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What are the best car classifieds?

Using online and print classifieds is an extremely efficient and cost-effective way for owners, dealers and even collectors to sell their used vehicles. The best strategy for sellers who want to reach as many potential buyers as possible is to use more than one classified advertising platform. This allows sellers to target as many pertinent segments of the market for used cars as possible. It also allows buyers to compare cars and compute the expenses that owning a particular car might entail. For instance, before making a final decision, it is best to enter your ZIP code and obtain FREE insurance quotes for any car you are considering.

If you are a seller, you may even want to do this on behalf of a particular customer who is especially interested in purchasing your car, so that your buyer will have an idea of what insurance expenses to expect once he or she takes possession of the car you are offering for sale. Be sure to enter your ZIP code into our FREE auto insurance comparison tool above to find the best rates!

Where You Can Find Car Classifieds

Some of the best platforms for automotive classifieds include:

• Dedicated online classified sites
• Local online classified ad platforms
• Local classified ad journals
• Local newspapers

Dedicated Online Classified Sites

Online classified sites that enable sellers of used automobiles to list their cars for sale include both general, nationwide classified sites and sites specifically designed for automotive sales. So long as it is easy for a potential buyer to search for a car listing, using a general nationwide classified advertising site to list a car can be very useful. A buyer should be able to search for classified ads regarding a car for sale by inputting such details as the make and model, year, location of the car, and price of the car. If a general site allows for search according to those parameters, it is probably worthwhile.

Dedicated online classified sites that specialize solely in advertisements for cars are useful so long as the sites are popular enough among car enthusiasts and potential buyers that they can attract attention for ads placed there. Sites that are listed on the first page of search engine results for terms such as “car classifieds” or “auto sales classifieds” usually give the best results.

When selling an unusual or niche vehicle, a more specialized classified site can be more effective than a general auto classifieds site. For instance, a collector who has a Studebaker or Packard would be best served by a site that specializes in ads for classic cars as opposed to a site where these cars would just be another category in a long list of brands for sale.

Clear photographs and honest, but not overly detailed, descriptions of cars for sale are vital for attracting buyers.

Local Online Classified Ad Platforms

Most car buyers prefer to purchase a car that is sold within 100 miles or less of the location where they will use or store the car. Therefore, classified ad sites that are intended for sale of merchandise located in a particular area are ideal for advertising a car that is intended for regular personal or business use. Some such platforms include national classified ad sites that are organized according to location, as well as the classified sections of general local or regional news sites or portals that may be run by a local newspaper or marketing firm in the area where the car is located.

Using the right keywords can help potential buyers find a car for sale using a search engine even before the buyers go to the site where it is listed. Suggested keywords to use when composing local advertisements or choosing their titles include the make and model of the car, its year of manufacture, and its location.

Local Classified Ad Journals

Marketing firms in some urban and suburban areas print special classified ad journals that include only used car advertisements. Even if such a publication is not available in a specific area, there usually is a classified ad journal that mixes classified ads with TV and other local listings as well as local store advertisements. These journals are recommended when selling older cars that are of interest to local consumers who may not be accustomed to using the Internet to search for car listings. The journals are usually distributed free of charge, and prices for classified listings are often quite reasonable.

Local Newspapers

Especially in small towns, the most traditional place to find classified ads is also the best place to advertise or locate a car for sale. Small communities ascribe a degree of trust and familiarity to their local newspapers, and readers feel more comfortable trusting a seller who lists a car for sale in those newspapers. The Sunday or weekend edition is almost always the most widely read and therefore the best newspaper edition for car classifieds, even if listings are priced slightly higher than for weekday newspapers.

Regardless of where and how a car is listed for sale, it is recommended that potential buyers check insurance rates by entering their ZIP codes to get FREE quotes from multiple insurers for any car they may want to purchase.