Craiglsist Cars (2024)

FAQs

How effective is Craigslist for selling cars? ›

Getting your inventory listed on Craigslist is one of the most profitable ways to advertise your cars. It's proven that car buyers on Craigslist tend to convert much quicker than on any other classifieds. The conversion rate on Craigslist can be as high as 10%, and that's huge.

Negotiate the price

To negotiate the car price, start by offering 15% below the asking price or the KBB value, whichever is lower. If an inspection reveals a problem, ask the seller to deduct the cost of repairs from the car's price. Lowballing the seller — asking for more than 30% off — could leave you empty-handed.

When shouldn't I give out my VIN? You shouldn't include your VIN on any public listings or advertisem*nts, such as Craigslist, Autotrader or eBay. This can leave you especially vulnerable to the practice of VIN cloning (see more from Rig Dig here).

Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts. This creates a random email address, so the poster doesn't have your real email on file.

Is It Safe To Give A Stranger My Vehicle Identification Number? Yes! Because VIN data is not public record, providing your car's VIN to a potential buyer, whether online or in person, is completely safe. A VIN number can only be used to obtain general information about the service records and history of your vehicle.

Yes, you should always include your VIN in your ad when selling your car. This is not personal information and buyers cannot look up personal information if they have it. Including your VIN helps buyers verify the vehicle is advertised correctly and allows them to purchase vehicle history reports.

It is important to remember that even if you post something on Craigslist anonymously, law enforcement may still be able to trace the content back to you.

Is it safe to give VIN on the Facebook marketplace? VIN helps the buyer verify the information provided by the seller. However, it is not necessary to upload the VIN.

Another question is whether the seller will be providing a vehicle history report. If not, ask for the car's vehicle identification number, or VIN, so you can order a history report yourself. The most popular vehicle history reports can be purchased from Carfax or AutoCheck, with a single report costing less than $50.

What information can you get from a car VIN number? ›

The VIN number tells you when and where the car was built. It tells you the manufacturer, year, make and model, and the trim level including unique features and specifications. Your car's VIN number can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage.

Yes, you can share a CARFAX Vehicle History Report. The first time you run a CARFAX Vehicle History Report through your account, you will be sent an email containing a link to view the CARFAX Report for 14 days, which can be shared.