How To Sell a Car on eBay

Every day, hundreds of cars sell on eBay. You can find every kind of car imaginable on eBay, and if you interested is selling a car, it can be a great place to safely sell the old family car. Selling a car on eBay can be a very fast way to get a car off your hands -- usually in about 7 days. In fact, you can set up a shorter auction if you want. The site is pretty intuitive, and you should be able to get the hang of it after playing with it for a few minutes. But, here's a few tips I've put together to help you with your first eBay car listing.

1. Research. Learn what the car is worth. Research past eBay listings for cars similar to yours.
2. Take a lot of pictures. Once you think you have enough pictures, take a few more.
   • Be sure to show all parts of the car including views from all sides.
   • Take plenty of pictures showing the interior, the dash and gauges, front seats, back seats, and the radio console.
   • Be sure to get a picture of the odometer that shows the actual mileage on the car.
   • Take pictures with the doors both open and closed.
   • Open the hood and take a few pictures of the engine bay.
   • Get a shot or two of allow wheels, if present.
   • If there are any defects such as dents or scratches, be sure to get a picture of this as well. Good pictures demonstrate a willingness by the seller to adequately disclose all issues with the vehicle.
3. Documentation. You should start getting documentation like the title in order. Also, you should get a bill of sale form from your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Some localities require other paperwork such as a smog inspection form.
4. Create an item description. This is the description to sell your car. It's like the voice of a salesman, only in written words. Be sure to include all of the following:
   
   • Vehicle History: Write a few short paragraphs describing what you know about the history of the vehicle. Are you the original owner? Has the car been in any accidents? If you have maintenance records, it's a good idea to mention this. If you've recently replaced any parts, like tires or the starter, it's a good idea to mention this.
   • Defects: Buyers also need to know about any defects that aren't evident in photos. You must disclose any known defects to the vehicle so that buyers can get a good idea as to what kind of vehicle they are bidding on.
   • Selling Terms: Include a few statements telling the buyer what forms of payment are acceptable. Also tell them about any required deposits and a deadline for payment.

   eBay is an internet website, and the listings are presented in HTML -- the programming language of the internet. You can learn a few basic commands in HTML, or pay a few dollars to use a template provided by eBay. If you aren't very tech savvy, I highly recommend using one of their templates.

5. eBay auction formats. You have two options when listing your car on eBay.
   • Auction Format: eBay allows you to set a bid start price as well as a reserve price. The starting price is the price that the first bid must reach to begin the auction. It's usually a good idea to set a low starting price in order to get more bids. Many auctions even start at just $1 and go up substantially from there. If you're concerned about selling your car for too low of a price, don't worry -- you can set a reserve price. A reserve is the lowest possible price you're willing to accept for the car.
   • Fixed Price Format: eBay also offers you an alternative method for listing vehicles called the "fixed price format." This format allows you to set a "Buy it now" price. This is not an auction, but is more like a fixed store price.