When you sell a car, you’re probably going to want as much money as possible. The advert is the starting point for that.
If you make some simple mistakes when advertising, you won’t get the quantity or quality of buyers you’re looking for. Simple economics dictates that the lower the demand, the lower the price you’re likely to settle for.
Give yourself the best chance of maximising your motor’s value by writing the best advert possible. Here’s how…
Begin with the basics
Start with the vital information that people need to know, so they can work out whether your car is what they want and whether it’s value for money.
They need to know:
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Make
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Model
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Engine size and power output
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Trim level
Carmakers now give multiple power outputs for the same capacity of engine so it’s not enough to simply say 1.2-litre.
Your V5C registration document will show the power output (in kilowatts). It’s worth translating this into horsepower, which more people can relate to.
You should also include the year it was bought, the year on the registration plate and how many miles it’s covered.
Other vital information
Road tax no longer features on car advertisements as it now belongs to the individual rather than the car. But MOT is still important, as is the number of owners.
And a full service history is vital. Research by Kwik Fit found that this could add 26% to a used car’s value and that 34% of drivers wouldn’t buy a car without one.
You also need to add the number of owners, and if you’ve got space, the reason for selling it.
There’s no room for meaningless old clichés such as ‘First to see will buy’ or ‘lovely to drive
Pick out your car’s best features
Air-conditioning is an attractive feature as are extras such as cruise control, alloy wheels and sat nav.
If your car is the SEL trim, for example, it’s worth listing the equipment it has that the lower spec SE model doesn’t. Equally, highlight if you regularly get a real-life 60mpg.
If the car has been garaged, say so. It means its paintwork is likely to be in better nick, and its battery will have more life left in it than if it’s been left parked under trees in all weathers.
Describe your car’s condition – honestly
About the only comeback a used car buyer has to a private seller is if the car has been mis-described. So don’t say it’s SEL specification if it’s really SE.
And if you’ve modified it with a massive wing on the back, admit it. Describing a car inaccurately is only going to make you look silly and irritate potential customers whose time you’ve wasted.
Be concise and avoid clichés
Used car sales website Auto Trader advises sticking to between 50 and 75 words for an online advert and only 20 to 30 if it’s in print – so be concise.
The best way to cut the waffle is to write everything you think should go in the advert. Then prune it back to keep everything that needs to go in. That means there is no room for meaningless old clichés such as ‘First to see will buy’ or ‘lovely to drive’.
Think about your price
Pricing a car is a tricky business. As a private seller you should price it for less than a dealer would sell it for, but more than a dealer would pay for it.
Look for identical cars for sale around the internet.
Also, contact internet car buying services. There are plenty around. This should give you a very good idea of how much someone will pay for your car.
Finally, don’t forget to add a couple of hundred pounds to the price you decide upon, to give some negotiating space.
