How To Sell A Classic Car On Craigslist

Initially starting as an online neighborhood marketplace in 1995, Craigslist has grown into one of the largest online marketplaces with various listings, including classic car listings. It's not among the best websites to sell a classic car online, but it works if you want a cheap listing method with an extensive audience and a hassle-free listing process. There are also disadvantages, but first, what is Craigslist, and how does it work?

What is Craigslist

Craigslist is a classified advertisement website that works similarly to the classified sections in newspapers. The website provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, local community, events, and for sale services, allowing sellers to list various items, including classic cars. Can I list my classic car on Craigslist? Yes, Craigslist doesn't have any car age, make, or model restrictions, unlike some car listing websites that will allow only classic cars up to a particular model year. So, if you have an old Chevelle or a Fiero that has been covered up in your driveway for the last couple of years, clean it, take some photos, and get selling!

How Does Craigslist Work?

Craigslist had organized listing categories organized into sections. If listing a classic car, find the "Cars and Trucks" subcategory on Craigslist, usually under the "For Sale" category. Click the cars and trucks subcategory to give you an idea of how to customize your listing and how it will appear to Craigslist's users after it goes live. When opening the Craigslist website, you might be directed to a website serving your location. For example, if you're in New Jersey, Craigslist might automatically direct you to the Central New Jersey, Jersey Shore, North Jersey, or South Jersey website, depending on your location. Craigslist does this to show classifieds near you and allow you to find a buyer quickly after your listing goes live. Can I list a classic car on a different Craigslist Website? Yes. If you'd prefer to sell your classic car in another state, click the "Craigslist" logo at the top of the web page, which should direct you to a master list of Craigslist sites divided into States. There are also continental sites after the US States sites, but rarely does listing a classic car in foreign markets through Craigslist work.

How To Sell A Classic Car On Craigslist

Selling a classic car on Craigslist is relatively easy, and no special guidance is required. However, it would help if you made your listing stand out from others and prepared your car as well as you can for a higher chance of success. Here's how to prepare your classic car before listing it on Craigslist:

• Clean the car and take excellent photos of it: A clean, classic car looks more attractive in photos and will certainly attract more buyers than a dirty one. There might be the usual dents and dings, but most buyers will turn half-blind to them, considering most classic cars are not always in their best condition. 
• Take photos showcasing every aspect of the car: To boost buyer's confidence, use as many photos as possible to showcase the car, including pictures of the car's flaws, such as torn seats or surface rust underneath. It's better that way than the buyer getting disappointed when viewing the car and failing to buy it.
• Gather all the car's documentation: Documentation is integral when selling a classic car despite its value. Any buyer will feel attracted by a classic car with original documentation since it was new and other documentation such as restoration certificates and service receipts. You can choose to add pictures of documentation of the listing or include which documents are available in the listing description.
• Create a listing on Craigslist. How do you do that?

How To Create A Classic Car Listing On Craigslist

As mentioned earlier, Craigslist might direct you to a website serving your location, but you can change it to another state if you want to sell the car in a different state. After deciding where you want to sell your classic car, the next step is making the listing.

1. At the top left side of the Craigslist website, click "Create a posting" below the logo, which should direct you to a new page displaying the type of postings.
2. Find the for sale by owner option and click continue.
3. Find the "cars and trucks" option on the newly loaded page with the $5 listing fee disclaimer next to it. If you're having trouble finding the cars and truck option, go through the list alphabetically.
4. Clicking the cars and trucks option should direct you to a listing details page, and you'll pay the $5 after completing the listing.

