Craiglsist 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.

It's (your name) from (dealership name). Thank you for visiting our dealership website. You've shown interest in the latest (car model), and I wanted to follow up to see if you are available to visit our dealership in person for a test drive. Let me know your availability.

Research, Test Drive, and Inspect a Used Car

You want to find out as much as you can about any vehicle you're considering. That means getting a vehicle history report, taking a test drive and having it inspected by an independent mechanic to ensure that it's mechanically sound.

Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts.

Rest assured, though, that the exchange of the VIN is a normal, legitimate part of used car selling and is usually the best option. Giving out your VIN is one of the best ways for a buyer to see that your car isn't hiding any nasty surprises for them.

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

A car with 50,000 miles in good condition will provide years of adventures if taken in for regular maintenance visits. But if you find a well-maintained car with 100,000 miles, it may last another four or five years with proper care – and you'll probably get a great deal on the price.

How do you talk down on a car price? ›

Explain that you're looking for the lowest markup over your bottom price. As an alternative, ask if the salesperson is willing to beat a price you got from a legitimate buying service. If so, tell the salesperson what it is, or better yet, show them a printout. Try not to be argumentative.

The 20/4/10 rule encourages you to put down at least 20% of the total price of your vehicle, which will lower the overall amount you borrow and reduce the interest you'll pay over the life of the loan. While there are no-money-down car loans, not providing a down payment can cost you more in the long run.

To identify a scam listing on Craigslist, look for these red flags: prices that are too good to be true, vague or generic item descriptions, poor grammar and spelling in the listing, a sense of urgency to complete the transaction, and requests for personal information or unconventional payment methods.

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.

How long do paid automotive listings last? A. 30 days.