CarSoup - Help with the Buy, Research, Sell cars in the Milwaukee area process.

Account information: Do I need to register to use CarSoup?; How do I register?; I have forgotten my password.; I have forgotten my username.; My cars are not in My Garage.; What is Car Detective and how do I use it?
Placing an ad on CarSoup: How do I place an ad to sell my vehicle on CarSoup?; What do I need to have to start an ad?; Why can I only select a year up to 1980?; What is a VIN and where do I find it?; I tried placing an ad and was told that my VIN is already is use.; How do I add a photo to my ad?; I can see my photo in My Garage, but not when I view my ad.; I'm still unable to upload a photo to my ad.; I don't have a scanner or digital camera.; Can I place my ad now and add a photo later?; I uploaded a photo of my car but it looks distorted.; The model of my vehicle is incorrect.; The engine of my vehicle is incorrect.
Renewing and modifying your ad: When and why do I need to renew my ad?; How do I renew my ad?; When I click the link in the reminder email I just get to the map. Is my ad renewed?; My ad has expired but my car has not been sold yet.; I have not received renewal reminders from CarSoup and now my ad has been deleted.; I am unable to modify my ad. All I see is a blank page.
Removing your ad: I want to remove my ad from CarSoup.
Premium Services: I have not received my Premium Services.; I can’t download my flyer or window sign. The page is blank.; My Vehicle History Report isn’t displaying with my ad.
Payment: What payment methods are accepted?; Is it safe to send my credit card information through the Internet?; I don’t have a credit card or I prefer to pay by other means.; My car has not sold and I’d like a refund.
Using CarSoup: What web browser do I need to view cars on CarSoup?; I keep ending up at the map page. What do I do?; What are "cookies" and do they affect my privacy?; At what screen resolution should my monitor be set to view CarSoup?; Some of the text or pictures on the page don't display or don't display correctly.
Information requests: I’m selling my car at CarSoup and I received a request for more information. What should I do?; I have received an email that I think may be a fraud or is otherwise suspect.; Am I obligated to purchase a car if I submit a request for more information?; I submitted an information request to a dealership over 24 hours ago and haven't heard from a CarSoup Dealer. What should I do?
Other questions: I'm interested in becoming a CarSoup Dealer, who should I contact?; I'm interested advertising on CarSoup, who should I contact?; What are CarSoup’s business hours?; My question isn’t answered here.

Do I need to register to use CarSoup?
Registration is not required for browsing or researching vehicles in our database; however, registration does give you access to additional features. If you want to save vehicles to your Garage, you will need to provide us with an email address. If you want to request more information on a vehicle, submit a price request on a new vehicle, or place an ad, we will ask you for more information, such as your name, phone number and zip code. Rest assured, under no circumstances will CarSoup sell or share your private information. Privacy Policy.

How do I register at CarSoup?
If you wish to save vehicles to look at later, you need to create a Garage. All you need to provide is your email address. If you want to request more information on a vehicle, submit a price request on a new vehicle, or place an ad, we will ask you for more information, such as your name, phone number and zip code. This information is needed so the dealer, private seller, or potential buyer of your vehicle can get in touch with you.

I have forgotten my password.
At any login page, click the link "Forgot your password?" A new password will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered with CarSoup. If you did not provide a valid email address, or if it has changed since registering, please email us with your old email address and name and we will email you your password.

I have forgotten my username.
Your complete email address is your "username" for CarSoup. If you are unable to login, you can email us and we can verify that for you. Please include the name and email address you think you used when you registered.

My cars are not in My Garage.
If you have logged in, but do not see vehicles you have saved, check that you have not registered more than once. If you have two email addresses you use, try both of them. If you are still unable to locate the vehicles, email us your name and email address and we will verify your registration for you.

What is Car Detective and how do I use it
Car Detective will notify you when a vehicle matching your specifications is added to the site. Simply login to your Garage to view the details of Car Detective’s findings. You may login to your garage at anytime to modify or delete your Car Detective after you have found the vehicle you are looking for.

Placing an ad on CarSoup: Return to Top

How do I place an ad to sell my vehicle on CarSoup?
To begin, start at the home page or click the Sell tab at the top of the page. Select the type of vehicle you are selling from the pull down menu. Please note that the Car/Truck category includes all passenger vehicles with the exceptions of motorcycles and vehicles manufactured prior to 1981. As you proceed through the ad placement process you will be able to preview and make changes to your ad as necessary. If you have difficulties placing your ad or would like assistance please contact us.

What do I need to have to start an ad?
To place an ad with CarSoup you will need a valid email address, your VIN number and the information about the vehicle you will want in the ad. You can always go back and edit the description of your vehicle or add a photo, all at no charge.

Why can I only select a year up to 1980?
If your vehicle is a 1981 or newer vehicle you need to select Car/Truck as the type of vehicle you want to sell. The year, make and model of your vehicle will be populated for you based on your VIN number.

