How to photograph your car so it sells faster

A good set of photos does two jobs. It makes the car look cared for, and it answers the buyer's questions before they ask them: what does it look like from every side, what is the mileage, is the interior worn, is there any damage? Both lead to more confident bids. You don't need a special camera: a phone, daylight and ten minutes of preparation are enough.

1. Prepare the car

A clean car looks cared for and photographs much better:

• wash the outside, including the wheels;
• vacuum the inside, wipe the dashboard and clean the windows inside and out;
• take out personal items, rubbish and anything loose on the seats and in the boot.

Cleaning should never hide damage. Scratches, dents and wear are photographed honestly, as you will see in step 6.

2. Choose the place and the light

Shoot in daylight. An overcast day is best, because the light is soft and there are no harsh shadows or reflections. Avoid night shots, garages and direct midday sun. Choose a plain, tidy background without other cars or people, with enough space to step back and fit the whole car in the frame.

3. Hold the phone the right way

• Hold the phone sideways (landscape).
• Stand back so the whole car fits in the frame, with a little space around it.
• Keep the phone at about headlight height, not above your head.
• Don't zoom: move your feet instead.
• No filters, and don't edit out marks. The photos must show the real car as it is today.

4. Take the 8 required shots

The listing wizard asks for these 8 photos before you can continue:

1. Front: straight on, the whole car. This is your listing's main picture.
2. Rear: straight on, the whole car.
3. Left side: the whole side, with the phone parallel to the car.
4. Right side: the same on the other side.
5. Front three-quarter: stand at a front corner, so the front and one side are in the picture together.
6. Rear three-quarter: the same from a rear corner.
7. Dashboard with the mileage: with the ignition on, so the mileage is easy to read. If warning lights stay on, show them: it is better that buyers know.
8. Front seats: from the open door, showing both seats and their condition.

5. Add the recommended shots

Buyers also look for these, so they are worth adding: the rear seats, the boot, the engine and the wheels and tyres. You can add up to 30 more photos, and we recommend 20 or more in total. Photos can be JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC, up to 10 MB each.

6. Photograph the damage honestly

Honest damage photos avoid arguments after the sale:

1. In the Condition step, tap every area with damage: the front, rear, left side, right side, roof, interior, windscreen or wheels.
2. For each area, choose minor or moderate and add a short note, for example "15 cm scratch on the rear bumper".
3. Back in Photos, add a close-up of each damaged area, from about half a metre away and in good light, and a wider photo that shows where it is on the car.

If there is no damage, choose "No known damage".

7. Check the photos before you upload them

Look at each photo full size. It should be sharp, bright and straight, without your reflection or shadow on the car. Delete duplicates and keep the best version of each shot. Remember that the front photo is the first thing buyers see in the list of auctions.

Details that build trust

Beyond the required shots, a few small details make buyers feel safer and cut down the questions:

• The tyres up close, so the tread depth shows. New tyres are a good argument; worn ones are better shown than hidden.
• The keys, all together in one photo, with the number of keys written in the description.
• The stamps in the service book and the receipts for recent work, after you have covered names, addresses and any personal details.
• Extras that come with the car, such as winter tyres, roof bars or a spare wheel.

Each of these answers a question buyers would ask anyway, and a listing that answers its own questions gets more confident bids.

Mistakes that put buyers off

• Photos at night, in a dark garage or in the rain.
• A dirty car, or one full of personal items.
• Only three or four photos, all from the front.
• Filters, heavy editing or photos that hide damage.
• Documents or anything with personal details visible in the photos.

When the photos are ready, the rest of the listing takes a few minutes. The full sale, step by step, is in how to sell a car in Albania.