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| How to Sell Passenger Vehicles on eBay Motors |
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What every seller should think about before they list a passenger vehicle for sale on eBay Motors.
Describe everything about the car (truck, minivan, SUV, etc...)
 More photos sell cars, and a complete description drives transactions.
Know your vehicle history.
Provide the VIN (required on cars 1981 and later).
Determine if Aon's Free Short Term Service Agreement is applicable to your vehicle.
Prepare to have the title in hand.
Actively participate in the process.
Be accessible to potential buyers.
Reach out to potential buyers.
Manage your listing.
Price to sell, and close the deal.
Be realistic and determine the best price for your vehicle.
If you've opted to list using a reserve auction format…
Utilize a second chance offer or relist.
Offer financing so your buyers can make monthly payments.
Learn about what services eBay Motors offers to help sellers succeed.
Use the best tools.
Condition Guarantee by Seller.
Are you a licensed vehicle dealer?
Trading Assistants can help you sell on eBay Motors.
- Describe everything about the car (truck, minivan, SUV, etc.)
- More photos sell cars, and a complete description drives transactions.
Remember that most of your potential buyers will not see the car (truck, minivan, SUV) in person before taking action on your listing. The more pictures, the better. 12 is a good starting point (exterior: left side, right side, front, rear, top, close-up of wheel, and interior: front seats, back seats, trunk, dashboard, and odometer close-up). More are even better. This is especially true if there is any unique customization that you'd like to showcase or if there are any signs of wear that you should point out to increase bidder confidence that you're representing the vehicle accurately.
Learn tips on how to take photos.
Write a thorough description that explains everything a potential buyer would want to know.
A good description includes a general description of the vehicle, a list of features, information on the car's history, and terms of sale (e.g., deposit amount and timing, balance payment timing, shipping details). Be honest to a fault as this builds bidder trust and will help you get a higher price. Be professional, thorough, and clear.
Read advice on how to write a description.
- Know your vehicle history.
If you are not the original owner, before listing your vehicle, it is worthwhile to run a vehicle history report. Make sure that any branded title or history of the vehicle (such as Flood or Salvage) is appropriately disclosed in the description.
Even if you've got a current clean title, if there was a salvage title in the history, make sure to disclose it.
- Provide the VIN (required on cars 1981 and later).
You will attract more legitimate bids if a buyer has the ability to do checks on the vehicle history. Also, most auto loans cannot be secured without a VIN number.
- Determine if Aon's Free Short Term Service Agreement is applicable to your vehicle.
Take advantage of the free Aon coverage if your vehicle is eligible. If you're using the Sell Your Item form, and your car qualifies, you will automatically be presented with a screen to confirm coverage.
- Prepare to have the title in hand.
Make sure any liens on the vehicle are disclosed in the description because it could take days for you to secure the title and transfer it to the buyer if you don't have it.
- Actively participate in the process.
- Be accessible to potential buyers.
Make sure your phone and email address on your eBay account is accurate. The serious buyer will be more likely to engage in business with you if you are open and responsive to questions and concerns in a timely manner - both during the listing period and after the purchase when transactional details are being worked out.
- Reach out to potential buyers.
If you have questions about the potential buyer's feedback rating, or have questions about bidding activity, contacting the person may help. Additionally, it's likely that the potential buyer has questions on the vehicle or about the sale terms and will appreciate you initiating communication. The best sellers talk to every serious bidder and, as a result: (a) better build bidder trust to get more bids and (b) have fewer miscommunication problems that could lead to an Unpaid Item, and make more sales.
* An important note for the seller about feedback:
Feedback is a critical part of buying and selling on eBay.
It provides important information to both buyers and sellers about the people with whom they are transacting. As such, it is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and a reputation on the site. eBay asks everyone to participate in giving feedback. However, as with any open and essentially un-policed system, there are occasionally people who take advantage of it. Sometimes there are misunderstandings or hurt feelings, and in rare cases, buyers or sellers will hold the threat of leaving negative feedback as a way of getting more than is fair. For this reason, you should look at every buyer's complete feedback history, and not necessarily rule out someone with a few negatives. The same goes for buyers just starting out who have none or very little feedback. Everyone has to start somewhere, and every one of our best buyers (and sellers) started with 0 feedback once upon a time. Give them a chance, but again, make sure to talk to the person so that you can form your own opinion. If you're still concerned, you may explore the pros and cons of requiring preapproved bidders or even blocking bidders on your items if you choose. Learn more about Bidder Management.
- Manage your listing.
Unexpected things occur, and there are a few unique and valid reasons you may need to end your listing early, or cancel bids on an item. Before doing either of these though, know the rules for selling and your options for dispute resolution.
end your listing early, or cancel bids
- Price to sell, and close the deal.
- Be realistic and determine the best price for your vehicle.
Refer to Private Party or Trade-In Value guidelines at KBB.com or look at final prices achieved on other eBay listings for similar cars by looking at Completed Items from Search results. In general, set the starting price low to attract bidder attention and drive market excitement.
Important: If you're using a reserve price, use it to provide downside protection rather than to create selling margin. Set it at a level at which you could let the car go rather than the price you expect. If the reserve is too high, it will discourage bidders and bidding may not reach the necessary level to make the sale. On the other hand, when the bidding passes reserve, often the market excitement really kicks in and the bidding intensifies. You can then sit back and watch the marketplace work for you. Read more advice on Pricing Your Vehicle to Sell
- If you've opted to list using a reserve auction format,
during the auction, you may Lower Your Price to close the gap with a high bidder and meet reserve.
- Utilize a second chance offer or relist.
Even if the auction closes unsuccessfully, you can make a Second Chance Offer to any bidder to close the deal. Alternatively, you can always relist the car for free (your listing fee is refunded if the car sells).
- Offer financing so your buyers can make monthly payments.
Help your buyers secure the financing they need to buy what they want. Deals close faster with loans arranged through the eBay Financing Center, so let your buyers know to apply before they bid. Go to the eBay Financing Center.
- Learn about what services eBay Motors offers to help sellers succeed.
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