How to write a car listing description (with templates)
Buyers read the title and the first lines, then decide whether to call. Here is how to write a car ad, part by part, with three templates to copy.
In this guide
- Put make, model, year and one detail in the title
- Give one reason to call in the first two lines
- Name every known fault, because honesty brings serious buyers
- Add the history, what comes with the car and how to see it
- In Vehica the facts sit in fields, so the text tells the story
A car listing description is the text that turns a visitor into a caller. Buyers read it in a fixed order, from the title to how to see the car, so write it in that order too.
Keep it to 100 to 200 words, because the car page already lists the specs. The same parts work on a car dealer website, a small used car dealer website or a car marketplace.
How to write a car listing description, part by part
1. A title with make, model and year
Buyers see the title on the car card and in Google. Start with the make, model and year, then add one detail that sets the car apart.
| Better title | Instead of |
|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2019, one owner from new | Great car, must see!!! |
| BMW 320d Touring 2018, full service history | BMW for sale, very clean |
| Honda CR-V 2020 with a tow hitch | Family car, low miles |
In Vehica, the title can be built from the make, model and year fields. Long titles are cut short on the demo cards, so put the make and model first.
2. The first two lines, with a reason to call
Many buyers read only the first two lines. Use them for the one reason this car is worth a call, as in these examples.
- One owner from new, with every service stamped in the book.
- Seven seats, a big trunk and four new tires.
- Automatic gearbox, heated seats and only 30,000 miles since new.
3. The honest condition, faults included
Name every fault you know, with its size and place. A buyer who finds a hidden scratch at the viewing stops trusting your ad.
- Dents, scratches and rust, and where they are
- Tires, and how much tread is left
- Warning lights, noises or anything that does not work
- Smoking or pets in the car
- Repairs already done, and repairs still needed
4. The owners and the service history
Used car buyers ask the same questions every time. Answer them in the ad, before the phone rings.
- How many owners the car has had
- The service history, and who did the work
- Big jobs already done, such as a timing belt or new brakes
- Any accident, and how it was repaired
In Vehica, the VIN has its own field on the car form and on the car page. Buyers who want a history report can then order one themselves.
5. What comes with the car
List what the buyer drives away with. Small things often decide between two similar cars.
- The number of keys
- A second set of wheels or winter tires
- A warranty, and what it covers
- Financing, if you offer it
Vehica shows a loan calculator on every car page, with the price already filled in. Your text then only needs to say that financing is possible.
6. How to see the car and who to call
End with one next step. Say where the car is, when buyers can come and who to call. On a Vehica car page, buyers can call, open WhatsApp or send you a message.
Let the fields carry the facts
Most buyers do not read every ad. They filter by make, model, year and gearbox first, so each fact must also sit in its own field.
The Vehica car form asks for each fact, from condition and mileage to VIN, before the description box and the photos.
Need another fact, such as the range of an electric car? Add a field in the Vehica Panel and place it on the car page.
Make and model come from lists you set up once, and buyers search by them first. Start with our guide to a car make and model list.
Write your first car ad on a real Vehica website
Your own Vehica website with the demo in place and the full WordPress admin, ready in a minute.
Try Vehica free Free for 7 days. No card needed.Words to avoid in a used car ad description
Buyers skip the words they see in every ad. Other words make them wonder what you are hiding.
- Empty praise, such as stunning, mint or must see
- Vague condition, such as runs great
- Pressure, such as first to see will buy
- Hints at a problem, such as needs a little love
- Words in all capitals, exclamation marks and short forms such as OBO or FSH, which many buyers do not know
Use the words buyers search for instead, such as automatic, diesel, seven seats or tow hitch.
Car for sale description templates to copy
Each template follows the six parts, with the title on the first line. Replace the words in brackets.
For a family car
For a premium car
A private sale needs fewer words, but the same honesty. Say why you sell, because every buyer asks.
For a quick private sale
Keep it under 120 words.
Check your car ad before it goes live
Use this list for every car you add.
From the walk-around to the day it sells
10 tasks
Before you write
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Take a clear photo of each one for the gallery.
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While you write
Before it goes live
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If it is cut short, keep the make, model and year and shorten the rest.
When the car sells
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