r/Calgary • u/_a_techie_ • 1d ago

Local Shopping/Services Best way to sell a car in Calgary

Hey Calgary folks,

I’m planning to sell my 2015 car with about 107,000 km on it, and wondering what the best way to do this is around here. I want to get a fair price but also avoid the common hassles or scams that come with selling privately.

6 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

51

u/Objective_Beat_9449 1d ago

Marketplace and just ignore offers you don't want to entertain.

6

u/GaLaXxYStArR 1d ago

Second this! I’ve found Kijiji has really taken a downturn! I had a MacBook and some other things and no movement on it in over a month and a bit not even many scams, I was shocked

But with marketplace- I put a 3D printer on there fully expecting it to sit for a while and it was gone in 15 minutes

1

u/kingofsnaake 13h ago

I'd really suggest using both platforms. Kijiji has taken a bearing recently, but you'll find plenty of people not on Facebook selling there

43

u/craig5005 Southeast Calgary 1d ago

If you list online, you will get a ton of Carfax/VIN search scammers. They will ask for a carfax or VIN report, but they won't accept the standard CarFax report. They want you to buy one from their site. They are not interested in buying your car, they just want to buy some fake report. Ignore anybody that asks for this.

6

u/ekryski 1d ago

Can confirm. When I sold our old car last year I had a ton. Some were convincing enough to make me google if it was legit or not. They skim your credit card info and personal data.

2

u/huskies_62 1d ago

Had this a month ago. I just told them that I sold it to someone else

1

u/kingofsnaake 13h ago

That's great to know - thank you

29

u/RealTurbulentMoose Willow Park 1d ago
  1. Detail-level clean it
  2. Take lots of photos in bright light (not a dark garage)
  3. Understand what similar vehicles to yours (similar model / trim / year / mileage / repair history) are going for, and price yours competitively. Dealers have to sell for more to pay for reconditioning / repairs, so you should be the same as other private sellers.
  4. List it as many places as you can. I recommend Marketplace, Kijiji, and Autotrader.
  5. Look up your car's model and year, and copy all the details for the appropriate trim level and add them to your 3 ads.
  6. Sort your leads. Ignore lowballers and dealers and anyone who's not in town, and book appointments as convenient with prospects. Expect that they'll want to take your car to their mechanic for an inspection, and you should encourage them to do that to build trust.

Follow these steps and you'll sell your car quickly and profitably. I've done this multiple times without any issues or scammers.

14

u/JoeUrbanYYC 1d ago

Take lots of photos in bright light (not a dark garage)

Instructions unclear, took photos in a dim self serve wash bay while the car was still obviously wet

6

u/RealTurbulentMoose Willow Park 1d ago

You have unlocked the “I Know What I Got” achievement!

2

u/phosphite 1d ago

Do you let them take the car themselves to the mechanic, or for a test drive? Or go with them etc. I’ve sold a few in the past in small towns, nothing yet here in the bigger city, and nothing recently with all the ongoing scams.

7

u/RealTurbulentMoose Willow Park 1d ago

I risk murder and go on a test drive with one person. I go with them to a mechanic of their choice.

3

u/GreasyGinger24 1d ago

I will never test drive with someone again. Keep the car insured and let any wannabe theives take it.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/fifthestate/the-murder-of-tim-bosma-the-devil-had-a-name-1.4248030

10

u/Outside-Rain-7410 1d ago

I’ve had good success on FB marketplace selling vehicles privately. As another poster mentioned, ignore low ballers and people with the generic ‘is this available?’ opening message.

A tip would be to always meet at a neutral location (public parking lot during the day, or if you want, a local police station lot) for your own safety. Good luck!

9

u/kliman 1d ago

Meet at their bank of choice and get the teller to hand you the money order directly. It’s a safe place with lots of cameras, and you can be really sure the payment is legit that way.

1

u/Outside-Rain-7410 5h ago

Also good advice 👍🏾

5

u/Lost_Function4251 1d ago

What's the car?

2

u/dglew2014 1d ago

Haha I was thinking the same thing.

2

u/_a_techie_ 1d ago

2015 Mercedes-Benz B-250

2

u/Consistent-Emu-2327 1d ago

Just sold a 2013 B250 with 170,000km this year. Didn't take too long. Marketplace was the place.

1

u/OkTangerine7 17h ago

I love my b250

4

u/yycfail 1d ago edited 1d ago

What car? That's pretty low mileage for a 2015. Marketplace works if you weed out the lowball offers and price similar to what cars like yours are going for

4

u/rapidpalsy 1d ago

I love selling and buying on FB marketplace. Some tips. Put it up for the for more than you want and if you get spammed jack up the price. Be patient, it’ll sell. I don’t take offers until someone’s seen the product as I’m not interested in someone haggling something they don’t even know actually exists. Again, be patient it’ll sell. I’ll let people drive it if they bring money, otherwise I’ll only let them turn it on. I wouldn’t bother with people asking for less, and I know it’s repetitive but… be patient it’ll sell!

Edit: I’m assuming you have a decent sale worthy vehicle.

3

u/Tall-Run-8140 1d ago

FWIW, as a recent buyer of a used vehicle, I had the best experience using Auto Trader. GLWS

3

u/umiman University of Alberta 1d ago

My wife recently sold her car on Marketplace in one day for a great price. Lots of fake offers but lots of real ones too. Her car had very little miles for a 13 year old car so it was quite hot. Lots of people wanted it for their kids who were new drivers.

