Ca Craigslist Cars (2024)

FAQs

How effective is Craigslist for selling cars? ›

Getting your inventory listed on Craigslist is one of the most profitable ways to advertise your cars. It's proven that car buyers on Craigslist tend to convert much quicker than on any other classifieds. The conversion rate on Craigslist can be as high as 10%, and that's huge.

To negotiate the car price, start by offering 15% below the asking price or the KBB value, whichever is lower. If an inspection reveals a problem, ask the seller to deduct the cost of repairs from the car's price. Lowballing the seller — asking for more than 30% off — could leave you empty-handed.

You shouldn't include your VIN on any public listings or advertisem*nts, such as Craigslist, Autotrader or eBay. This can leave you especially vulnerable to the practice of VIN cloning (see more from Rig Dig here).

Craigslist.org offers more advice for users by suggesting that buyers and sellers should have a friend accompany you. They also urge users to never post a physical address, home phone number or e-mail address on the site. As a buyer there are particular precautions to take when arranging meetings and paying for items.

Too-good-to-be-true prices: If a listing offers an item at a price significantly lower than its market value, proceed with caution. Scammers often use unbelievably low prices as bait.

Because VIN data is not public record, providing your car's VIN to a potential buyer, whether online or in person, is completely safe. A VIN number can only be used to obtain general information about the service records and history of your vehicle. After all, anyone can approach your car and read its VIN.

Ask for a photo of the vehicle title (which is required to sell the car) and the vehicle identification number, or VIN. Use the VIN to do a title search to find out if the car has been in a major accident and if there's still an outstanding lien (loan).

The VIN check can reveal structural damage and major vehicle repairs. A seller may not disclose the complete history of the car. Or, if they're not the original owner may be unaware of its history. Let a VIN check help fill in the gaps.

Can you sell a car for $1? In short, yes. But while selling a car for $1 will allow you to avoid capital gains and gifts taxes, the recipient of the car will have to pay whatever rate of sales tax your state charges on used vehicles when they transfer the title.

What paperwork is needed to sell a used car in California? ›

To transfer a title, you will need:

Either the California Certificate of Title or an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) (if the title is missing). The signature(s) of seller(s) and lienholder (if any). The signature(s) of buyer(s). A transfer fee.

Use cash — safely

If you're dealing with a local, the most secure way to pay or collect funds for a Craigslist transaction is with cash. To keep it even more secure, you can make the exchange in a safe place like your local police station or even at Acclaim FCU.