A few things to know before selling your car:

1. Show your car in a safe place.

Never bring your car to a potential buyer. Likewise, don't lead potential buyers to your house or a friend's house. Show your car in a public space, like the parking lot of a busy mall in an area that you are very familiar with. Also, bring a friend if possible - it doesn't hurt to have backup when you're meeting strangers.

2. Ask yourself, "is it worth it?"

If you're selling a car worth less than $500, it's a safer bet to sell the car to a reputable junkyard instead of selling it to a private buyer. Even if you manage to sell your car, if it breaks down before the buyer transfers the title and s/he unceremoniously leaves it on the side of the road in parts unknown, fines for illegal dumping will find their way to your mailbox. So make sure the sale of your old car is worth this potential trouble.

3. Don't accept money orders or checks as payment.
The potential for fraud is high when it comes to money orders and checks. Even though your bank may clear the check within a business week, in reality, the check doesn't actually clear until it reaches the Federal Reserve, which could take 2-3 weeks. If the check comes back fraudulent, your bank will take the money back from you, not the buyer, who has, by now, driven off in a free car and long gone.

4. Keep your bill of sale.

Most of us would think that we're sealing the deal when we sign the back of the car's title and relinquish it to the car's new owner. Well, think again. Between the time that you hand over the title to your buyer and the time the buyer hands the title to his or her local DMV, any accidents or incidents that may befall the vehicle are traced back to you, the previous registrant. For example, if your car's buyer commits a robbery with your old car and dumps it, the local police will look up the car's VIN and come knocking on your door. Be sure to keep your Bill of Sale and any other proof that you've sold the car, or you might find that you'll have a bit of explaining to do.

These are only a few tips to keep your car sale smooth and yourself safe. If you're uncomfortable selling a car yourself, you can always sell your car to a local dealer, or ask them to sell your car for you as a co-assignment.

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