Cars For Sale In California Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

What is the best month to buy a used car? ›

What's the best time to buy a used car? Used and new cars follow similar cycles. If you're shopping for a used car, the early months of the year — January and February — are a good time to ship. You may see more vehicles on the market then as people sell their old vehicles after buying new ones over the holidays.

Brand Market Share and Summary

Brand registrations increased in 2023 for 26 of the top 30 selling brands in the state, with Toyota remaining California's market share leader, holding 15.7 percent. Tesla follows at 13 percent, Honda holds 9.7 percent, Ford at 7.7 percent, and Chevrolet at 6.7 percent.

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

One reason is that the company wants to make money from its website. Another reason is that it wants to reduce the number of spam posts on the site. By charging for each post, Craigslist can ensure that only legitimate ads are posted.

To gift someone a vehicle, you must transfer the vehicle title to their name and create a bill of sale. Selling a vehicle for $1 instead of gifting it could result in your recipient paying sales tax based on the car's fair market value — it's better to stick with the official gifting process.

How effective is Craigslist for selling cars? ›

It's proven that car buyers on Craigslist tend to convert much quicker than on any other classifieds. The conversion rate on Craigslist can be as high as 10%, and that's huge. On the other hand, when you list your cars on Craigslist, you're not just advertising the cars but also your dealership.

If you live in California and want a great deal on a car, choosing a used model is going to be your best option. Data shows that the average cost of a used vehicle nationwide is about the same as the average price in California.

The cheapest time to buy a car is in December, but you can also get good deals in September. This is around the time the next model year's cars usually start to arrive. Take advantage of Labor Day weekend sales for discounts, rebates and other incentives.

February and August could be the best time to buy an approved-used or second hand car as car dealers will often take a lower price as they look to move on older stock and make room on the forecourt in the run up to plate changes.

January Comes After December

This is the top reason why January is the slowest month for car sales. It's not about the cold weather, but it all has something to do with the month before that – December. The last month of the year is the busiest, with the holiday season and many people go shopping.

Based on your pricing homework, you should have a good idea of how much you're willing to pay. Begin by making an offer that is realistic but 15 to 25 percent lower than this figure. Name your offer and wait until the person you're negotiating with responds.