How to Sell a Car on Facebook Marketplace (2026)

Quick answer: How much does it cost to sell a car on Facebook Marketplace?

Nothing. Listing and selling a vehicle on Facebook Marketplace is completely free for private sellers. There are no listing fees, transaction fees, or commissions. Payment happens directly between you and the buyer (cash, bank transfer, etc.), so Facebook doesn't take a cut.

This makes Facebook Marketplace one of the cheapest ways to sell a car privately — Autotrader charges $25-49 per listing, and Craigslist charges $5 per vehicle listing in most markets.

Who this is for

Anyone selling a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or RV on Facebook Marketplace. Whether you're selling your daily driver, a project car, or upgrading vehicles, this guide covers the full process from listing creation to title transfer.

The goal

Sell your vehicle on Facebook Marketplace safely and efficiently. By the end of this guide, you'll know how to create a listing that attracts serious buyers, price it competitively using KBB data, handle test drives safely, and complete the legal paperwork for a clean transfer.

How vehicle listings differ from regular items

Facebook Marketplace has a dedicated Vehicle listing type with fields specific to cars. This means your listing appears in vehicle-specific search filters and categories, reaching buyers who are actively shopping for cars.

Vehicle-specific fields

Field	Required?	Notes
Year	Yes	Select from dropdown
Make	Yes	Manufacturer (Toyota, Ford, Honda, etc.)
Model	Yes	Specific model (Camry, F-150, Civic, etc.)
Trim	No	Sub-model (SE, XLE, Limited, etc.)
Body style	Yes	Sedan, SUV, truck, coupe, van, etc.
Mileage	Yes	Current odometer reading
VIN	No (recommended)	17-character Vehicle Identification Number
Fuel type	No	Gas, diesel, electric, hybrid
Transmission	No	Automatic, manual, CVT
Exterior color	No	Helps with search filters
Interior color	No	Helps with search filters
Title status	No (recommended)	Clean, salvage, rebuilt, lien
Price	Yes	Your asking price

Fill in every field you can. Buyers filter by year, make, model, body style, and mileage. Incomplete listings don't appear in filtered searches, which is where serious car buyers shop.

Local pickup only

Vehicle sales on Facebook Marketplace are local pickup only. There is no shipping option for vehicles. This means your buyer pool is limited to your geographic area — typically within a 50-100 mile radius, though motivated buyers may travel further for the right vehicle.

Step 1: Prepare your car for sale

Clean it thoroughly

A clean car photographs better and signals that you've maintained it well.

• Exterior: Wash, wax, and clean wheels. Touch up minor paint chips if possible.
• Interior: Vacuum, wipe down surfaces, clean windows, remove personal items.
• Engine bay: A quick wipe-down shows you care about maintenance.
• Remove personal items: GPS history, garage door openers, registration from the glovebox (keep it until sale).

Gather your documents

Have these ready before listing:

1. Vehicle title — Must be in your name with no outstanding liens. If your loan isn't paid off, contact your lender about the payoff process.
2. Maintenance records — Oil changes, tire rotations, major repairs. Buyers pay more for documented maintenance history.
3. Vehicle history report — Consider pulling a Carfax or AutoCheck report ($25-40). Proactively sharing this builds trust.
4. Emissions/inspection records — If your state requires them.

Fix minor issues (optional but recommended)

Small repairs can significantly increase your sale price:

• Replace burned-out bulbs
• Fix minor dents or scratches
• Replace worn wiper blades
• Top off all fluids
• Inflate tires to proper pressure
• Clear any check engine lights (fix the underlying issue, not just the code)

Step 2: Price your car

Use KBB Private Party Value

Go to Kelley Blue Book and enter your vehicle details. Select "Private Party Value" — this is the fair market value for a sale between private individuals (not trade-in value, which is lower).

KBB provides a range based on condition:

• Excellent: Top 10% of vehicles — minimal wear, no mechanical issues
• Very Good: Minor cosmetic wear, all maintenance current
• Good: Some cosmetic wear, no major mechanical issues
• Fair: Noticeable wear, may need minor repairs

Be honest about your car's condition when selecting. Overpricing leads to no responses; underpricing leaves money on the table.

Check local market prices

Search Facebook Marketplace for the same year, make, and model within 50 miles. Note:

• What comparable cars are listed for
• How long they've been listed (long-listed = overpriced)
• Condition compared to yours
• Mileage differences

Price your car at or slightly below comparable listings for faster sale. Build in 5-10% negotiation room — car buyers always negotiate.

Facebook's AI price insights

In late 2025, Meta added AI-powered vehicle insights to Marketplace. When buyers view your listing, they may see price comparisons against similar vehicles, so accurate pricing is more important than ever. Overpriced listings are now visually flagged for buyers.

