Get the most cash for your car by writing a great advert.

In the third part of our guide to selling your car, we show you 12 easy steps to penning the perfect ad.

Advertise your car with Auto Trader

Setting the price

Set the price too high and you may receive little interest from buyers – set it too low and you could miss out on hundreds of pounds.

Auto Trader has teamed up with the valuation experts at Glass's to give you the most trusted and accurate industry valuation report for just £3.50. Find what your car's worth with Glass's Guide.

You can also try searching for other used car adverts on this website or in your local Auto Trader magazine to get an idea on price, but be aware - others may not have priced their cars correctly. Read our guide to setting a price for more information.

View our step-by-step selling slide show:

What to include

The perfect car advert will include the following:

1. Exact type of car
Write the correct car type and model – for example “Ford Focus Ghia 1.8 5-door hatchback,” not “Focus hatchback.”

2. Year and registration letter
Be as descriptive as possible. Writing 1999/T or 2006/56 is fine. “T-reg” or “2000 model-year” are easier to read.

3. Mileage
Include the car’s mileage – this lets the buyer know how reliable the car is.

4. Colour
Be as precise as possible. “Metallic blue” is more helpful than “Sorrento Shimmer.”

5. Tax
State whether the vehicle comes with road tax, or when the current tax disc expires. You may want to include the car's CO2 emissions - read our 2009 car tax guide for more information.

6. MOT
Include the date of your car’s next MOT.

7. Service history
If your car has a recorded service history, mention it. If it's complete, put “full service history.” Use full words and avoid abbreviations where possible.

8. Number of owners
State how many previous owners the car has had and how long they owned it for. Cars with fewer owners are desirable and could clinch a quick sale.

9. Features
Show off your car’s best features – air conditioning, alloy wheels, electric windows, central locking and so on. Remember to include any modifications you’ve made to the vehicle here.

10. Asking price
Expect buyers to haggle, so set your price a slightly higher than the minimum price you’d accept. Read our guide to setting a price for more help.

11. Reason
Explain why you’ve put your motor up for sale to reassure the buyer – perhaps you’re buying a new car or moving abroad. Be honest – if your car isn’t in great condition, consider lowering the price. Prepare your car for sale to increase its value.

12. Pictures
Attach as many photos as possible (up to a maximum of nine) and make your advert stand out – you can now even display a video slide show of your images.

View our essential under-the-bonnet check slide show:

What not to include

Avoid using vague terms and phrases such as:

• Lovely driver
• Good car
• A joy to drive
• Excellent condition
• No time wasters
• First to see will buy

State specific advantages and features of the car – let the buyer make up their own mind.

Use full descriptions

Include clear descriptions such as:

• One owner for past six years, no accidents or breakdowns
• Power steering, ABS and full suspension
• No scratches or damage on body, small dent on left wing mirror
• 2.0-litre diesel engine
• Includes 160 watt sound system with six-CD changer
• Full leather interior

Extra tips

It’s important to keep the advert concise – include essential pieces of information. Try not to include too much or too little content as this could bore the buyer or scare them away.

Keep the length of the piece around 50 to 75 words online or 20 to 30 words in print, and minimise use of block capitals (which can make the ad more difficult to read).

Use bullet points to summarise key car features and write a sentence about your car’s greatest asset.

Video: Selling your car

Used car expert Jason Dawe explains how to set a price and advertise your car:

Advertise your car with Auto Trader

What do you think makes a great car advert?