# Best quick way to sell a car **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564 "2011-11-20T18:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/1 "2011-11-20T18:14:52Z")
I have a 2005 Hyundai Elantra that I need to sell…quick. It is in decent shape with a few dinks, but a quite functional vehicle. I do not drive anymore asnd need the $$ for xmas. I have little time to answer phones and entertain buyers but I could set aside a day or two if needed. I am willing to take a big hit off of bluebook as it needs some minor work. what are your experiences…what do you feel would be quickest? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/2 "2011-11-20T18:17:40Z")
The last two cars I sold were by “For Sale” signs, and parked in front of the house. Both sold to nearby residents with little hassle. Both times I wanted to try that before going to the trouble and expense of advertising. Just an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/3 "2011-11-20T18:54:00Z")
Do you have a CarMax near you? That would be fastest, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/4 "2011-11-20T18:56:40Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Do you have a CarMax near you? That would be fastest, I think. Do these guys give you a decent buyout for your car? I’ve got an 09 Malibu LTZ I’m trying to sell so it’s late model but I won’t take like $10k for it or anything that low but will take 4-5k below KBB. Any experience with these guys? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/5 "2011-11-20T19:05:00Z")
Either park it somewhere legal with a for sale sign where it will get lots of exposure, or sell it on craigslist. If you price it right (and don’t live in a part of the country where many people refuse to buy a foreign-badged car) you may well sell it in a day or two. I sold a crapped-out minivan about that same vintage within two hours of putting it on craigslist, for the full, although low, asking price. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/6 "2011-11-20T19:08:06Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Do these guys give you a decent buyout for your car? I’ve got an 09 Malibu LTZ I’m trying to sell so it’s late model but I won’t take like $10k for it or anything that low but will take 4-5k below KBB. > > Any experience with these guys? Previous thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=449333&highlight=CarMax](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=449333&highlight=CarMax) My understanding is that they very quickly give a take it or leave it offer. So at the worst, they don’t waste your time. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/7 "2011-11-20T19:48:15Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Do these guys give you a decent buyout for your car? I’ve got an 09 Malibu LTZ I’m trying to sell so it’s late model but I won’t take like $10k for it or anything that low but will take 4-5k below KBB. > > Any experience with these guys? My wife and I have taken cars to them to be priced before buying new cars. They tended to offer a bit more than what a dealership will initially offer as a trade-in price, but not much more than what you can negotiate a trade-in up to. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/8 "2011-11-20T21:23:22Z")
I sold two cars in under an hour both times using Craig’s List. They were fairly priced, but both were under $1,000. When the value goes up it takes a lot longer for folks to decide and come up with the cash. If you need money fast you could wholesale it to a dealer at a huge loss. Remember though that you would be selling wholesale and you can’t expect a retail price that way. Post notices on billboards in hardware or groceries where they allow such. Sign in the window might get a call. Advertise at work, church or other group as appropriate. Put the word out with all you know. Hope for the best. I think the key is to fairly price the piece and don’t have any emotional attachment. Something is only worth what a willing buyer will pay. You need the money for Christmas. Someone else needs transportation. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/9 "2011-11-20T22:15:05Z")
Tell everyone you know with a teenager you have a car for sale. The parents or the kids might be in the market for an additional vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/10 "2011-11-21T14:33:11Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > My wife and I have taken cars to them to be priced before buying new cars. They tended to offer a bit more than what a dealership will initially offer as a trade-in price. Which, from experience, is about 3x what a dealer will offer in cash value. True story: a dealer offered me $200 for a running Mazda 626, that I sold for $1000 in private sale in under 24 hours by listing it in the newspaper in a college town. Well, he did offer me $700, if I wanted to trade it in…? (hell no). I assume the OP needs to sell a car in order to have the money, not in order to trade in for a new car. Trade ins don’t usually need to happen “fast.” Don’t try to sell a used car at a dealer for cash value. It’s like saying, “please, rob me.” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-quick-way-to-sell-a-car/603564/11 "2011-11-21T18:02:37Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Don’t try to sell a used car at a dealer for cash value. It’s like saying, “please, rob me.” No kidding. A dealership offered me $1000 for a car with a KBB value of around $5300 (which I understand is slightly inflated). I was able to get $3800 for it in a private sale.