Step 3: Take great photos

Photos sell cars. Take at least 8-10 photos covering:

Exterior (minimum 4 photos)

• Front 3/4 angle — The classic car photo angle. This is your thumbnail.
• Rear 3/4 angle — Shows the back and side
• Driver side profile — Full side view
• Close-up of any damage — Be honest. Hiding damage leads to wasted test drives and angry buyers.

Interior (minimum 3 photos)

• Dashboard and steering wheel — Shows odometer, infotainment, gauges
• Front seats — Shows seat condition, center console
• Back seats — Shows legroom and rear seat condition

Additional shots

• Engine bay — Open the hood, clean first
• Tires — Show tread depth. New tires are a selling point.
• Trunk/cargo area — Especially for SUVs and wagons
• VIN plate — On the dashboard, visible through the windshield. Builds buyer trust.

Photo tips:

• Shoot in natural daylight, preferably early morning or late afternoon
• Park on a clean surface (not a messy garage)
• Remove all personal items from the car first
• Shoot at eye level, not looking down
• Include a mix of wide shots and close-ups

Step 4: Create your vehicle listing

1. Open Facebook Marketplace
2. Tap Create New Listing
3. Select Vehicle
4. Fill in all vehicle fields (year, make, model, mileage, body style, etc.)
5. Add your photos (at least 8-10)
6. Set your price
7. Write your description
8. Set your location
9. Publish

Writing an effective description

Structure your description to answer every buyer question:

2019 Toyota Camry SE — 45,000 miles — Clean title

MECHANICAL:
- Regular oil changes every 5,000 miles (records available)
- New brake pads and rotors at 40,000 miles
- All recalls completed
- No check engine lights or warning lights
- Passes emissions

FEATURES:
- 2.5L 4-cylinder, 203 hp
- Backup camera
- Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
- Keyless entry and push-button start
- Lane departure warning

CONDITION:
- Minor door ding on passenger side (see photo 7)
- Interior in excellent condition, non-smoker
- Original paint, no accidents (clean Carfax available)

TIRES: Michelin Defender, installed 2025, ~80% tread remaining

PRICE: $19,500 OBO — KBB Private Party Value is $19,200-$21,400
Priced to sell. Clean title in hand.

Cash or verified bank transfer only.
Available for test drives evenings and weekends.

Step 5: Handle inquiries and screen buyers

Respond quickly

Fast response time improves your algorithm ranking and keeps serious buyers engaged. Aim to reply within 1 hour during waking hours.

Screen before scheduling test drives

Not every message deserves a test drive appointment. Look for red flags:

Serious buyer signals:

• Asks specific questions about the car (maintenance, accident history, reason for selling)
• Mentions they've researched the model
• Suggests meeting at a reasonable time and place
• Offers to bring cash or meet at their bank

Red flags:

• Offers to pay sight unseen without seeing the car
• Asks you to ship the car (vehicles are local only on Marketplace)
• Wants to send a check before meeting
• Offers over asking price
• Brand new Facebook account with no friends or photos
• Asks for your phone number or email immediately

Negotiate effectively

• Start with your asking price and let the buyer make the first offer
• Don't accept the first offer — counter at your minimum acceptable price
• "I've had a lot of interest at this price" works better than defending your price
• Be willing to walk away. Another buyer will come.

Step 6: Conduct test drives safely

Choose a safe meeting location

• Police station parking lot — Many have designated exchange zones with cameras
• Bank parking lot — Well-lit, cameras, and convenient if the buyer needs a cashier's check
• Busy public parking lot — Daylight hours, visible area

Never meet at:

• Your home (for the first meeting)
• Isolated locations
• After dark if avoidable

Test drive protocol

1. Verify the buyer's identity — Ask to see their driver's license. Photograph it.
2. Check their insurance — Confirm they have auto insurance that covers driving other vehicles.
3. Ride along — Always go with the buyer during the test drive. Sit in the passenger seat.
4. Plan a route — Suggest a route you know. Include highway and city driving.
5. Set a time limit — 15-20 minutes is standard.
6. Hold their license — Some sellers hold the buyer's ID during the test drive. This is common practice.

Bring someone with you

When possible, bring another person to the meetup. This is standard safety advice for any high-value local transaction.

Step 7: Close the sale

Acceptable payment methods

Method	Safety Level	Notes
Cash	High	Count it carefully. Consider meeting at a bank to verify large amounts.
Cashier's check (in person)	High	Meet at the buyer's bank and watch them get the check issued. Do NOT accept a pre-written cashier's check — these are commonly forged.
Bank wire transfer	High	Verify funds received in your account before releasing the car.
Venmo/Zelle	Medium	Good for deposits. For full payment, verify the transfer completes before releasing the car. Beware of daily limits.
Personal check	Low	Never accept. Can bounce after you've signed over the title.
PayPal	Low	Buyers can file chargebacks. Not recommended for vehicles.

