How to sell your car privately: a step-by-step guide

1. Gather your paperwork

• The title, in your name. If a lender holds it because you still owe money, get the payoff amount and ask them how the title is released.
• Service records, the owner's manual and all the keys.
• A vehicle history report, if you have one. Buyers like to see it.

2. Price it fairly

Look at what similar cars, with similar mileage and condition, are listed for near you. Price a little above your lowest acceptable amount to leave room to negotiate. A fair price brings more messages than a hopeful one. See how to tell if a used car price is fair.

3. Clean it

A clean car sells faster and for more. Wash it, vacuum it, clean the glass and empty the trunk. A thorough detail is worth paying for.

4. Photograph it well

Take photos in good daylight, with a clean background: front corner, both sides, rear, interior, dashboard, odometer, engine and any flaws. Honest close-ups of dents and wear build trust.

5. Write an honest ad

Say the year, make, model, trim, mileage, what is included, what condition it is in, and what has been replaced or repaired. Be upfront about problems. An honest ad brings buyers who will not be disappointed, and you avoid wasted visits.

6. Meet buyers safely

• Meet in a public place, in daylight, such as a busy parking lot or outside a police station.
• Bring a friend, and tell someone where you are going.
• Ask to see the buyer's driver's license before a test drive, and go with them.
• Do not give out the title, keys or any personal information until you are paid.

7. Accept safe payment

The safest forms are cash, counted at your bank, or a cashier's check issued by and verified with the buyer's bank. Never accept a check or payment for more than the price, and never refund the difference. Be careful of wire transfer, gift cards and payment apps for large amounts, and of anything that sounds too complicated. See used car scams to avoid.

8. Complete the paperwork

• Sign over the title exactly as your state requires. Some states need notarization or specific forms, so check with your motor vehicle agency.
• Write and sign a bill of sale, with both parties' names and addresses, the date, the price, the VIN and the mileage, and note that the car is sold as is.
• Complete the odometer disclosure where required.
• Keep a copy of everything.

9. Protect yourself afterward

Remove your plates if your state requires it, cancel or transfer your insurance, and notify your state's motor vehicle agency that you sold the car, so you are not responsible for what happens next.

Common questions