I've never done this before, but I bought a new car yesterday and I am planning on selling my old car (white 2005 Grand'Am) on craigslist. What is the safest way to do this without being screwed over, or putting myself in danger? Should I ask for cash, money order, pay-pal, personal check? Any other pointers? I've always been hesitant to do this, but I'm going to give it a try this time.

4/10/2016 9:59:47 PM

First off props to you for having a running Grand Am at this point in the game.

I didn't know those things were still alive.

[Edited on April 11, 2016 at 12:41 AM. Reason : Cash is king. Otherwise do the transaction at your bank so they can verify the check.]

4/11/2016 12:40:18 AM

Cash cash cash cash

4/11/2016 7:12:48 AM

Cash then sign over title. You can do it at your bank if you want, they will help with paperwork

4/11/2016 8:13:38 AM

^this.

4/11/2016 2:35:12 PM

seller's signature must be notarized. buyer is not required to be present, but the buyer's name must be written in the blank.

4/11/2016 6:22:09 PM

Quote :

"First off props to you for having a running Grand Am at this point in the game. I didn't know those things were still alive."

It has a little over 135,000 on it. It runs fine and isn't in bad condition, but it has a 3.4 L in it and those from that time period have a history of blowing head gaskets once you get over 100,000 miles. I had a 1995 Firebird with the same engine that blew a gasket and my sister also owned a 2005 Grand Am that blew a head gasket.

4/11/2016 7:55:23 PM

the F-body was doing the honorable thing and committing hari kiri for having a V6. It should have been done far sooner.

4/12/2016 12:09:30 AM

I put it up for sale today and one guy offered $1,500 in cash which was over $200 less than the bottom KBB value. Another guy is coming to look at it. We live quite a ways apart from each other, so this will make the logistics a pain in the ass. Hopefully I get $2,000 for it.

What do I have to do if he buys it? Do I just leave the plates on it after I sign the title over to him and he pays me? Does he have to get new plates?

4/18/2016 10:23:34 PM

You will need to turn the plates in at the dmv.
I usually try to meet at a bank, then drive with them to dmv and take the plate there.
I would never leave my plate on the car.

4/18/2016 10:40:38 PM

take your plate. up to him to figure out how to get it home.

if it's someone i know well, i will let them bring me the plate next time they see me or mail it to me.

[Edited on April 18, 2016 at 10:54 PM. Reason : V]

4/18/2016 10:50:49 PM

whenever i've bought private party i just drive the car no plates to the DMV, as long as the dude has the car insured and the bill of sale that he just bought the car no cop should give him a hard time

[Edited on April 19, 2016 at 8:02 AM. Reason : .]

4/19/2016 8:01:24 AM

I don't think there is any way a grand am can be involved in a trasaction without somebody being screwed over.

4/19/2016 9:17:39 AM

^$1,500 is a little low for the condition it is in. The fair value on KBB is a little over $1,700.

4/19/2016 11:26:32 AM

KBB is just a general guide especially on older vehicles, also look at craigslist and autotrader and see what they are listed for (and assume they will be selling for a little bit less)

$1,500 does seem a little low to me if its running and okay looks wise, but i don't know the first thing about grand am values. but what is your time worth to you, how many tire kickers do you want to deal with chasing a couple hundred more dollars?

[Edited on April 19, 2016 at 12:38 PM. Reason : .]

4/19/2016 12:37:31 PM

Quote :

"whenever i've bought private party i just drive the car no plates to the DMV, as long as the dude has the car insured and the bill of sale that he just bought the car no cop should give him a hard time"

This. Or take your plate from another car, put it on this one, still have POI and a BOS, go straight to the DMV.

4/19/2016 1:47:47 PM

^^The hub caps are damaged, the back light on the radio clock burned out, and the door switch on the driver front door is going bad. That's the only major issues, if you want to call them that.

4/19/2016 4:04:51 PM

I'd rather explain why I'm driving with no plates than why I'm driving with plates off another car.

4/20/2016 12:56:14 PM

^

4/20/2016 1:10:49 PM

The guy who is interested can't seem to agree on a time to meet me. I've only had one other person interested, but I told them someone was coming the next day to look, but that didn't happen. This is kind of a pain in the ass. I'm going out of town this weekend. When I get back I am bumping it bttt on craigslist and selling it to whoever can work around my schedule.

4/20/2016 7:29:45 PM

welcome to craigslist. most the folks on there are trash.

4/20/2016 10:14:20 PM

Quote :

"welcome to craigslist. most the folks on there are trash."

This.

I sold my wife's 2001 Honda Accord on CL last year. The car had 275k on the odometer and a CEL on. it was priced to move because I really wasn't strapped for cash. The tire kickers that came out and their expectations of what the car was and wasn't was insane.

4/21/2016 9:22:50 AM

^This. I'd just take it to Carmax and see what they would give me for it. The hassle of selling something like this on Craigslist isn't worth it.

4/21/2016 11:43:53 AM

Carmax gives shit offers, relatively speaking.

Agree with doing the payment aspect at the bank. From the teller's hands to yours, no funny business. Though once you correspond and meet with someone, you should be able to gauge if they're most likely legit or if they're shady as fuck.

4/21/2016 10:00:10 PM

^He's trying to sell a car for $1500. What's the damn difference?

4/22/2016 7:27:18 AM

Well tomorrow someone is coming to look. He has an odd last name, so I searched for him on facebook. He is in college and works at UPS. I hope this goes well. I don't want to deal with the disabled guy in Siler City who can't drive that is trying to buy a car for his daughter in Durham. Today he called, but I didn't bother returning the call.

[Edited on April 27, 2016 at 4:45 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2016 4:44:55 PM

I sold it for $1,900 in cash after listing it for $2,100. The nice part is the people who bought it knew what they were doing. They took the plate off and replaced it with another one and then gave me the cash.

4/28/2016 7:55:11 PM

Quote :

"the buyer's FULL LEGAL name must be written in the blank."

FTFY

5/13/2016 8:48:31 PM