Complete the paperwork

1. Bill of sale — Include the VIN, sale price, date, both names and addresses, odometer reading, and both signatures. Your state may have a template, or you can create your own. Print two copies — one for each party.

2. Title transfer — Sign the back of the title exactly as your name appears on the front. The buyer takes the signed title to their local DMV to register the vehicle.

3. Odometer disclosure — Federal law requires an odometer disclosure statement for vehicles less than 20 years old. This is usually part of the title transfer or bill of sale.

4. Release of liability — Notify your state's DMV that you've sold the vehicle. This protects you from liability if the buyer gets into an accident or accumulates tickets before registering the car in their name. Most states let you do this online.

5. Remove your plates — In most states, license plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle. Remove them before the buyer drives away.

6. Cancel your insurance — Call your insurance company after the sale to cancel coverage on that vehicle.

Common car sale scams to avoid

Fake cashier's checks

The buyer sends or brings a cashier's check that looks legitimate but is forged. The bank initially accepts it, then reverses the deposit days later after you've already signed over the title. Prevention: Only accept cashier's checks issued in person at the buyer's bank with you present.

Overpayment scam

The buyer "accidentally" pays more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference via Venmo, Zelle, or wire transfer. The original payment bounces. Prevention: Never refund overpayments. If someone overpays, return the entire payment and start over.

Deposit scam

A buyer sends a deposit via PayPal or another reversible method, asks you to hold the car, then reverses the payment after picking it up. Prevention: Only accept non-reversible payment methods for the final transaction.

Title washing

Less common for sellers, but be aware: some buyers purchase cars with clean titles, damage them, and retitle them in lenient states. This doesn't directly affect you as a seller, but be cautious of buyers who seem unusually focused on the title status.

"I'll send my driver" scam

A buyer claims they can't come in person and will send a representative with payment. This is almost always a scam setup involving fake payment. Prevention: Only sell in person to the actual buyer.

FAQ

Is selling a car on Facebook Marketplace free?

Yes. Private sellers pay zero fees for listing and selling vehicles. Facebook doesn't process vehicle payments, so there are no transaction fees. Your only costs are your time and any optional vehicle history reports.

Can I ship a car through Facebook Marketplace?

No. Vehicle listings are local pickup only. Facebook does not offer shipping for vehicles. If a buyer wants the car shipped, they would need to arrange and pay for their own auto transport separately.

What information do I need to list a car?

At minimum: year, make, model, body style, mileage, price, photos, and location. For the best results, also include the VIN, fuel type, transmission, colors, title status, and a detailed description with maintenance history.

How do I transfer the title?

Sign the back of the title as it appears on the front. The buyer takes the signed title, bill of sale, and any required forms to their local DMV to register the vehicle. Requirements vary by state — some require notarization, emissions testing, or additional forms.

How do I avoid scams when selling a car?

Accept cash or verified bank transfers only. Never accept personal checks. Only accept cashier's checks issued at the bank in your presence. Meet in public locations. Verify buyer identity. Never ship a car to an unseen buyer. If an offer seems too good to be true, it is.

Should I let buyers test drive my car?

Yes, but with precautions. Verify their driver's license, confirm they have insurance, ride along during the test drive, and meet at a public location. Some sellers hold the buyer's license during the drive. Set a route and time limit.

How long does it take to sell a car on Facebook Marketplace?

Properly priced vehicles in popular categories (Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Ford F-150) can sell within a week. Niche vehicles or overpriced listings may take 30+ days. If you haven't received serious interest within 7 days, lower your price.

Do I need to disclose problems with the car?

While private vehicle sales in most states are "as-is," you are legally required to disclose known material defects in many jurisdictions. Being upfront about issues builds trust, prevents disputes, and is the right thing to do. Include any known issues in your listing description.

Next steps

1. Generate a complete listing — title, description, and tags in 30 seconds with our Facebook Marketplace listing generator
2. Understand Facebook fees with our Facebook Marketplace fees breakdown
3. Learn posting basics with our how to post on Facebook Marketplace guide
4. New to selling? Start with our complete getting started guide
5. Compare platforms using our Platform Comparison Calculator

Sources

• Meta Business Help — Marketplace Vehicle Listings
• Meta — Facebook Marketplace Gets a Glow Up (Nov 2025)
• Kelley Blue Book — What's My Car Worth?
• KeySavvy — What You Need from a Facebook Marketplace Car Seller
• Spyne — How to Sell a Car on Facebook Marketplace
• Click Here Digital — Is Facebook Discontinuing Marketplace Vehicle Listings?
• NerdWallet — How to Sell Your Car Privately