Selling a vehicle on OfferUp is similar to selling any other item, but there are a few extra steps to keep in mind. Here’s what you need to know to help the process go smoothly.
Create your listing
When posting a vehicle, you can include the following details in your listing to help give buyers a complete picture of what you’re selling:
- Year, make, and model
- Mileage
- Color
- Title status
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- Including your VIN helps buyers verify the vehicle's history and details, and can speed up the sale by building trust upfront
Including this information helps buyers understand exactly what they’re looking at and reduces back-and-forth questions.
For additional tips when creating your listing see, How to create a great listing.
Add photos and videos
Great photos and a video can help make a difference in attracting serious buyers. Vehicles are a major purchase, so buyers want to feel confident in what they're getting before they reach out.
Important
Make sure license plates are not visible in the photos or video before uploading.
- Exterior — all four sides: Front, rear, driver's side, and passenger's side. Step back far enough to get the full vehicle in frame.
- All four corners: Diagonal shots from each corner give buyers a sense of the vehicle's overall shape and condition.
- Wheels and tires: Show the condition of the rims and tire tread.
- Interior: Photograph the dashboard, front seats, and back seats. Include the headliner if it's in good condition or has visible wear.
- Dashboard and instrument cluster: Power on the vehicle and capture the odometer reading. This reinforces the mileage listed in your post.
- Center console and storage: Open the center console, glove box, and any storage compartments.
- Trunk or cargo area: Show the full cargo space with the cover or floor mat in place.
- Under the hood: An engine bay photo signals transparency and can help reassure buyers who want to know the vehicle has been maintained.
- VIN plate: Located on the dashboard near the windshield on the driver's side, or on the driver's side door. Including this photo helps buyers verify the vehicle details.
- Flaws and wear: Any scratches, dents, rust spots, cracked trim, stained upholstery, or warning lights should be photographed clearly.
- Exterior walk-around: Start at the front and slowly circle the entire vehicle.
- Engine start: Show the engine starting up and let it run for a few seconds.
- Interior walkthrough: Pan across the dashboard, center console, front and rear seats, and cargo area.
- Any flaws: Just like with photos, show any damage or wear on camera.
Tip
Keep the camera steady and move slowly. Shaky or fast-panning footage is hard to watch.
For more general photo and video tips, see How to take great photos and videos.
Price your vehicle
Research your vehicle’s current market value before setting a price. Resources like KBB.com and Carfax let you look up vehicles by make, model, year, mileage, and condition to help you determine a competitive asking price.
Screen potential buyers
Before agreeing to meet or arrange a test drive, take some time to get a sense of who you’re dealing with. A quick conversation can help you:
- Get a sense of the buyer’s seriousness and intent.
- Confirm payment details ahead of the meetup.
- Let them know you’ll need to see a valid driver’s license before any test drive.
Important
Be cautious of buyers who want to purchase the vehicle without seeing it in person, request unusual payment arrangements, or pressure you to act quickly.
Test drives
When a buyer is ready to see the vehicle in person, keep these tips in mind:
- Schedule test drives during daylight hours in a public location.
- Avoid starting or ending the test drive at your home.
- Bring a friend or family member along.
- Always accompany the buyer during the test drive — do not let them drive alone.
- Ask to see their driver’s license before handing over the keys.
When choosing a meetup location, opt for a well-lit, busy public place. Avoid meeting at your home or any private location.
Payment
When it comes time to collect payment, stick to secure and verifiable methods. For private-party vehicle sales, cash, a certified cashier's check, or a bank transfer are recommended. Other forms of payment such as gift cards, money orders, or payment apps are not recommended.
Never accept a check for more than the agreed-upon sale price, and be cautious of any buyer who rushes the payment process or proposes unusual arrangements.
Transfer ownership
Once payment is complete, you’ll need to handle the paperwork to transfer ownership of the vehicle.
Important
Requirements can vary by state, so check with your local DMV first.
In general, transferring ownership of a vehicle typically involves:
- Signing the vehicle’s title over to the buyer, including the sale date, sale price, and exact odometer reading.
- Providing a bill of sale for both parties’ records.
- Submitting a release of liability form to your state DMV to help protect you from any incidents after the sale.
- Removing the license plates from the vehicle before releasing it to the buyer.
Tip
Make a copy of the signed title for your own records before handing it over.
Protect your personal information
Before sharing any paperwork or service records with a buyer, remove or redact any personal information such as your address or contact details.
Important
Be sure to remove any documents stored in your glove compartment before any in-person meeting, as they may contain sensitive information.
Watch out for scams
Stay alert for red flags that may indicate a scam. Common warning signs may include:
- Requests for unusual payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or money orders.
- Overpayment scams, where a buyer sends a check for more than the sale price and asks you to refund the difference.
- Buyers who refuse to meet in person or want to skip the test drive.
- Pressure to complete the transaction quickly.
For more information on common scams to watch out for, see Common buying and selling scams.
Listing limits
Each seller gets one free listing per month in the Cars & Trucks category. Additional listings in this category are available for purchase. You also have the option to purchase a listing subscription for ongoing posting needs.