Writing an advertisement for a used car might sound simple, but you’d be surprised how many people get it wrong. You can have a fantastic car for sale, but if the advert isn’t up to scratch, you’re not maximising its potential. It’s like applying for a job with a half-finished CV.
At best, it might take longer for your car to sell. At worst, you could be missing out on hundreds of buyers who are keen to part with their cash.
You don’t have to be an ace salesperson or an award-winning writer to put together a compelling used car advert. However, there are some simple things to remember. If nothing else, be honest – it’s illegal to wrongly describe a used car.
Your advert should also encourage people to pick up the phone or send an email to arrange a visit and/or test-drive. If it’s a popular car, you’ll be competing for attention alongside other cars of a similar specification and price, so don’t be afraid to give it the ‘big sell’.
The list above details the basic elements of a used car advert, but consider noting any known faults or any significant damage to the bodywork. Most used car buyers will expect a few stone chips or scratches, so don’t go overboard.
This is also an opportunity to elevate your car above the thousands of other vehicles available online. If it has a full set of nearly-new premium tyres, say so, being sure to include the brand name. Mention if it’s had a recent service, including expensive jobs such as the gearbox, clutch or cambelt.
Avoid waffle. Auto Trader recommends between 50 and 75 words for an online ad, but you can adjust this accordingly. If it’s a rare classic car, enthusiastic buyers will be keen to discover more about it.
You should also avoid abbreviations and cliches. While some of the common abbreviations, such as ‘AC’ (air conditioning) and ‘FSH’ (full service history) are well known, others might give the impression that you’re a trader.
Cliches are another thing to avoid. ‘Future classic’, ‘tastefully modified’ and ‘first to see will buy’ are pointless and irrelevant. Oh, and avoid using BLOCK CAPITALS, as it looks like you’re shouting at the buyer.
When you’re finished, stick the words through a spell check, strip away any evidence of text-speak and ask a friend or family member to check the advert.
This advice assumes that you’ve taken a decent selection of photographs and selected the right channel for your used car advert.
For more information, visit our guide to advertising your car for sale. Good luck.
ALSO READ:
How to drive safely on the school run
2022-10-07T13:10:19Z dg43tfdfdgfd