For Car Sellers

Selling Your Car?
Stop Wasting Time on Tire-Kickers

Selling a car privately takes enough time already. Don't waste weekends on buyers who never show up for test drives. Deposits and scheduling filter out the flakes.

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80% fewer no-shows
Serious buyers only
Phone verified buyers

The Private Car Sale Experience

Every car seller on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist knows this pain.

Weekend After Weekend Wasted

They scheduled a test drive for Saturday at 2pm. You cleaned the car, charged the battery, waited. They never came. No message, no call.

Lowball Artists After You're Invested

They drove 30 minutes to see a $15K car, then offered $8K. 'That's my budget.' You've already spent an hour showing them every feature.

Tire-Kickers Galore

'Just looking.' 'Seeing what's out there.' 'Not ready to buy yet.' You're not a dealership—you have one car and limited time.

Private car sellers waste an average of 5+ hours on buyers who never show.

That's before you even factor in the low-ballers and tire-kickers.

How ShowdUp.com Helps Car Sellers

Simple tools that filter out tire-kickers and bring serious buyers.

Structured Scheduling

Buyers book specific test drive slots. No more vague 'I'll come by this weekend.' They pick a time, they commit.

Deposits Filter Tire-Kickers

A $50-100 non-refundable deposit (applied to purchase) ensures only serious buyers book your time.

Automatic Reminders

SMS and email reminders before the test drive. They won't 'forget' about your car appointment.

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Your New Car Selling Workflow

Keep listing on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist. Just add your ShowdUp link.

1

Create your test drive booking link

Set your availability, meeting location, and deposit amount ($50-100 recommended for cars).

2

Share it when buyers inquire

When someone asks about your car, send them your booking link. Serious buyers book a slot.

3

Buyer books & pays deposit

They pick a test drive time, verify their phone number, and pay the deposit via PayPal.

4

Reminders go out automatically

They get SMS/email reminders before the test drive. You get notified when they confirm.

5

Meet a serious, verified buyer

They put money down, verified their identity, and got reminders. They're coming.

Safety Tips for Private Car Sales

Meet in Safe Locations

Police station parking lots, bank parking lots, or busy public places during daylight. Many police stations have designated "safe exchange zones" with cameras.

Never Meet Alone

Bring a friend or family member, especially for high-value vehicles. Let someone know where you'll be and when to expect you back.

Verify Buyer Identity

ShowdUp's phone verification ensures you have real contact info. Deposits through PayPal also provide buyer identification.

Deposits Filter Bad Actors

Scammers and flakes are less likely to put money down upfront. The deposit requirement alone filters out many problematic buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from car sellers.

How do deposits work when selling a car?
You set a deposit amount (typically $50-100 for test drives). Buyers pay through PayPal when booking. This non-refundable deposit is applied toward the purchase price if they buy. If they no-show for the test drive, they forfeit the deposit. This filters out tire-kickers and ensures only serious buyers book your time.
What deposit amount should I require for car test drives?
We recommend $50-100 for test drives. This is significant enough to deter time-wasters but reasonable for serious buyers since it's applied to the purchase. For high-value vehicles, some sellers go higher. The key is that it's not extra cost—it's applied toward the price.
Is it safe to meet strangers for car sales?
Safety should always be a priority. Meet at public places during daylight, consider police station parking lots, never meet alone for high-value items, and verify the buyer's identity. ShowdUp's phone verification ensures you have real contact info, and deposits filter out many bad actors who aren't willing to put money down.
How do I handle buyers who want to bring a mechanic?
That's a sign of a serious buyer! In your booking link, you can set longer appointment windows (45-60 min) to accommodate inspections. Mention in the description that you welcome pre-purchase inspections. Buyers who invest time in due diligence are more likely to close.
What if the buyer doesn't want the car after the test drive?
The deposit ensures they show up for the test drive—it's not a commitment to buy. Most sellers refund the deposit if the buyer legitimately decides the car isn't right for them. You keep the deposit only for no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
Can I schedule multiple test drives on the same day?
Absolutely. Set your availability windows and ShowdUp handles the scheduling. Many sellers stack test drives on weekend afternoons with 45-60 minute buffers. The calendar sync ensures you don't double-book, and deposits mean each scheduled buyer is serious.

Sell Your Car Without the Hassle

Meet serious buyers who actually show up. Start with a free trial.

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