How to Write a Car Ad that Sells Fast on Craigslist, eBay, Kijiji and More!

March 18, 2021Automotive Industry, Automotive Marketing

“Listing a car ad is one thing; selling it is another.” Of course, you can’t sell a car fast without an appropriate listing. Thus, this article discloses how to write a car ad that sells fast, whether on Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, etc.

Why your classified car ad does not sell most of the time is the wrong ad writeup and not the car. Sometimes, it could be the place. That’s like listing a car on Amazon!

When you pitch an excellently written ad that provides enough information, you attract a wider audience. How about the pics? Never list a few tiny grainy pictures of the car parts, except you’re listing the ad for fun.

How to Write a Car Ad that Sells

This section provides the tips to note when writing classified car ads on CL, eBay or whatever platform you select.

Below are the tips regarding how to write a car ad that sells fast:

Know Your Vehicle

Are you a private seller or a dealer? Regardless of who you are, you ought to understand your vehicle before listing.

Understand it all way round to be accurate when describing it in your ad. For instance, if it is a Miata, a buyer wants to know if it is an LS. Additional info will include whether it features the sport suspension and Torsen, etc.

Get to know each part of the car to advertise, and every modification you make must be highlighted in the description.

Service Records

Every buyer loves seeing the service records to know how well you maintained the car. Mention that you have the complete service record, But if you haven’t, that’s a bit of a problem.

The potential buyer also wants to know whether you allow pre-purchase inspection. If you are selling on Craigslist, the payment comes after the inspection, but eBay collects the funds before the inspection. The Facebook Marketplace, like Craigslist, allows you to decide how you want it.

How about a test drive? Indicate that you allow a test drive too.

Create a Catchy Title

Suppose you have a 1990 Chevy Silverado 454 SS for sale, how do you write the ad title? First, think of something catchy, beginning from what is unique about your car. The ad title should include some details too.

For example, our title will be “1990 Chevy Silverado 454 SS, 100k Miles, Maintained Well for Sale.”

This title will show up on Kijiji, CL, eBay, or Facebook Market Place easily. Remember that the title is your buyer’s first impression. Alternatively, you can include the powertrain or trim level. Make sure to keep it short, though, to fit the title length.

Post Enticing Photos

Pictures make or break a classified car sales ad. A buyer expects camera coverage of the interior, exterior and even the car’s undercarriage to examine the condition. Of course, you must pitch well for your ad pics to convince buyers.

If your mobile phone camera is excellent, use it. Otherwise, get a fine lens from a friend and wipe it before taking the shots.

Avoid fancy apps! Keep the images natural, and do not use photo filters to deceive viewers. Also, upload as many pictures as permitted on the ad platform.

Meanwhile, it’s bothering when sellers list vehicles with too few to no pictures. Buyers want the pictures to know what they are bidding on. When you claim that your motor vehicle has “a typical rust”, pictures describe how rusty with pictures.

List a Reasonable Price

Regardless of your price listing, expect low balling. Specify the condition of the car, and be specific when mentioning the car’s mechanical condition. If you are selling a motorcycle on Craigslist, for instance,

Instead of writing “heater is super hot, and A/C is ice cold!!!,” use “the A/C and heater are functional”.

Do not write with vague statements like “it runs well.” You are informing potential buyers that your car is perfect, but nobody will take your word.

Describe Extensively

When writing the car ad description for sale, including the trim level, year, make and model of the car. About the trim level, check the trunk lid of your vehicle for it. For instance, if you are advertising a Toyota Camry for sale, your trim level may be L, LE, SE, XSE or XLE.

Regarding powertrain, a buyer is interested in whether the car is the V-6 or 4-cylinder, the manual or automatic, etc.

The interior color is important too; mention it despite taking photos of it. If there are modifications on the car, do well to list them, including upgraded wheels, fancy radio, etc.

Lastly, was the motor vehicle recalled? If yes, list whether you returned it to the manufacturer or not. If you did not, don’t expect a good sale.

List Title Status

If the car had major repairs, including car rebuild, trans, etc., it is better to inform the buyer. It may hinder your car ad and car market value, but a buyer messaging you already knows what to expect.

If the vehicle is salvaged or totaled, do not hesitate to inform people. Don’t mention the title along with a paragraph; a buyer gets the impression that you may be lying. Besides, a typical buyer sees a seller as a “big liar”.

Report Theft Status

Was the motor vehicle stolen? If “yes”, list it; there could be a buyer searching for a stolen motor vehicle to the title.

