CLIPBOARD : HOW TO SELL YOUR CAR YOURSELF

It’s your baby. Pampered to the extreme. You should treat your own mother so well. Washed, waxed and buffed and in top condition. It has gotten you from the prom through graduation and past the honeymoon, but now it’s time for a new car. As a trade-in, you know the dealer will probably offer you less than one-quarter of its value, but you’re not sure whether you want to sell it on your own.

Selling your car yourself is not difficult, but there are some common-sense guidelines to follow and some pitfalls to avoid. Here’s how to do it--from the preparation and pricing to the paperwork.

PREPARATIONS * Repair dents and use touch-up paint to take care of nicks. * Wash, wax, clean and mend the interior. * Replace badly worn tires. * Clean the engine and undercarriage. * Make sure the car is in good running condition: Get a tuneup and oil change, fill all reservoirs with the proper fluids and replace filters. * California law requires smog certificates on foreign vehicles 1965 and newer, and on American-made vehicles 1955 and newer. The seller is responsible for providing the buyer with a valid smog inspection certificate.

PRICING * Consult a guidebook specializing in used-car values such as the Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Assn. Used Car Guide. The Automobile Club of Southern California will give you the Kelley Blue Book value of your car over the telephone; public libraries, financial institutions and insurance companies may have these books for reference. * Check the classified ads of local newspapers and throwaways as a reference point for pricing.

PUBLICIZING * Place a classified ad in your local newspaper, throwaway or specialty publication. * Post an index card with a photo and/or pertinent facts about the car on bulletin boards at work and at public places such as garages, laundromats, supermarkets, etc. * You may place a “for sale” sign in your car’s window, but be aware that Brea, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster, Yorba Linda, and some unincorporated areas or communities serviced by the sheriff’s department have ordinances prohibiting parking or leaving your car unattended on public streets or private lots with a “for sale” sign on it.

PRECAUTIONS AND PRESENTATION * Be sure your insurance covers prospective buyers who test-drive your vehicle. As the owner, you share the liability for any accidents caused by the driver. * Ask to see the potential buyer’s driver’s license and record the information to protect yourself against thieves or others who intend to use your vehicle for purposes other than a test-drive. * It is not mandatory that you let someone test-drive your car. If a prospective buyer looks or sounds suspicious, you drive. And try to have someone accompany you and the prospective buyer. * It may be inadvisable to have strangers come to your home to look at your car. If they are in the neighborhood, offer to drive by their home, otherwise it may be better to arrange a meeting in a public place. * Never show your car at night or even at dusk. * If a buyer wants to take the car to a mechanic to have it checked, you drive the car; it is not a good idea to surrender keys without cash payment. PAYOFF * Accept cash, cashier’s check, bank drafts or money orders only. * If the buyer needs a day or two to obtain the money for purchase, be sure to secure a deposit and draw up a simple written agreement that includes a description of the vehicle with its identification number, the amount of the deposit and the time period and conditions of forfeit or refund, the names and addresses of the parties, and the manner of exchanging the endorsed pink slip, current registration, smog certificate, possession of the vehicle and payment. * If the buyer is under 18, be careful. Agreements with minors may be voided under certain circumstances. * If you agree to installment payments, do not simply hold the pink slip while payments are being made unless you also hold the vehicle. By holding just the pink slip, you could be potentially liable for accidents and traffic tickets.

PAPERWORK * Pick up California Certificate of Title, Notice of Transfer/Release of Liability and Bill of Sale forms from the Department of Motor Vehicles. * Fill out the California Certificate of Title to transfer ownership of the vehicle within 30 days of purchase. There is a transfer fee of $9, and a $10 penalty fee if transfer is filed past the 30 days.

* A new smog certificate is required and must be filed within 90 days of the transfer.

* Orange County buyers must pay 6 1/2% sales tax within 30 days of purchase; a penalty fee of 10% of sales tax is assessed if the fee is late. * Seller must notify DMV within five days of sale and must file a Notice of Transfer/Release of Liability.

Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles and the Automobile Club of Southern California