Selling a used car

Hi,

We finally bought a newer car for wifey.  YAY!

That dealer didn’t want a trade-in.  And quite frankly we didn’t think our old car has real value. 

WRONG!!!  There are some 20yr old cars with 150K+ mi offered for $3K.  So, I’d like to try selling this one.  Problem is we haven’t sold a car in the private market since ~1985.  I want a broader audience than just MOL, I have idea where to start.

TIA

I'm in the same boat (car?) and was looking at web sites about this just before I saw your post.  The commercial sites that purport to give you a used car value are trying to steer you to dealers, who low ball you.  When you look at the ads by car owner, they are all over the place.  Thousands of dollars difference between the asking prices of models from the same year.  I';m not being greedy.  Just trying to find out what a reasonable by-owner asking price is for my old car.  

Hi @bub,

Yeah we’re both looking to feel like we’re getting fair value for our old vehicle.  Used car salespeople have such a bad reputation…and they are so deserving of it!!!  Meanwhile I don’t know where to look or advertise.  I’d like to settle this EOM.

My experience is 10+ years old, but I sold a car through Maplewood Online Classified, and was very happy with the experience. Actually, it was 12 years ago - the year of Superstorm Sandy - and I could not give away a 10 year old Toyota mini-van with maybe 100K miles (don't remember.) Tons of people wanted to donate vehicles affected by Sandy.  But I listed it on Classified here, and managed to sell it for $1000 cash the week before Christmas. I certainly thought it a miracle at the time, but might be worth the effort to try the Classified? 

Facebook marketplace. eBay. Craigslist.

jeffl said:

Facebook marketplace. eBay. Craigslist.

Beware of Craigslist. A lot of scammers. 

Hu,

THANKS for your ideas.  Craigs list used to be pretty good, but definitely not so much lately.  Likewise, eBay was good for a while but I had problems with them and stopped using them for a bunch years.

I’ve heard of Facebook(who hasn’t?) but I have never used it and don’t even know anything what it really is.  A couple of times I received a link to something there from a friend, but they were so aggressive to start an account (couldn’t view a post w/o an acct) that I decided to not pursue it further4.  

I guess I can try MOL.  A few years ago there were lots of used car ads.  Recently there haven’t been any.     

I recently had lunch with a friend that said he good experiences with Craig’s List.  He said he sold 2 quite old cars quickly and at his price that way.  He said just prepare an honest ad the rest will take care of itself.  I’ve written my ad and need to add photos.

What do I need to do when someone wants our old car?  How to handle plates?  How does buyer drive away w/o my insurance covering vehicle?

Thanks for your help

• Remove Your Plates: After the sale, remove your license plates from the vehicle. In New Jersey, license plates are not transferred to the new owner. New Jersey Government
• Surrender or Transfer Plates: You have two options for your plates:
  • Transfer to Another Vehicle: If you plan to use the plates on another vehicle registered in your name, you can transfer them.
  • Surrender the Plates: If not transferring, surrender the plates by visiting a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agency and placing them in the designated drop box. Alternatively, you can mail them to the MVC. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you need a receipt. New Jersey Government

 Ensure the Buyer Can Drive the Vehicle:

• Buyer's Responsibility: The buyer must obtain their own insurance and register the vehicle in their name before legally driving it. DMV.org
• Temporary Tags: Advise the buyer to visit an MVC agency to apply for a temporary registration if they need to drive the vehicle immediately.

4. Cancel Your Insurance:

• After Plate Surrender: Once you've surrendered your plates, contact your insurance company to cancel the policy for the sold vehicle.