To enhance your selling success, you'll need to customize your listing to attract buyers and set your classic car apart from the other hundreds, if not thousands, of listings. The following is a list of a few tips that can make all the difference on your Craigslist classic car listing:

• In the posting title, include the car's make and model; if there's more to the car, don't leave it out. For example, when selling a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, don't leave out "Boss 429" and the car's model year. This makes the car desirable to buyers, especially if it's among the most sought-after models. 
• Craigslist doesn't include specifications like engine size in the posting details, so you should have it in the listing description.
• When writing about engine specifications, spice it up by writing the engine type and any work done to it. Using the Mustang Boss 429 as an example, briefly write about the engine's power figures and what makes it unique. For uniformity, include the transmission the engine is mated to, even though you'll add it in the posting details.
• Add the car's driver-assist and tech features, if any, in the listing description. Classic cars aren't known to have driver-assist or the fanciest tech features, but if there are some you've added or the car came with, list them.
• List the car's additional and unique features. For example, if the vehicle has a sunroof or is a limited production or special edition.
• Finish the listing by listing the car's major flaws and include that the price is subject to change after valuation of how much it will cost to fix the flaws if they are major. But if you already did a pre-valuation before deciding on the final price, don't include that the price is negotiable based on the extent of the flaws.

Pros And Cons Of Selling A Classic Car On Craigslist

Like any other website and car trading platform, selling a classic car on Craigslist has advantages and drawbacks. Knowing these can help you understand if Craigslist aligns with your needs and decide whether to use the website to sell your classic car. It also enables you to compare Craigslist to other websites and platforms, especially competing platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, to decide the best option.

Pros

Incredibly User Friendly

One of the reasons Craigslist has a huge following is that the website layout is very user-friendly, even for a beginner. It might look outdated, but they say if it's working, don't fix it. Listing is brief, and you don't have to switch web pages. Everything is on one web page, making it easy to review the listing before posting.

Ridiculously Cheap Listing Fee

For $5, you can have your classic car listing viewed by tons of Craigslist users. This is way cheaper than what most websites charge. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist's biggest competitor, is free, but their promotional fees are higher than $5. Also, Craigslist has a bigger audience than Facebook Marketplace.

A Better Chance Of Getting A Good Offer On The Car

Selling a classic car privately through Craigslist might get you a better deal than selling it through a dealership or broker or selling the car to a dealership. This is because most dealerships and brokers will value your car below market value or give you a wholesale price and proceed to sell at its actual value. Can you blame them? It's business, and everyone is trying to make a living.

Cons

Locality Limitations

Craigslist only shows users your classic car listing in the location you listed it in. This limits your potential buyer pool, but you can list your classic car on Craigslist websites serving nearby locations for a higher chance of success. After all, all it will cost you is a few bucks.

Risk Of Getting Scammed

When selling a classic car on Craigslist, you'll likely have to meet up with the seller to finalize the deal. This poses a risk of getting scammed or injured, especially when viewing the car or exchanging funds. To avoid this, only agree to meet the buyer in a public space well covered by camera surveillance. Also, don't meet potential sellers at your home or locations that you frequently visit.

Sell Your Classic Car Through Exotic Car Trader

With Exotic Car Trader, selling a classic car has never been easier. We provide listing solutions for all types, makes, and models of classic cars, ensuring maximum reach to potential buyers. Your classic car will be listed on Exotic Car Trader's website, which has verified buyers ensuring a fraud-free selling experience. What other services do we offer? Besides listing your car on Exotic Car Trader, we'll also list the vehicle on partner sites such as eBay Motors, CarGurus, Autotrader, Cars.com, CarsforSale.com, and even Facebook and Instagram for the most exposure. If you can't do a vehicle photoshoot, we'll do that for you and much more, including transacting the sale on your behalf and handling shipping, trade-in, and financing needs just in case the buyer requires any of those services. So, why not sell your classic car with Exotic Car Trader? List your classic through Exotic Car Trader car here

Conclusion

Selling a classic car on Craigslist might be cheap, and it is easy to create a listing, but without attention to detail, the car might take forever to sell despite the website's large audience. By following the tips we've highlighted, you have a better chance of selling that classic car that you decided to sell after going back and forth with yourself. Happy Selling!