How to sell your car privately

Selling privately gets you more than a trade-in, and it takes less work than you'd think. Here's how to price it, show it and hand it over safely, wherever you live.

The short versionPrice it against similar cars, take good photos, meet buyers in public, take payment at a bank, sign the title only with the buyer in front of you, keep a bill of sale, then tell your DMV it's sold.

Price it right

Search OnlyCars for the same year, model and trim near you and price yours against them, allowing for mileage and condition. Leave a little room to negotiate, but not so much that the asking price looks off.

Have the paperwork readyFind the title now. If a lender still holds it or has a lien on it, call them to learn how a payoff and lien release work before you list.

Photos and the listing

Wash it, then shoot in soft daylight: every side, the interior, the odometer, the VIN plate and any damage. Say what's wrong in the listing. Buyers trust an honest listing and walk away from a surprise.

Showings and test drives

Meet in a busy public place in daylight and bring someone with you. Ask to see the buyer's driver's license before a test drive and ride along. Have the title and service records ready to show, but don't hand them over.

Take payment safely

Agree on the price in your OnlyCars chat. Take payment at the buyer's bank, or a cashier's check you verify there. No wires, no payment apps for a car's worth of money, and no "overpayment" refunds; that's a scam.

Sign the title

Fill in the odometer reading, the price and the buyer's name, and sign where your state's DMV says. Don't sign until the buyer is in front of you with the payment. Some states require your signature to be notarized; many banks have a notary. Write a bill of sale, two signed copies with the price, date, VIN and mileage, and keep one.

In most states the plates stay with you, so take them off before the buyer drives away. A few states let them go with the car. Check your state's DMV.

After the sale

Tell your DMV you sold the car (a release of liability or notice of transfer, where your state has one), cancel the insurance once the buyer has driven off, and mark the car sold on OnlyCars. Rules and fees differ by state, so check your state's DMV before you go.

Checklist to bring

The title, unsigned until the buyer is there
Lien release from your lender, if the title lists one
Printed bill of sale (two copies)
Service records and both keys
A screwdriver for the plates
A friend, and a phone with a full battery

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General information, not legal advice. Title, tax, notary and plate rules differ by state; confirm current rules and fees with your state's DMV.