single females living alone may want to consider meeting the burly potential buyer somewhere other than home.  We’re just sayin’.  If you do meet him at your home…for the love of God, remember all the horror movies you ever saw and don’t let the killer in the house!

Thing No 9  

Accept payment that pays. 

Everything can be faked.  Cashiers checks, wiring money into your account, escrow companies, phone numbers on cashiers checks and of course, even cash. This is hardcore but there’s no way around it: you have to meet the buyer at the bank that is issuing the bank draft and confirm the funds with the bank.  In fact, you need to cash the check on the spot and deposit the cash into your account. Only when the cash is safely snuggled into your bank account and the buyer’s mug is recorded on grainy videotape and you’ve verified that he has a valid driver’s license (see dead baby reference in Thing No. 8_ it also may apply if you sell your car to an unlicensed driver.)  are you allowed to turn over the title and the keys. Sorry to say, if he refuses to meet you at the bank, the deal is off.  This is absolutely the only way that you cannot be scammed.  Trust us, we are inherently lazy people who do not like to be hassled.  If there was another way, we’d tell you.

Thing No 10  

Wash your hands of the whole thing.

Provide the buyer with a Bill of Sale.  The guys at carbuyingtips.com have drawn one up that you can download and print.  Make sure that your Bill of Sale states that you are selling the car “AS IS.” This prevents the buyer from coming back to you with any complaints later.