You’ve put together a great ad about the used car you have for sale and now you’re ready to field calls and emails from interested buyers. It’s important that you prepare yourself for the questions they might ask. Here are some questions you can expect:
Why are you selling the car?
The buyer will want to know if there’s an issue with the car as perhaps this is the reason you’re selling. Let them know what’s influencing your decision – maybe you need a bigger (or smaller) vehicle to suit your lifestyle or better gas mileage to commute to a new job. If you are trying to offload it because of a mechanical or cosmetic problem, you might as well reveal this now because they’ll find out eventually.
How long have you owned the car?
By asking this question, the buyer is hoping to get information on the car’s background. Have as much detail ready as possible, including receipts or documents for maintenance, etc.
Where did you buy the vehicle from?
The buyer will want to know if you’re the original owner or if you have any information on the previous owners.
What’s the condition of the car?
Be honest in your description – if you mislead the buyer, you’ll just waste your time and their time when they come to see it.
Can you describe the vehicle’s appearance or features?
Have a list of all the features that the vehicle is equipped with. Writing them down ahead of time will prevent you from forgetting anything when
you’re put on the spot.
How much mileage is on the car?
This one’s pretty straightforward – again, give the caller an accurate reading down to the kilometer.
Can I see the Vin number, the vehicle ownership and your identification?
The buyer will want to see this information to confirm that you are in fact the legal owner and to double check that the registration information
Has anything on the car been replaced or updated?
Updates can add more value to the vehicle because that’s one less thing they’ll need to do. If you have receipts for any added features or new parts, show them to the buyer to verify the changes.
Has the car been in any accidents?
If the vehicle has been involved in a run-in, then you need to let the buyer know. This is your chance to disclose how minor or how major the accident was and whether or not the car was fixed. For many buyers, as long as the vehicle was repaired properly, past incidents are not deal-breakers.
Are there any mechanical problems I need to know about?
Share with the buyer any quirks or problems that could come up down the road.
How long of a test drive can I take?
The potential buyer will want to get a real feel for vehicle so expect that the test drive will take up to 30 minutes.
Can I take the car for an independent inspection?
Be prepared to allow the buyer to take the car to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection (at the buyer’s expense) before you close the sale. You’ll want to accompany them to the garage as you are still the owner of the vehicle and the insurance is in your name.
Can we fix this problem before purchase?
If the car does have a mechanical or a cosmetic problem, the buyer may ask you to fix it before buying. You’ll want to weigh out the pros and cons of doing this – is it an expensive fix that you can’t afford to cover? Can you reduce the price of the car to account for the issue and pass on the cost of fixing it to the buyer? You’ll want to negotiate a deal that works for both you and the buyer.