I can’t answer all your questions...but I wouldn’t pay to list it anywhere, in this day and age. Craigslist should work well.
A lot depends on the mileage and the brand/model of car.
Check Kelly Blue Book for resale demand/value.
If it’s that ‘76 AMC Pacer parked in your driveway, don’t bother with the detailing.
You haven’t been in the United States of America for very long, have you?
Tell the government so they don’t slap you with tolls when the next guy drives on the turnpike....
Find a body shop or detail shop and have a professional wax/polish job done. For $100, you’ll get an extra $500...
There are pages at Ebay on how to sell your car there.
It is important to say what kind of car, what year and how many miles. Without that info it is hard to give advice. Some cars have a specialized market, like Mustangs or convertibles or diesel engines. Knowing that adds to what your Freepers can tell you. Also, investigate what your model is selling for by searching online.
In general, the car should be as clean as possible. Don’t do any repairs that do not show. If the brakes work, don’t touch them. I use Craigslist. Start with make, model, year and price. I won’t even glance at an ad that leaves that out. Next, mileage and condition. If it has 120k miles and the interior has a few minor rips and tears, provide that information with relevant pictures. Put all the positives first but do not skip over the negatives. If it has been smoked in, say so. You don’t want somebody driving two hours to see a car only to find out you left out relevant details, like there was a dead body in the trunk in a hot parking lot for two weeks and even your dog won’t go near it.
I use CL, cleaner the better especially the engine, have all maintenance paperwork, lots of photos, advertise for top edmonds.com price for negotiating room, have them come to you and leave their car for a test drive, I usually let them just take it by themselves for a test drive. Fresh oil change is a good idea, if you have crappy tires you can get some decent tread cheap at most tire stores.
I’ve sold cars easily on Craigslist. Having maintenance records helps. Everyone asks about them. People will ask about recalls. Print out a Carfax report ahead of time. Have the title ready, and do a cash deal. Worst part is riding while some bozo test drives your car. I always carry when doing Craigslist deals. Buying or selling. Never had an issue.
Use that information to make decisions about what to clean and fix. To me, someone who says they ‘just had the brakes done’ means ‘there are other problems, but I did this thing which you won't qualify for any warranty to have fixed in the future.’ You spending money to sell your car makes me far more curious as to what you didn't fix and what I will have to in the near future.
I'm assuming that there's problems with the vehicle, hence why you're not hitting up your social media to sell it to a friend for their kids to have as a first car. If that's not the case, why not do that first? Or check with the mechanic who has been servicing the car - see if they know someone who's interested in buying it. Your own social media is likely the quickest and safest method to sell a reliable vehicle.
Marcus Lemonis of TV fame (The Profit) was a partner of this group.
Bkmrk.
If the dents are minor and the paint isn't damaged, consider paintless dent repair. They can do wonders with door dings and the like. I had a nasty door ding that was taken out and you couldn't tell anything had ever been done to it.
Take it to Carmax they will give you a free appraisal. If you have problems selling it yourself,
you can sell it there with no hassle but you won’t get top dollar for sure
Not sure this is helpful because I have Family who own a Auto Body Shop ...I always have them sell our cars. Would you have a trusted friend in the Auto business because they see and talk to many people every day. Our latest car is a Toyota from a man in his 80’s who decided he didn’t want to drive anymore with the help of the police. A shop would be my only thought...
Excellent advice from all. I’ll just add the following minor details:
1. Have a bill of sale form handy; that’s required in most states. Sometimes the sales amount is fudged a bit (but not too much) on the bill of sale to lower the buyer’s sales tax burden; you can decide if you’re willing to do that.
2. You might need to have a notary witness and stamp the title when you sign it over, depending on the state.
3. Generally, you’ll keep the old plates; in some states you can turn them in for a pro-rata refund on the most recent year’s registration fee.
4. In some states, a PASSING emissions test is required BEFORE you can sell a car.
High mile shitbox: craigslist and don’t waste much time cleaning.
5-8 year old car with over 80k miles. Detail and use craigslist.
Late model with low mileage... Much harder to sell on craigslist, but still worth a try for free. Detail.
Collector’s car or really nice late model: Autotrader.com, priced at just above what you would get for a trade.
If you are in a bad area, meet the buyer at Dunkin Donuts. If you live in New Hampshire, your house is fine. They are the ones bringing the money. No test drives without cash in hand. Give a ride if necessary.
Cash only. I repeat, cash only.
Sell it to me. I need one.