Advice for selling a vehicle on Craigslist?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Never sold a vehicle on Craigslist but I've heard some bad things. Getting ready to sell my 2000 VW Beetle that I've owned since new and thought I'd start with Craigslist. Are there any pitfalls that I should be aware of... scams? I don't want people wasting my time. Any advice?

[larrys]

Have a friend who lives on buying and selling stuff on the innanet. His tips for me are;
1. Put in capitals, NO TEXTS OR EMAILS, PHONE CALLS ONLY. Cuts down on most of the scammers. You will still get texts, don't respond to them, unless you want to leave a pithy comment or two. Then block their number after.
2. Never haggle on the phone. Tell the would-be bargainer, "If you're serious, come and see the item in person, and have cash in your pocket." What moron would make an offer on something that they haven't seen in person?
3. Post good, clear pictures with your ad.
4. Write your phone number with some words. 86 oh, five 55, two 24 one. Also cuts down on scam texts.
Best of luck,
Larry

[twodogs]

Say willo go to Iowa city cl motorcycles by owner and look up my 09 Calvin and write it up like that, only take phone calls, there are all kinds of scammers. Call me if you like and I'll tell you more over the phone, it's easier than typing 
Bruce

[Cal3]

I have had no trouble buying and selling on craigslist. Yes.....there are fake ads, yes there are people that want you to ship and some of those are scams. Thats all over the internet. Using the electronic part is whats good about it, you get traffic and you can screen the ads. I use the electronic contact first and give my phone number to the real people that want to talk about the vehicle or come look. I would be afraid to buy a vehicle from a guy in a parking lot. I sell from my house. I might be concerned about this if I lived out in the country, but not in town.

[fotoguzzi]

I never put my phone number down.. Instead, insist they give a phone # or I won't reply.

might want to get one of those pens to check the bills for authenticity.

If you sell a vehicle, get a photo of the buyers drivers license so you can report the sale to State in case they are a flipper and don't go right to the DMV to register.

[Shorty]

I have a low traffic second email account I use for craigslist buy and sell. I make the buyer send me his contact info first. I then google them, if possible. I make it clear only cash will do. I agree to meet at a public place. I take the vehicle to the public place early, then wait for the customer to show while sitting in a second vehicle with wifey and "little roscoe."    I then watch them appraise my vehicle and see if they make eye contact with any other people. If all seems well, I walk across the lot and greet them. I have pre made my paperwork, and know exactly where the notary is, if needed. I take the cash, help them load (if it is a bike) and wait for them to leave. I take photos of them and their vehicles before I appear.  Yeah, I'm a dork.

[oldbike54]

 Just list the local police station as your address , that normally stops all of the nonsense 

 Dusty

[RinkRat II]

     Good Plan Shorty
        I like your style!

              Paul B

[inditx]

Ditto on Shorty 

[Bisbonian]

Evidently I buck the trend.

To sell a vehicle, I take a lot of good pictures of it at an attractive location. Normally this is not in front of my house but that's mostly because there are more photogenic locations close by.

I go ahead and stick my phone number in the add. All of the last 3 vehicles I sold began with a text from the buyer. 2 of those sounded scammy at first but ended up being legit.

The last car I sold I also advertised on Facebook Marketplace. I got way more hits off Facebook than I did Craigslist.

When trying to sell, I try to spread the widest net possible because my mission is to sell my vehicle. Many younger buyers only text, so I give them that choice up front. I Have not had my phone blown up from scammers.

But this is all just what I feel comfortable with in my neighborhood.

I always take it for granted that I'm going to be beat up on price from Craigslist, so I advertise my price accordingly so the buyer feels like they did a good job of bargaining.

[John Croucher]

Bill of sales signed by both party's.  Include, sold as is, no warranty, no guarantee, no refund.  Cash only.
 
I was recently ripped off (or maybe not) on a for sale facebook page and Pay Pal.  Buyer filed a claim before the parts were delivered.  Wanting a 25% discount because I mis represented the the parts He bought.  Fortunate for me, He shipped the parts back and Pay Pal has not refunded his money.  Pay Pal will not communicate with the seller or the buyer.  Buyer will not communicate with me.  So, ripped off or not ripped off?  I will gladly refund the purchase price minus the shipping and the Pay Pal fee.  But can not get anyone to reply to my effort to refund the money. 

[John Ulrich]

Facebook Marketplace.  Interesting, I had not heard of this avenue before!   

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Have the cash in hand before letting go of the vehicle.

[Guzzistajohn]

Sold a bike on CL and never met the dude.

I sent him a copy of the signed over title overnight ups

he wire transferred $$ to my account

I sent him the title overnight

I loaded the bike in a semi truck the next day adios Scura!

[Perazzimx14]

Sold a bike on CL and never met the dude.

I sent him a copy of the signed over title overnight ups

he wire transferred $$ to my account

I sent him the title overnight

I loaded the bike in a semi truck the next day adios Scura!

It really is only as complicated as you make it.

Scammers are obvious and nothing happens until cash is in hand or a certified check is cleared and funds are secured in a place that a stop payment cannot be issued.

[usedtobefast]

I would never put my phone number in the ad or in craigslist, start with craigslist anonymous email only.

When I get an email, I usually exchange emails, if they seem like a normal person and really interested then via email I send them my phone number. 

For cars, seems people really like to have a CARFAX these days, I don't know anything about that, but seems it would help to make that available. 

I do talk price over the phone ... if a person is going to drive an hour or two to see the vehicle, makes sense to have that discussion up front.  If they are 10-15 minutes away then they should just come see it. 

Most of the scams start feeling scammy real early.  Like they work on an oil rig and are buying the car/moto for their son/brother, etc. 

You might want to list it in a couple of nearby locations if you area is small ... just make a note in the ad saying "Car is located in xxxxx, about 1.5 hours away from <the town you are listing it in>"