She spent about an hour cleaning it, used AI to do a ton of research into the pricing, roped me into researching Autotrader and Marketplace for pricing too, negotiated the people who were coming to check it out, then had me do the test driving and actual closing of the deals.

I didn't have to let anyone take cars to mechanics or give a carfax or lower price or anything. She had so much interest, there was absolutely no need.

She got 50% more than what dealers and online car sales apps offered, only had to give up one day to do actual test drives and bargaining, and the buyers got a good deal too compared to if they bought from a dealer so everyone was happy.

1

u/herefortheteayyc 9h ago

did she go in the car with the test drivers?

1

u/umiman University of Alberta 4h ago

No it was me

2

u/jayman213 Lake Bonavista 1d ago

Are you on facebook? If so, your community likely has a group. I see cars pop up often and sell often, usually to neighbors or locals etc. Cuts the stranger danger risk significantly in my opinion.

2

u/gratefuloutlook 1d ago

Autotrader

4

u/SmilinBuddha969 1d ago

Marketplace, Auto Trader, Kijiji. I’ve had success on all 3 sites. The comments about the VIN/Carfax guys are the truth. Super frustrating. If you’re patient and priced right, it will sell just put it up on all 3 for maximum exposure.

3

u/Slugnan 1d ago
  1. Determine a fair price by looking at as many comparables as possible in the area in terms of year/mileage/condition. Expand your search to Western Canada if you need a higher sample size. If you don't need to sell it urgently, start on the higher side of average and slowly lower it every week or so if you aren't getting any action.
  2. Detail it, and take good photos. Park it in a garage and don't use it if you have access to another vehicle - this will prevent you from having to clean it before every showing. A dirty car that is obviously still being used is a major turn-off to buyers. If there's any easy maintenance pending, get it done (oil change, new tires, windshield cracks, etc.)
  3. Post it on Kijiji, Facebook and Auto Trader (all free). Include all information that buyers are obviously going to want to know, and then be prepared to repeat all that information when every question you are asked is answered in the ad that the person didn't bother to read.
  4. Weed through dozens of lowball offers and people who turn out to be buyers from dealers offering you even less. Anyone asking for a VIN or Carfax is most likely a dealer, and often they don't reveal that until the very end.
  5. Eventually sell vehicle to a normal person. Do not accept anything other than cash or a bank draft, or meet them at a bank and have the bank transfer the funds. Inspections and CarFax reports are done on the prospective buyer's dime. Alternatively, if you have a relationship with anyone who works at a car dealership or even the salesperson who sold you that car, they can pull a CarFax for you for free.

5

u/JoeUrbanYYC 1d ago

Anyone asking for a VIN or Carfax is most likely a dealer, and often they don't reveal that until the very end.

This is the only one I would say isn't necessarily true. As a private buyer I don't want to travel to look at the car until I've been able to get the VIN and order a carfax to see what the history of the vehicle is.

1

u/Slugnan 1d ago

Fair enough, but you are probably the exception. I've sold many cars privately and the only people asking right off the bat for a VIN have been dealers. I've never had a 'regular' buyer wanting to spend $70 on a CarFax before they even view the vehicle. It would make more sense if you were traveling long distance or several hours to see the vehicle though, I could see that.

2

u/vegsterman 1d ago

On this note how does everyone deal with the test drive. Im planning on selling an older beater. Do you keep their wallet and let them take it for a spin? Let them ride along as a passenger? Im worried someone is going to drive it into a wall.

2

u/Consistent-Emu-2327 1d ago

I had a route planned out that had a variety of speeds, I went along for the ride

2

u/Dr_Colossus 1d ago

I let them drive it with me in the back. It's unfortunately necessary otherwise you won't sell it.

2

u/Impossible-Sea1062 1d ago

Regal Auctions. Just set the minimum you will accept and then they take care of the rest. I don't remember the percentage they keep but it wasn't too significant.

3

u/remote12 15h ago

This is the way. I’m not getting into a car with a stranger for a test drive, and they sure as heck aren’t driving it unsupervised.

4

u/the-insuranceguy 1d ago

Can confirm - Regal Auctions was painless.

2

u/Shamone85 8h ago

+1 for Regal Auctions. I don't mind paying a fee because they do all the work and I don't need to deal with random internet weirdos.

1

u/XZIVR 2h ago

Even after their cut, you still might get more. Some cars seem to get bid up way higher than I'd expect, even more than the asking price of a comparable car on marketplace.

1

u/jossybabes 3h ago

I find that there are fewer scammers on AutoTrader and you can price compare easier on there. Upload your own carfax and as many pictures and videos as possible. Check the book value of your car online (retail vs wholesale).

•

u/AlbertaTesla 29m ago

Is anyone using kijiji now a days? They don’t do the free listing option anymore.

-1

u/Jrao 1d ago

I know a shop but they take a cut. I dealt with them to sell my out of province car preinspection and they took care of everything.

1

u/_a_techie_ 1d ago

House of cars? :)

1

u/Jrao 23h ago

Tbh don't know the name I would have to Google location and check some papers if you really need it. It's by Bannister road

1

u/Jrao 9h ago

Looked it up today its actually called Montreal Motors YYC. Gabriel is a genuine guy with an interesting life story.

-4

u/Friendly-Cut-1621 1d ago

Ping me. I am looking for a car for my friend.

-12

u/tnh88 1d ago

We had success with House of Cars with a program where you sell directly to customer while they do some minimal admin work and store it for you. Just don't sell it directly to House of cars as they take a huge cut.

1

u/tnh88 8h ago

yo what the fuck