What Pictures Will Sell Your Car on Craigslist

Thanks to the expertise of my friend and long-time car salesman, James, the Bay Area Car Guy, today I’m able to show you what pictures you’ll need in order to sell your car on Craigslist, AutoTrader, and other used car websites.

Also Read: My review of Carvana

When posting a car ad online, you must present the right pictures of your car (and in the right order) to make it sell for the most money.  The more photos you use, and the higher quality, the better your chance of selling your car quickly and profitably.  When someone wants to buy a car on Craigslist or other used car website, they will quickly skip over any listings without photos or poor quality photos (even if the car is a good value).

Make sure your car sparkles both inside and out before taking pictures.  Photos of a dirty, cluttered car will do more harm than good. Spend a few hours cleaning or pay for detailing and it will make a big difference in how much money you make selling your car.

Most Important Car Photo Angle

The photo you should always display first is the Primary Exterior Photo.  This is an angled photo that shows the front and driver’s side door.  Take this photo at a 45-degree angle and make sure the steering wheel is turned all the way to the right so the front wheel is exposed.
Primary Exterior Car Photo

Second Most Important Car Photo Angles

Different websites like Craigslist, AutoTrader, or Vehix each have their own rules for how many photos you can upload.  Some even charge more based on the number of photos (giving more evidence to the statement that more photos means a higher likelihood of a sale).

In addition to the primary photo, here are a few of the most important shots you can include if the website limits you to a small number of images.
Driver’s Side Interior Photo

Steering Wheel and Gauges Photo
Navigation – GPS Photo

Supplemental Car Photo Angles

If you are posting on a website that allows you to upload more pictures of your car, here are some extra angles and shots you can use.  They are displayed in priority order below.  Use as many of these photo angles as you are allowed, starting with the images at the top and working your way down.