by Carole Larkin

Created on: November 07, 2008   Last Updated: February 22, 2012

So you want to sell your car, but have questions. Here are some frequently asked questions that might help you.

Q. What paperwork is involved in selling my car?

A. The paperwork that is involved varies from state to state.
Normally, the ownership of a vehicle is transferred via a title. Under certain circumstances, there may be other documentation required to transfer the ownership, i.e. if the car had a co-owner that is now deceased. Check with your state's department of motor vehicles for the required documentation. The most important thing to remember is that you need to complete all the paperwork required transferring the liability of the vehicle from you as soon as you get the money.

Q. Am I responsible for repairs if the buyer comes back the next day and says something is not working right?

A. No, a used vehicle is just that, a used vehicle. When an individual sells a vehicle, the buyer is taking it "as is" and there is no warranty or implied warranty involved.

However, this does not mean that you should not try to make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical shape before you sell it, if at all possible. If your vehicle requires some repairs that you cannot afford to make before selling, you should disclose that fact to the potential buyer and adjust your selling price accordingly. You are selling yourself as a trustworthy person as much as you are selling a vehicle.

Q. Should I let the potential buyers test drive the car?

A. Very few potential buyers are going to shell out money for a car that they have not driven. That being said, you also have to think about your own personal safety. What kind of vibes do you get from the person?

If the hair on the back of your neck stands up when you first meet the person, listen to what your instincts are telling you. Don't put yourself in a situation where you can be taken advantage of monetarily or physically. There are more people out there to buy your car so that you do not have to compromise yourself to sell it to a person that makes you feel uncomfortable. It might be best to have a friend, relative, or neighbor around when you are showing your car to potential buyers and one of you accompany them on the test drive. Even so, make sure you get identification information from them BEFORE the test drive.
That is not an unreasonable request and they would have to provide that at a car dealership.

Q. How can I make my car more desirable to a buyer?

A. There are a few easy things that you can do to make a buyer want

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