How to Sell your Car Online

  1. Research Center
    2. /
  2. Car Selling Research Articles
    3. /
  3. How to Sell Your Car Online
There are more ways to sell a car today than ever before. Naturally, you want to get the most for your vehicle, but getting the best deal is about far more than just the price you get for your old car. Welcome to the world of online car shopping where you can buy or sell a vehicle much quicker and easier than the old, classified ads allowed in your local newspaper.

Choosing Where To Sell

Online sales can be tricky for the uninitiated, so we've prepared these tips for selling your car on the Internet. The first step is to consider which online sales platform is right for you. Many people try to sell their car on Facebook. It's free and you can post photos of your vehicle. But with platforms such as Facebook, eBay Motors or Craigslist, you have to do all the work plus you can open yourself up to online scams.

Selling your car through Kelley Blue Book or Autotrader is safer as they filter out the scammers and your vehicle will be noticed by many more possible buyers. You'll want to find your car's market value before selling online and Kelley Blue Book offers an excellent online tool to determine this. You simply enter your car's:
  • Year
  • Make
  • Model 
  • Trim level
  • VIN Number
  • Approximate the shape it is in 
The tool will tell you how much the vehicle is worth on the private market as well as its value in a dealer sale or as a trade-in.

Negotiating the Sale

Thanks to the vast audience of the Internet you can reach more prospective buyers for your car than ever. Once the offers start rolling in, you may have more than one possible buyer who is willing to pay top dollar for your car. In recent years, the shortage of new vehicles in showrooms and on car lots has driven the price of used cars out of sight. That's good for you if you're selling your old car.

All that said, when you list a car online, most buyers figure that you have added in some wiggle room on what you are willing to take for the car. If you add a little padding to the price, you'll find that buyers feel good about getting a "deal" when you are willing to drop the price by a few hundred dollars. Remember that being a little flexible with the price can lead to a quicker sale.

Whatever you do, never remove your car from the online listings until you have been paid in full for the vehicle. You don't want to take a chance that the deal falls through. Once the money is in your bank account, go ahead and remove the listing.
 
Speaking of accepting funds, be prepared to accept funds through such online electronic deposits as PayPal or Zelle. Such easy payment options can help finalize a cash sale quickly but check the terms of payment limits for the service you decide to use.

Car Selling Services

There are a number of online automobile selling services available that are popular places to buy cars. They are not all the same but such services as Cars.com, Vroom, and Carvana are known for selling cars directly to consumers and they also buy used cars. You basically go to a website and enter your car's 17 character VIN number and answer questions about the car's condition. You enter whether you are trading or simply selling your car and also disclose any current loans on the vehicle. Some of these services will buy your car even if you still owe money on it.
 
The online service will offer you an amount for your vehicle and some of them want a reply from you within 24 hours. If you accept the offer, you then speak with a company representative who will arrange a day and time that the condition of your car can be inspected. If the vehicle's condition is worse than you described, the company can lower its offer.
You will then be contacted to arrange a time to either have your vehicle picked up or you'll have to drop off the car at a pickup point. Some companies charge an administration fee, which is deducted from your offer price, and some also charge a fee if you cancel a signed sales agreement. You will have to upload copies of your driver's license, car registration, and title, as well as an odometer statement. Once all contracts, paperwork and the vehicle has been turned over to the service company, you will be paid for your car by way of a check or bank draft, which can take several days to clear.
 
Now if everything we have talked about here today sounds like a lot of trouble and work or a big pain in the derriere, consider a different way to sell your car. Consider Driveway.
How Driveway is different
At Driveway, we think selling your car should be easy, fast, and convenient. Here's how. Go to Driveway.com and answer a few simple questions about your car and we'll give you an instant online offer for cash or trade. Want to think it over? No problem. We'll save your offer for up to seven days.
 
When you're ready, schedule a pickup place and time that works for you. Our Driveway valet will meet you and give your vehicle a quick inspection. We'll provide a simple and transparent breakdown of how we determined your car's value based on our partnership with such reliable names as Kelley Blue Book, NADA, AutoCheck, and Blackbook.
 
With your stamp of approval, we'll haul away your old ride and give you a check or have your money deposited directly into your account. Instant offers, convenient pickup, and get paid fast with Driveway! Sell your car wherever, whenever, and however you choose at Driveway.com.