Selling a car can be a big deal; it’s usually lots of pictures, pricing, etc., and then staring at a blank page for the description on where to begin writing. There are many ways in which a well-written car listing description can encourage buyers to purchase your vehicle quickly, or leave you with a car I don't want for weeks—while establishing trust and answering questions before the buyer asks them; making them excited about buying it.

Follow this Guide to create your compelling car listing description. We will discuss everything from what you need to include about your car, to using persuasive language that makes your vehicle stand out from the rest of the competition. With these tips, you'll quickly attract the buyer you're looking for to close your sale.

Part 1: Creating a Car Listing Description: Collecting Car Information

Before even beginning any words, you must prepare your research. A complete and honest description begins by providing accurate information. Don’t rush through this process; use your time wisely to collect all the required information.

The Required Information: Vehicle Information

A core set of facts must be added to every listing. This is your vehicle's life statistics. This information will help buyers find your vehicle by comparing it to other vehicles, so it's critical that you have accurate data for all areas. To get the right information for your vehicle, create a list based on what you find.

• Year, Make & Model: (Example: 2019 Honda Civic)

• Trim Level: (Example: EX-L, Touring, Sport). This is critical to determining possible features and value.

• Mileage: (Be specific, Don’t round UP).

• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Many platforms require this to allow buyers the ability to run a vehicle history check.

• Engine Specs: (For example, 2.0L, 4 Cylinder; 5.7L, HEMI, 8 Cylinder).

• Transmission Type: (For example, Automatic, Manual, CVTs)

• Drivetrain: (For instance, Front Wheel Drive (FWD), AWD, (RWD).)

• Exterior and Interior Color: (Be precise, example: Cosmic Blue Metallic); don’t use vague terms like “Blue”.

  
  

Providing a table at the very top of your car listing description is the easiest way for a seller to scan the car listing, find their required information, and is ideal for buyers searching for specific vehicles.

Complete History and Condition

Being up front about your car's issues will build buyer confidence. All buyers appreciate transparency in their negotiations and will feel that you are trustworthy with such a big purchase, which adds to their comfort level in making a large investment. If you acknowledge that there are minor flaws in your vehicle, your potential buyer will see that you have nothing to hide.

Records of Maintenance
Make a list of the most recent services completed on your car and include your name and contact information. This information shows responsible ownership and provides documentation for potential buyers. The ones you should have available for review include:

• Oil changes

• Tires rotated or replaced

• Brake service

• Replacement battery

• Major Service

• Accident History

  
  

All accidents: 

Whether the damage was minor or not, should be reported to potential buyers. A detailed explanation of what occurred and what repairs were made is critical. Repairing a small dent is much less concerning than finding out about it after purchase.

Documented Damage and Prevention of Future Complaints: 

Before a test drive, inspect and document any and all imperfections of the vehicle. These may include:

• small scratches or dings on any door and/or body panel;

• road or curb rash on wheel rims;

• coffee stains on the floor mats in the passenger compartment.

Helping your customer understand exactly what they should expect to see or find is an important part of doing business with a good, honest, and reputable dealer!

Part 2: Writing Creative Descriptions for Sales

Now that you have a comprehensive overview of your product, it is now time to begin creating your product descriptions or "sales copy." With this step, you will no longer be listing a series of specifications, but rather providing a persuasive and compelling sales tool to assist potential buyers in visualizing themselves as future owners and users of the vehicle.

Opening Hook - Create a title and a brief summary that captures attention.

Your listing title is the first opportunity a potential buyer sees, be sure to get it right.

Good Title: 2019 Honda Civic EX-L - Low Mileage, One Owner, Meticulously Maintained

Bad Title: Honda for sale

You should have the following in your title: Year, Make, Model, and 1 or 2 Highlights. After the title, you should create a Short 2-3 sentence summary highlighting the best features of the car.

Example of Summary:

"I am selling my one owner, a 2019 Honda Civic EX-L. The mileage is only 48,250 miles. The vehicle is in excellent shape and has always been garage kept and dealer serviced. This affordable and reliable car is well equipped with leather seats, sunroof, and Apple CarPlay."

Body of Listing: Structure Your Description for Easy Scanning

Buyers want to read about the benefits of your car but may not want to see a huge wall of text. To make your listing easier to read, use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. Buyer-friendly structure allows the buyer to find information easily.

1. Overview and Key Features

This section explains why your car stands out. It’s helpful to provide a list of bullet points with the most selling points listed first.

• Low Mileage - 48,250 Miles

• One Owner - I purchased the vehicle new and have been caring for it since I bought it.

• Great Fuel Economy - Over 35 MPG Highway

• Luxury Features - Leather Upholstery, Sunroof, Heated Front Seats

• Technology - Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Premium Audio

• Safety - Honda Sensing Technology - With Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist.

2. Maintenance and Condition of Vehicle

In this section, you will detail the maintenance of the vehicle. Again, be honest but share the positive aspects of your car.

"I take care of my Civic well. I have used it as my daily driver, I have all of the service records from the Honda dealership, and have had all scheduled maintenance done on time. The last oil change was approximately 500 miles ago. The tires have approx. 75% tread remaining. The car has never been involved in an accident and comes with a clean title."

