Here are some tips and guides for writing a great description to sell your vehicle
Informative, well-structured descriptions are the single most overlooked aspect of the application process and can have a positive impact on the sale price of your vehicle. It’s good to have both short and long descriptions ready to go, depending on where and how you are selling your vehicle, both may be required.
Short Description
A short description sould contain 25-30 words and should focus on features and information that cannot be seen “from the curb.” This is the place to hit the high points and list things that may not be immediately evident by looking at the vehicle, such as the engine and transmission size, “ground up restoration,” or miles.
Here’s an example of a good short description: Powered by a 428ci V8 engine with a 4-speed manual transmission. Nut and bolt restoration of a fully-documented, matching -numbers car with only 3,000 miles since build. Listed in the Shelby Registry.
Long Description
The Long Description is where you can get into the details of your vehicle, as well as its provenance, if known. People love to read the back stories of cars. This description can be around 300 words and can include restoration information, expenditures, features, modifications, history, awards and anything else you feel will add to the selling power of your vehicle. Make sure you mention any documentation you have to back up any claims, particularly with regards to custom vehicles. This is extremely useful in instilling confidence in prospective buyers. Also make sure to include basic information, like transmission type, engine size, etc.
Make sure to talk about your specific vehicle, not the marque in general. You want people to understand your car.
TIP: Stick to the facts and avoid subjective terms and wild superlatives, such as “world’s greatest car.”
Here is a guideline to help you organize the information you might want to use:
Engine size
What size is the engine? Be sure to represent it consistently and accurately through the description. Also, disclose if it is not the original engine and it has been updated, or upgraded or is the same size and “period correct”. For example: “5.0-lter V8” or 283ci
Engine Size
Original or updated
Miles
If you want to represent miles, be sure to clarify if they are actual or not. Actual miles can be verified by the title and CARFAX and will be on the original engine. If the vehicle is older, and the title is exempt, you might represent miles, but let people know they are not on the title. If it has a new engine or has been rebuilt, you can say miles on new engine/build.
Actual miles
Original engine
Interior
Is it the original interior or has it been restored, reupholstered, or customized. Is it older or newer and what are some of the important features (air conditioning, power, techology?).
Original
Custom/Restored
Transmission
How many speeds is the transmission? If you don’t know, be sure to at least differentiate if it is automatic or manual. Disclose if it has been updated, or upgraded for the vehicle/engine. Also, be sure to mention if it is a well-known brand that adds value and confidence.
How many speeds
Original or updated
Paint
People like to know the specific names or colors of the paint on a vehicle. Especially if it is a unqiue color, or a one-year only color. If it has been custom painted with custom colors, people like to know those names. You might use the name of brands or painters if they are well-known, for instance House of Kolor.
Color
Original or repaint
History/Provenance
Any original paperwork, inovices, Window Stickers, Build Sheets, etc. that go with the vehicle add value, mention them and make sure you have them/copies or photos of them to back it up.
Original or Copies
Documentation