When writing a classified ad, used car sellers should apply the same core principles of any great sales pitch – eye-catching, enticing, honest, and brief. In a world full of misleading advice and dubious photos, to get your car sold, start by writing an impeccable classified ad.
Selling your own car privately can be tough, chiefly as there’s so much competition around that prospective buyers may miss your advert amidst a sea of similar alternatives. A great classified ad should stand out from the crowd, but how?
We at Parkers have put together a guide on how to nail a classified ad, outlining some best practice tips and pointers to give you the best chance of selling your car for a great price. Be it through eBay, Gumtree or any of the traditional platforms, the principles we’ll cover should apply all the same. Remember, first impressions count.
Need to know information
When selling a car, it’s a good idea to first put yourself in the shoes of a prospective buyer. If you were perusing the classifieds, what would attract you to an advert? It could be a top-quality image, a pithy headline or coming straight in with several unique selling appoints.
Chances are, whatever attracts you to an advert will likely capture the attention of others, too. There are, however, a few pieces of information we deem essential to include in your classified as – the must-haves to ward off time wasters and draw in serious buyers.
Here are the points we consider essential:
- Year of registration
- Engine info including whether it is petrol or diesel, the size and number of cylinders
- Type of gearbox and number of gears
- Exact mileage
- Service history – if you’ve had it regularly serviced at the manufacturers dealerships it will add further piece of mind to buyers
- How long the MoT is valid for
- Colour
- Price (and if it’s negotiable)
- Any modifications
- Number of owners
- Contact details
- List of equipment/features – concentrate on the kit which is going to really matter to buyers and make life easier on the road – sat-nav, Bluetooth, USB port, air-con, alloy-wheels, leather interior, cruise control – also mention if they are options and were paid for as extra at the time of sale (if bought new).
By including these pieces of information, you’ll give your classified ad the best chance of attracting the right buyer – the person looking for what you’re selling. Beyond these points, it’s then left to your discretion as to what you think is worth including and where in the advert.
Remember, it’s best to include the most important information as soon as possible in the advert to capture then retain attention. If there is room in the advert note how much power the engine produces in horsepower, the official MPG figures and the tax band the car falls into.
Also, If possible, include why you are selling the car in the classified ad. Whether you’ve grown the family, moved jobs or just fancy something new, a benign motive will set any prospective buyer’s mind at ease.
Photos
Trust us when we say, pictures are the most important part of any classified ad. Most buyers will make up their minds on whether to proceed with an enquiry by the time they’ve finished going through your images, so it’s vital you get them right.
A classified ad’s images should paint the car in a good light, but they should tell an entire story. Be sure to take lots of images from many different angels – interior, under the bonnet, under the wheel arches, the lot.
By capturing and presenting more of the car in pictures, you’ll encourage potential buyers to feel as though your car is a genuine article. That you’re not hiding any imperfections or faults.
If your car does have deformities or defects, you should include them in pictures as well as in writing to let buyers know exactly what you’re selling. Be transparent – hiding any flaws will only serve to hinder your chances of selling the car but don’t dwell on the negatives.
If your car has any extras or well preserved features worth shouting about, flaunt them as best you can in quality pictures with good lighting.
Setting the right price
If you’re writing a classified ad but you’re not sure how much your car is worth, check in with Parkers first. Our free car valuation service can provide you with the answers you’re looking for, including how much you should sell your car for.
The Parkers used car database is extensive and detailed. On it you’ll find a breakdown of prices from franchise dealers, part exchanges, independents, private buyers and others – be sure to check out our guide to car valuations to learn more.
However, if you’d still like more from your evaluation, we also offer a premium package that adjusts for mileage and options. If it’s the most detailed and accurate price you’re after for an edge during negotiations, this service could prove vital.
Find out how much your car is really worth here and complete a FREE valuation.
As worthwhile as our free car valuations are, we also recommend investigating how much other sellers are pricing their similar cars for.
By doing your research, you should gain a better real-world understanding of where your car currently sits on the market. Buyers may attempt to barter with you using other prices as a start point. If you have a minimum price in mind, stick to it and don’t be intimidated to make a sale.
There is a lot of competition out there so it really depends on how quickly you want to make the sale to how low you’ll set your price – bargains are usually very quickly snapped up.
Where to sell your car
It’s up to you where you advertise your car. Traditionally, classified ads have appeared in the latter pages of news papers along with job adverts and more. Newspapers still offer classified advertising space – starting from around £50 – but even among older buyers, a newspaper ad will still have limited reach.
Alternatively, you could post to an online auction house or marketplace. An online post will grant you the opportunity to upload more images and write a far more detailed description – usually all for free.
Online posts can be shared far easier, granting your ad greater potential reach – some platforms will offer post boosting services for an extra fee – but it’s worth considering who you think will be most interested in the car.
If it’s an older car that will likely appeal to an older, possibly less technologically literate buyer, you may want to explore more traditional platforms. If it’s a newer, sportier model that will likely appeal to a younger buyer, there’s a good chance your classified ad will go unnoticed in the back on a newspaper.
Top Tips
• Beware of additional charges and fees – some classified sites will take a percentage of the sale price.
• Remember you are not only selling a car but you are also selling yourself as a responsible car owner – keep text speak to a minimum and avoid slang.
• Make sure you spell check your ad and avoid using block capitals as they are harder to read.
• Be honest, you want prospective buyers to trust you and telling them about any damage, rust or defects on the car will help avoid buyers trying to knock the price down when they come to view.
• Make sure you wash your car thoroughly inside and out before you take pictures and take plenty of them to help buyers get a full picture of what the car is like.
• Limit the amount of abbreviations you use – a lot of people won’t know what most of them stand for.