Do not forget to mention your comments on the car’s imperfections.

"As expected in a daily driven vehicle, the vehicle will have some minor cosmetic imperfections. There is a small rock chip in the hood and there is a small scratch on the rear bumper (I also provided close-up pictures of both). The interior is clean, non-smoker, and has been detailed at regular intervals."

3. Writing the "Why I'm Selling"

This part of your ad gives more of a connection to the potential buyer and is a way to answer many buyers who want to know the reason for you selling the car.

• "We're expecting our first child and we need to upgrade to an SUV."

• "I have received a company car so I no longer plan to have a personal vehicle."

• "I'm relocating to another country for work."

A logical reason for selling helps to comfort prospective buyers by demonstrating that the seller has an actual reason for selling instead of wanting to get rid of a car that has problems.

Choose Your Words Carefully: Persuasive Language

The words you choose can not only create an emotional response from the prospective buyer but it will also help them to create a sense of desire for the vehicle. Be sure to focus on the benefits of the vehicle and not just on the vehicles' features.

Use positive words about the car. Replace "good" with "excellent," "pristine," or "well kept."

Part 3 - Enhancing your Listing with Pictures and Truthfulness

A good listing needs pictures to back up its claims and provide details that cannot be put into words.

How Important are Pictures?

Pictures are as important as the words on the page. Listings that have unclear, dark or distressed pictures won't get viewed.

Picture List (Try to have 20 to 30 Pictures) - 

• Outside - Both front and back and both sides and a 3/4 view.

• Inside - Dash, center console, front seating, rear seating, rear storage.

• Detail - Miles on odometer, Tread on tires, and Under the hood.

• Blemish - You should have close or enlarged pictures of all the blemishes(s) you mentioned. It is proof of honesty.

Picture Hints - 

• Make Sure the Car is Clean: Wash it, wax it and vacuum all the dirt out of the interior before you take pictures.

• Good Lighting: Taking pictures on an overcast day and during the "golden hour" (after the sun comes up and before it goes down) gives you the softest and most even light. Don't take pictures in the middle of the day in bright sunlight.

• Simple Background: Make sure your pictures are taken in a simple area (like a parking lot or park), not in a cluttered driveway.

  
  

The Last Steps: Logistics and the CTA

The last part of your advertisement is to tell buyers what else to do. Be as visible and concise as you can be.

Call to Action ("CTA"):

If you are interested in an affordable, low-mileage incredibly maintained vehicle, this would be it! To set up a test drive, please reach out to me via text/call at [your phone number]. I have time in the evenings and weekends to show you this vehicle. Please no low-ball offers. I am not in a hurry to sell.

Logistics - Please Include:

• Cost: Please provide your asking price. Specify if you will be negotiable, example: "Negotiable $18500, OBO", if offers are accepted.

• Method of Payment: You must specify what you will accept for payment. Example: "Cash or Certified Check only".

• Title Status: You must re-iterate that you have a clean title in hand.

The Comparison - Good vs. Bad Example

As an example of poor vs excellent listing, compare these two examples of the same car.

Writing a great vehicle listing takes some effort, but it will make for a much quicker sale, at a higher price. A thorough, accurate, and well-thought-out vehicle listing will help to make an otherwise complicated and taxing experience, into a simple and positive one.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What length should I write my vehicle listing description?

There is no perfect length for your listing. However, it is best to write as much as possible while also keeping it easy to read. Generally speaking, most vehicle listings are written between 200 and 400 words, broken up with bullet points and/or headings. The idea is to keep it short enough to be easily readable but provide the necessary information.

2. Is it necessary to describe the flaws of the vehicle?

Honestly, yes. The best way to be honest with your buyer is to tell them everything there is to know about the vehicle, flaws included. A buyer who arrives for a test drive and finds scratches or a check engine light that was not disclosed will feel betrayed and likely will not purchase the vehicle. By disclosing minor issues, you show the buyer that you are honest and have priced the vehicle fairly based on the condition of the vehicle.

3. What should I not do when writing a vehicle description?

The common mistakes made when writing a vehicle description are: using all caps (that looks like you're yelling), using inaccurate or vague information (like saying "good mileage"), having typographical and/or grammatical errors; not including the reason for selling the vehicle; and the worst mistake is having only one or two bad pictures of the vehicle.

4. Do I include my phone number in the vehicle listing?

Including a phone number is a personal decision. If you choose to include a phone number, it will make it easier for serious buyers to get in touch with you very quickly. On the other hand, including your phone number may expose you to spam calls and/or text messages. Most vehicle listing platforms offer an e-mail address or masked phone number. If you do include a phone number, specify how you prefer to be contacted (i.e., "Text me").

5. How do I properly price my vehicle?

You must do your research. Use tools such as Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Edmunds, and NADAguides to find the value range of a vehicle based on its make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. You should also look at other current listings for similar vehicles in your region and determine what they are selling for; therefore, you can also price your vehicle competitively within that range. If you have a vehicle that is in excellent condition with extensive records available, you are able to price it at the high end of that range.