Sell My Car

Private Seller Exchange uses a secure chat platform where buyers can communicate with sellers directly. We complete a fraud check using Stripe ID on all buyers (and sellers) to help make sure bots stay away. As a seller, you remain anonymous - except for your first name and last initial - until you decide to respond. By using our secure chat platform, you'll be notified through an email and SMS message; as long as you've verified your contact information with us.

Your privacy is important to us. Your phone number, email address, and any personal contact information that you provide are never visible on your ad. We also secure your personal information using industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

This might be the #1 question when selling a car. It really depends on whether you want to sell it fast or get the most money for it. We also display the Kelley Blue Book® Private Party Range on all private seller ads to help shoppers better understand vehicle pricing.

The best way to sell your car quickly and easily so you'll get the most cash is to sell it online using Autotrader.

1. Organize your paperwork, thoroughly clean the vehicle and then determine your car's value in order to price it accordingly.
2. Write a detailed description of your car and take many good photos, both inside and outside of the car.
3. When buyers start contacting you, you'll need to be prepared to deal with questions about your car and requests for test drives.
4. Once you have a qualified buyer lined up, come to an agreement on price, finalize the transaction while protecting yourself financially and legally and then transfer the title and ownership. Read more about how to make the best used car online ad.

Regardless if your car is an exotic, an everyday driver or a junker, there are seven documents you'll need to sell your used car privately:

• Vehicle History Report
• Maintenance records
• Transferrable warranty (if applicable)
• As-Is documentation
• Odometer mileage disclosure
• Vehicle title
• Bill of Sale

Read more about what paperwork you need to sell your car.

If your vehicle has a Branded Title (also known as a Salvage Title) and has been declared by lenders that the cost of the repair is more than the price of the entire vehicle, we are unable to list your car. Other vehicles that cannot be sold through Private Seller Exchange (PSX) are cars produced before 1989, RVs, and motorcycles. For those vehicles, you may be able to list them on Autotrader Classics, Autotrader RVs, and Autotrader Motorcycles.

Vehicles not in your immediate possession or unavailable for test drives cannot be listed on Private Seller Exchange (PSX). Being a marketplace that offers our buyers' test drives we ask that the vehicle be in your possession and readily available for showings and test drives. The vehicle must be in running and safe operable condition, which means (in addition to what is found on the safety assessment: the engine doesn't stall out, brakes work, the horn is able to be heard by other vehicles, and seatbelts are all attached and can buckle correctly. Lastly, we cannot facilitate vehicles that are being leased (though we can still support vehicle sales that have a loan).

We don't finance leased vehicles, but you can chat, arrange test drives with buyers, and explore other options. Please handle payments outside our platform.

The vehicle title and/or registration must reflect the name associated with the seller's account. The vehicle can be titled to your business if the seller is noted on the Articles of Incorporation or provides an EIN reflecting the seller's ownership of The Company. The vehicle can be titled in a different name or business entity if the seller:

1. Holds a notarized Power of Attorney for individuals.
2. For businesses: The seller is listed as the designated treasurer in the Articles of Incorporation.

Private Seller Exchange (PSX) cannot accept titles that have a lien release stamp. The vehicle must be perfected in the seller's name before payment for your vehicle is initiated. For vehicles registered with an "AND" designation in which one owner(s) is unwilling to consent to the sell, both parties must be willing and able to sign a Release of Interest form at the point of sale.

These are the most common scams fraudsters may try to use:

• Fake, forged or counterfeit cashier's check, certified check, money order or wire
• Offers to pay by personal check
• Offering to buy the car sight-unseen
• The fake shipping scam: A potential buyer who insist on shipping a seller's car internationally or across the country
• Distant buyers either overseas or on a “business trip”
• Offers to pay “asap” via Pay Pal, gift card, Cash.Me, Venmo or other online payment service
• Overpayment scam, which may sometimes include a third-party website or entity
• Payment plan

Read more about how to protect yourself from scams and frauds when selling a car.

To sell your car in the fastest way and to get paid the most money, you'll want to make sure you write the best possible online ad using the following key points:

• Explain why you are selling the car
• Define the forms of payment you are willing to accept
• Disclose what vehicle paperwork or maintenance records you have
• Disclose any issues which need to be fixed
• List the car's key and unique features
• Mention any added or custom modifications
• Take lots of clear high-quality photos, both close and wide shots
• Use proper punctuation and grammar
• Price your vehicle accurately using Autotrader’s car values tool.

Read more about how to make the best used car ad.

Sell My Car Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Document Checklist

How to Sell a Car in Your State

How Much is My Car Worth?

What Paperwork Do I Need to Sell My Car?

How to Prepare My Used Car for Sale

How to Price Your Used Car to Sell

Car Pricing and Values Explained

Choosing the Right Advertising

What You'll Need to Start an Ad

How to Make the Best Used Car Ad

When to Update Your Ad

Test Drives and Inspections

How the Economy Impacts Selling

Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Selling A Used Car

What to Do When Buyers Call

How to Transfer a Car Title and Ownership

How to Negotiate a Used Car Sale

How to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud

What Paperwork Do I Need to Sell My Car?