Of course, a potential buyer will run a VIN check, so what’s the essence of hiding the theft status? Well, that’s if your classified ad platform will allow such ad to stand.

Disclose the Mileage

List the current mileage. You may also mention the past mileage when you purchased the motorcycle, so the seller knows the mileage you put on it.

Understand that the higher the mileage, the lesser the value of your motor vehicle. For example, 40k miles on a motorcycle is considered a high mileage; a buyer will not bid higher, except is some vintage motorcycle.

Note that the mileage you disclose must correspond with the odometer disclosure statement on the title certificate or pink slip.

Buyers Should Not Contact Unnecessarily

When a buyer contacts you for further questioning, you wrote a bad ad for selling a car on Craigslist, Kijiji, eBay, etc. The idea is to cover as many details as possible while keeping them short.

Also, never write, “Call for more information.” Apparently, you are telling the seller that you have not provided the relevant info. Well, the seller may not have the time to spare and may move on to the next available seller.

Never Describe in Caps

When describing your car ad, avoid using caps to sell your car regardless of the emphasis you make. Caps and exclamatory (!!!) marks are turn-offs for a buyer; a buyer thinks you are lying.

Make your points moderately, and do not exaggerate. When you exaggerate, a buyer expects nothing less than an exaggerated comment. Plus, there will be a PPI, so no need to make the buyer expect what is not there.

Let the buyers judge for themselves, and decide whether your car ad makes a decent deal.

Be Location-Specific

Furthermore, regarding how to write a car ad that sells fast, list your location preference. If you are OK with out-of-state sales, indicate it in the description or dedicated field. Otherwise, mention that shipping or sales are geo-specific.

So, if someone resides far away, they would not waste their time contacting you for the deal.

Final Thoughts

This ad selling guide serves as your Family Instructor guide to writing the best car selling classified ad on any platform. Before you advertise your car for a fast sale, understand how the platform functions.

Also, select a suitable platform for your location or that features lots of sellers from your location. Finally, look out for scammers too!

Posted by Shawn Ryder

2020 Used Car Sales

September 3, 2020Automotive Industry, Dealership Tips

Increasing demand for used cars in today’s recession-stricken economy has made used car sales soar in recent years, according to car dealer groups in most major metropolitan areas. The number of new car sales in the U.S. has fallen by more than 7 million over the past five years and the number of new car sales declined in the second quarter of 2020. That left many dealers with a glut of vehicles on their lots.

Falling new car sales mean more competition for manufacturers who must sell their new vehicles to meet cash burn during a two-month stoppage for the North American automotive industry. Consumers tend to become more cautious and prefer used cars more than ever in uncertain economic times. Used cars remain an important commodity in an economy where transportation without a car is almost impossible in any but a select few large cities.

Car sales also represent good opportunities for dealers. By purchasing used cars from the manufacturers, dealers can cut costs on installation and repairs. A less expensive, newer model car allows them to make a greater profit. Dealers can also take advantage of financing programs offered by some manufacturers.

Sales of used cars have increased in the U.S. since mid-2020 due to the global economic crisis. In many parts of the country, auto sales have declined sharply, and in several metropolitan areas they’ve fallen below expectations. In some markets, especially New York and Los Angeles, new car sales have declined as much as 75% during the months of 2020.

In areas such as Charlotte, N.C., Phoenix, Ariz., and Salt Lake City, used car sales have declined for every month this year. In several large markets, sales have fallen to record lows.

In addition, car sales have continued to decline in some of the nation’s most affluent suburbs. A number of high-end areas, including Belmont, San Diego, Manhattan Beach, Palm Springs, and Beverly Hills, are experiencing a decline in used car sales that has reached historic lows. Even places like Atlanta, where a recession has been forecast, have continued to experience a decline in new car sales for several months.

There are some exceptions to the overall decline in car sales in the U.S. With the addition of new models in the new and used car categories, there has been growth in sales in luxury cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Used car sales are expected to rebound in the coming months. But analysts point out that consumers’ growing uncertainty about future car purchases may result in lower car sales in 2020 than normal.

One of the reasons for the slowdown in used car sales has been the weakening economy in the U.S., combined with a significant drop in new car sales. A number of consumers are seeking ways to make ends meet even in tough times.

Another reason for the decrease in used car sales is the strong recovery of the auto industry in many countries. In Europe, the European car market is booming, thanks to record high inventories of used cars. The Chinese, who used to dominate the U.S. used car market, are now experiencing their own rebound in used car sales.

