How to Sell Your Car or Truck on eBay

Step 1: Decide how much you want to sell your vehicle for.

Step 2: Create an account.
If you don't already have one, sign up for a free eBay account. To sell an item
on eBay you will have to create a specific seller's account. You will be asked
for a credit or debit card number that you can use to pay your selling fees
(a $40 insertion fee and a $40 transaction fee) when you register as a seller.

Step 3: Write a description of your vehicle.
Once you have an eBay account, write up a detailed description of the car or
truck that you are trying to sell. The more detailed the description is, the
better. Take advantage that you don't have a limited amount of space to provide a
description like you would if you had placed an ad in a local newspaper. Make
sure to include your vehicle's VIN (I hate saying VIN Number, it's so redundant :)).
Your description should also include things like your vehicle's condition, a list
of the options that it has, It is a good idea to include your vehicle's history
in your ad. Linking a CarFax report never hurts. It also is a good idea to refer
to the prices that are listed for your vehicle in on-line price guides, like
Edmunds.com in your ad. Be sure to mention if your vehicle is still protected by
any sort of warranty.

Step 4: Upload photos of your vehicle
Now take digital photos of your vehicle and upload them to eBay. The more photos
you have of your vehicle, the more likely you are to sell it. No one wants to
purchase a used vehicle without seeing what it looks like. eBay recommends that
users who are trying to sel a vehicle on its site upload at least 12 pictures of
their vehicle. It is a good idea to include photos of all four sides of your
vehicle's exterior, shots of the wheels / tires, shots of any modifications you
have made, a shot of the odometer, and several shots of the interior including
the seats, trunk, dash, etc...

Step 5: List the terms of your sale
Next list the terms of your sale, including how much you are asking for your
vehicle, the amount of the deposit you want, the timing of the payment, and the
shipping details. Make sure to disclose whether you currently have your vehicle's
title or you will have to get it from a bank which could cause delays in the
sales process.

Step 6: Determine if you want to use a "reserve" price or a "Buy It Now" price.
A reserve price is the minimum amount of money that you are willing to sell your
vehicle for. A Buy It Now price allows you to set a special fixed sale price for
your car or truck that allows consumers to buy it immediately, bypassing the rest
of the auction process.

Step 7: Be attentive to potential buyers
Be sure to respond to e-mails and telephone calls from potential buyers in a
timely manner. Communicating with buyers should only be done via the "My Messages" section from
within eBay.  “My Messages” is the definitive, legitimate source for any email
from eBay that affects your account.  Not communicating with customers so will
turn them off and could potentially cost you a sale. Communicating with bidders
will eliminate any potential misunderstandings and help build trust with them,
increasing the odds of a successful transaction.

Step 8: Check your potential buyer's feedback
It is always a good idea to check the feedback on potential buyers for your
vehicle. While a lack of history is not necessarily indicative of a problem,
lots of positive feedback is always a good sign.

Step 9: Arrange payment
Once you have found a potential buyer arrange payment for your vehicle.

Step 10: Arrange shipping
If the buyer of your vehicle is not local, move forward with the shipping plans
that you outlined in your ad. eBay motors recommends that users ship vehicles
via a company called Dependable Auto Shippers.

Step 11: Transfer the title
Now all that's left to do is to transfer your vehicle's title and you're in
business. The rules for transferring a title vary from state to state. It is a
good idea to check the the web site for your state's Department of Motor Vehicles
to see exactly what needs to be done.

Once you have decided that you want to sell your car or truck, it is obviously very important to determine ex actly how much money you want to get for it. Research what other similar vehicles are selling for and look up your vehicle's Edmunds.com True Market Value using the Edmunds.com Used Vehicle Appraiser to give you an idea of how much to charge. Make sure to be realistic when determining your vehicle's price.

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