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+--- Thread: Selling a car on Craigslist (/showthread.php?tid=156430)
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Selling a car on Craigslist - swf - 08-16-2013
For those who have sold a car on Craigslist. I'm about to list my 1992 Jeep Cherokee (165,000 miles). Obviously, the potential buyers will want to drive the vehicle. How do you accomplish the test drive; ride along, take a copy of their license, take the keys of the vehicle they arrived in, or what? Don't want someone taking off with the vehicle and leaving me an even older one.
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - lost in space - 08-16-2013
I usually ride along. If a guy shows up with his wife and kids, I don't. I figure the kinds of cars I've sold on CL don't attract thieves.
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - davester - 08-16-2013
Ride along. When it comes time to deal with money, it's either cash or meet at the buyer's bank and have the teller hand you a cashier's check. Don't accept a cashier's check or money order directly from the buyer...those can be forged too easily.
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - DRR - 08-16-2013
I've never sold a car on craigslist but I've tried to buy one. Some people don't care, you just leave the keys for your ride. Others ride along, the most cautious asked to take a pic of my license and insurance card.
Joyrides probably not an issue with your car but I'd ride along if possible.
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - mrbigstuff - 08-16-2013
first, tell them you are showing the car on "Saturday, from 10-1pm" and ask them to make a time between that. give each appt about 45m to be safe. always ride along, and if you want to be safe, have a friend hang out with you while people come to look. many will come with a friend, especially if they have cash, although I'm guessing it's not going to be boatloads of cash given the vehicle in question (the kind I usually sell, too).
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - Robert M - 08-16-2013
swf,
What trim Cherokee? I had a 1996 Cherokee Country and loved it! Although i replaced the Cherokee with a '09 Mazda CX-7, there are times when I miss that old SUV. Great size (about the size of a Toyota Corolla), ample power, great space for carrying "stuff" to and fro, excellent in the bad weather, etc. The Cherokee cargo space is definitely more versatile than that of the CX-7. That said, in this day and age, caution is the rule. I'd follow the advice given by Davester and Mrbigstuff.
Robert
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - mrlynn - 08-16-2013
The last two I've finally discarded weren't running, and had got to the point where I didn't want to spend the time and money fixing them. Got $300 for the badly rusted 1987 GMC van (good engine; I had taken out the fuel tank to replace the pump, and discovered it needed the tank, too); donated the '89 Olds (ran, but needed rear seatbelts to pass inspection) to some soldiers' charity; they came and picked it up.
What the others say: ride along.
/Mr Lynn
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - decay - 08-16-2013
I bought an old Geo Prizm off Craigslist for $1400, got a lot of car for that money.
Local private seller, I can't recall if he rode along or not - I think so.
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - Psurfer - 08-16-2013
I wondered about the same thing yesterday- when browsing CL, I saw a nice expensive late mdl Porsche offered by a private owner, asking price of probably 20x the OP's. I thought if it was me doing the selling, I'd take photos of the buyer and his drivers license, telling him I was simultaneously emailing the pics to friends as security, figuring that might at least give me a read on the guy's face to guess if he was planning anything funny...
Re: Selling a car on Craigslist - C(-)ris - 08-16-2013
Depends on the value of the car and how I feel that day/feel about the potential buyer. Usually I go with the buyer on the test drive, just like at a dealership. Just as much to make sure they don't steal it as to make sure they don't beat the crap out of it on a joy ride or rob a bank.
For payment, cash only. If it is over $2000, meet at your bank, cash only still but deposit the money right away so the bills get checked.
The other part you are forgetting is the DMV. I usually just sign the title over and tell the buyer to take it to the DMV on their own time. The hour or two wait isn't worth the time. On MN titles there is a part on the bottom for the sellers to fill out to report the sale that covers your butt if they don't transfer the title. Once or twice I had to go to the DMV because the buyer insisted and I didn't have any other buyers lined up to fall back on.
If you don't "need" the money you are going to be on much better footing. A lot of buyers on Craigslist seem to think that you owe them something for showing up or have an obligation to work with them and will push the limits. As soon as I feel any sort of vibe like that I tell them to get lost and move on to the next buyer. My rules:
1. Don't meet them anywhere, make them come to you where you want to meet them.
2. Don't let them pick the time, tell them when to come. If they are late by more than 10 or 15 minutes discard that buyer.
3. Make a really good ad with all pertinent details and good pictures, list the price as firm even if it isn't. Don't answer people who ask questions that are already in the ad. If they aren't taking the time to read the ad 3 or 4 times they aren't serious about the car.
4. Don't give out your phone number. Period.
5. If you followed number 4, you don't need this rule which is: If they want to "talk" about the car, make them show up in person. Don't waste your time with 20 questions over the phone or endless emails.
6. If they try and "low-ball" or discuss price at all before seeing the car they aren't serious about buying the car, they are serious about getting a really good deal and will try and haggle endlessly.
7. When you set up a time let them know you have multiple appointments after them.
8. Make sure they are explicitly told that you only accept cash and that checks/money orders/cashiers checks, etc. are NOT CASH.
9. Remember, above all else, that you don't need them for anything, they need something from you. Make them work hard to buy the car, not the other way around.