Even some areas of the U.S. are seeing a drop in car sales. For example, the Bay Area and Seattle, Washington, which were once the hottest selling markets, have both experienced a steep decline in sales of both new and used cars. Some regions of the Midwest, including Pittsburgh and Chicago, also are seeing a drop in new car sales.

A number of factors have contributed to the slowing down of sales in the U.S. The slowing economy has been a major contributing factor, as well as a number of factors that have had little or no effect on U.S. auto sales.

However, experts suggest that the biggest driver of declining car sales is the fact that there are more consumers choosing to buy their first cars than ever before. While there are certainly many reasons for consumers to buy a used car rather than a new one, the biggest and most important influence has been consumers’ desire to drive.

Posted by Shawn Ryder

Things to check when buying a used car

July 6, 2020Customer Tips, Dealership Tips

Buying a used car is always a good choice when you are on a low budget. If you are looking forward to buying a car and you don’t have enough cash, I will always advise you for the used one. In Nigeria for example, most people drive used cars.

In the act of purchasing used cars, there are things you must do in other to make sure you don’t buy a stolen, salvaged car, a faulty car among other side effects of buying a used car.

Things to check when buying a used car.

There are so many things you should be on the lookout for when buying a used car, they include verifying the VIN, the condition, etc.

Check the Vehicle Identification Number: Vin Number is a unique number that every car bears that is used to check everything about the car. You can check the year of manufacture of any car, the accident history, service history, etc.

To get every detail of the car since its production, copy the VIN and paste in this online form. Or you can search for this keyword on Google. “Car VIN Checker”, you will see so many websites that you can key in the used car VIN and get the reply immediately.

Details you will get obtained when you check your car VIN include: accident history of the car, the theft report, flood history, maintenance history, etc.

It’s worthy to note that most cars involved in accidents in Africa don’t have a record of that because there is no database to record such occurrence.

Check the exterior for dents and scratches: I strongly believe that you didn’t go to the dealer to buy a scrap car, so its good to carry out a thorough check on the exterior of the car. The exterior should be as clean as new. Even if they had to spray the bumpers, it’s ok as far as the car is in a very good condition.

Check beneath the car rust underneath: This is very important, I always advise my clients no to buy any car with rust beneath or any other place. This will reduce the car life span and the worse part is that you can’t fix it, the only way to manage it is to spray it.

Carry out a thorough check on the interior for wear and tear: this is very important, the interior matters a lot, if the interior is not clean and sound, you will never enjoy the ride. Some used car seats are torn and the dealers don’t even mind sewing them up. Don’t consider buying a used car with a bad interior.

Test the engine by turning it on: You will test the battery too to ascertain if it still fit to hit the road. I advise my prospect clients to always go for an inspection so he can be able to identify the hidden faults in the car. He will check the electrical parts, the brakes, the suspension, the transmission, etc.

Test drive the car: Its always good to test drive the car, with this, you can detect some vital faults easily. When you drive it over a long time, check the engine for overheating. Overheating is very bad for a car. This will damage the engine and other parts in a matter of time. Most times, overheating is caused by a low supply of water to the engine, etc.

Confirm all the vehicle documents: This may vary in your country but the main documents are the insurance documents, the tax or customs duty documents, car receipt [note: this should bear the company name], among other car documents. As I said earlier, the documents may vary according to countries. Do well to ask your family or friends about the required car documents.

Buy a car that has retail value: Its always good to buy a car that has retail value. There are most cars that you can resale for 30% of the cost price. I always advise you to buy a car you can resell anytime.

Buy a car that its parts are available for purchase in your locality: So many people might just see a car online and buy it without considering where to get the spare parts. All cars breakdown at some point, be it brand new or used, in this case, if the worn-out part is not available around your community, definitely the car will be unproductive for a long time until you import the worn out part and replace it. Try as much as possible to buy a car that its parts are readily available.

Don’t forget to buy a car that your local mechanics know of: Don’t always buy a car because a car it’s beautiful to your eyes. For example, if you are living in a remote part of Africa and you buy a Bugatti just because you can afford it you will see the dark side of it if the car breaks down. Always make research and ask your local mechanics and auto repair of the cars they can fix easily before opting to buy one.

With this, I hope you are armed with enough information to bargain and inspect a used car. You can do well to check more tutorials about auto reviews and prices here.

If you have any point to add or you have a question to ask, do well and drop it below. We will attend to it with immediate effect.