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What to write on a car for sale sign
A car for sale sign gets a glance from a passing driver, so put the facts that make someone stop at the top, biggest first:
- Year, make and model, like 2017 Honda CR-V EX. This is the line people read from across the street.
- Price, with OBO if you'll negotiate or Firm if you won't. A sign without a price gets calls from people who only want to ask.
- Mileage. Rounded is fine on a sign, like 84K miles. The exact number goes on the paperwork at the sale.
- Phone number, and whether to call or text.
- Two or three highlights you can prove at the test drive: one owner, new tires, service records.
- A QR code to the photos, for people who can't stop.
Leave off your home address and anything you can't back up. A clean title or a recent inspection is worth a line only if you can show the paper.
How to make a car for sale sign with this template
Fill in the template above, then print:
Describe the car
Year, make, model and trim. Match what's on the title so your sign, your listing and the paperwork agree.
Add price, mileage and phone
Pick OBO or Firm, and say whether buyers should call or text.
Choose your highlights
Up to three short lines. A few words each keeps the type big on the page.
Add the QR code
Paste the link to your online listing. Anyone who scans the code with a phone camera sees the photos and details.
Print and post
Print on letter paper, slide it into a clear sheet protector, and tape it inside the window.
Where to put a for sale sign in your car
Inside a rear side window, facing the street, is the spot most passersby will see. Add a second sign in the back window for traffic behind you. Keep signs off the windshield and front side windows, where they block your view, and tape them on the inside so rain doesn't ruin them.
If you drive the car while it's for sale, the sign works as an ad everywhere you park. Check that nothing blocks your view through the windows or mirrors before you pull out.
Why put a QR code on a car for sale sign?
Most people who notice your sign can't stop right then. A QR code lets them see the car later, on their own time, without calling first, so the calls you do get come from people who have already looked.
Photos do most of the selling. The sign gets attention; the pictures decide whether someone drives over. CarShots turns phone photos into studio-quality shots on a clean backdrop in about 20 seconds each, and our guide on how to take pictures of a car to sell walks through the shots to take.
Is it legal to park a car with a for sale sign on the street?
It depends on where you live. Rules about selling a car from the street are local: some cities restrict parking a vehicle on a public street to sell it, and homeowners associations often have their own rules about signs and parked cars. Check your city's parking rules and your HOA before you leave the car on display.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What do you need when a buyer calls?
Have the paperwork ready before the first test drive:
- The title. For most model year 2011 and newer cars, you write the mileage in its odometer section at the sale; the odometer disclosure statement page explains who signs and which cars are exempt.
- A bill of sale for you and the buyer to sign.
- Maintenance records and the spare key.
- A check for open recalls with NHTSA's recall lookup, so you have the answer before the buyer asks.
The whole process, from pricing to handing over the keys, is in how to sell a car privately. Listing online too? See how to sell a car on Facebook Marketplace.