What is a VIN and where do I find it?
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. All cars and light trucks manufactured after 1981 have a unique 17 character VIN assigned by the manufacturer. The number contains detailed information about the vehicle including the year, make, model and body style. The VIN is necessary to place an ad with CarSoup. The VIN can usually be found in the corner of your dashboard on the driver’s side, on your motor vehicle title and on your vehicle insurance documentation.

I tried placing an ad and was told that my VIN is already is use.
This may be due to a previously placed ad that has expired or an ad that was not completed. If you had an ad with us before, or started one, login to your Garage. If your ad shows an incomplete status please review and finalize. If your ad is not there, email us the VIN and we will remove the old listing for you.

How do I add a photo to my ad?
You can add a photo as you are placing your ad or anytime after the ad is running. You will need to have the photo saved on your computer as a .jpg formatted file and the image should be no larger than 640 x 480 pixels in dimension. There is no additional charge to place a photo with your ad.

To add the photo as you are placing your ad, select "Save and Add Photo" at the bottom of the ad information page. On the following page, click the browse button and locate the saved image on your computer. Select it and click open then click "send photo." Once the upload completes you will see your photo on the approval page. PLEASE NOTE: Although your photo will display on the approval page, it will not be viewable by the public until CarSoup has approved it. Approval normally takes one business day.

If your ad has already been placed and paid for, login to your Garage. You will see your ad in a grey box, select modify from the pull down menu within the grey box and click "Go." At the top of the page click "change/add photo." On the following page, click the browse button and locate the saved image on your computer. Select it and click open then click "send photo." Once the upload completes you will see your photo on the modify page. PLEASE NOTE: Although your photo will display on the approval page, it will not be viewable by the public until CarSoup has approved it. Approval normally takes one business day.

I can see my photo in My Garage, but not when I view my ad.
If you can see your photo in your Garage, but not when you view the ad the photo has not been approved yet. CarSoup must approve all photos before they are viewable by the public. Approval normally takes one business day. If it has been longer than one business day and your photo is still not showing, please email us and we will verify that your photo was received.

I'm still unable to upload a photo to my ad.
Attach the photo to an email and send it to us. Please be sure to include your name, the email address you used when placing the ad and the VIN of your vehicle so we can place the photo with the proper ad.

I don't have a scanner or digital camera.
You can mail a non-returnable photograph to:

CarSoup
1401 American Blvd. E. #6
Bloomington, MN 55425

Please be sure to include your name, the email address you used when placing the ad and the VIN of your vehicle so we can place the photo with the proper ad.

Can I place my ad now and add a photo later?
Yes. You can upload a photo while placing your ad or at anytime thereafter. You can also change the photo at any time. CarSoup must approve all photos, even replacements, before they are displayed with your ad. Approval normally takes one business day.

I uploaded a photo of my car but it looks distorted.
CarSoup displays photos at the size of 320 x 240 pixels exactly. The image must be in JPEG or JPG format. If your photo looks distorted after being uploaded or appears too small in the frame, you may need to check the size and add white space or a frame around your photo to correct the distortion. If you are unable to correct the photo, attach the digital photo to an email and send it to us. We will edit the photo to fit the window and upload it to your ad. Be sure to send your name and the VIN of your vehicle so we can place the photo with the your ad.

The model of my vehicle is incorrect.
CarSoup gets the year, make and model of your vehicle from the VIN number. You can change the model description field after the ad has been placed and paid for. To make this change, login to your Garage. You will see your ad in a grey box, select modify from the pull down menu within the grey box and click "Go." Scroll down to the model field, make the change and click "Save Changes."

The engine of my vehicle is incorrect.
To make a change to the engine field email us what the engine description should be and we will make the change for you. Please be sure to include your name, the email address you used when placing the ad and the VIN of your vehicle so we can locate the proper ad.

Renewing and modifying your ad: Return to Top

When and why do I need to renew my ad?
To ensure the integrity of our database, your ad will automatically be made inactive after 30 days unless you renew the listing. Renewal is free. CarSoup will send you two email notifications prior to the expiration of your ad. All emails will be sent to the email address you used when creating your ad. You can also login to your Garage to check when your ad is due for renewal. It is your responsibility to renew your ad. It is also your responsibility to delete your ad when your vehicle sells. If you have a spam or junk mail filter on your email account please remember to add CarSoup.com to your safe list to avoid missing notifications from us.

How do I renew my ad?
Our renewal reminder emails contain a link allowing you to renew your ad. You can also login to your Garage anytime to renew your ad or to check when the renewal is due.

When I click the renew link in the reminder email I just get to the map. Is my ad renewed?
The renewal link should have still renewed your ad. To check that the renewal completed, login to your Garage and look for the expiration date in the grey ad box. If your ads expiration date is listed as sometime next month, your ad has been renewed. If the date is close to today’s date, select renew from the pull down menu and click "Go."

My ad has expired but my car has not been sold yet.
After 30 days your ad will automatically be made inactive. The ad will remain inactive in the CarSoup database for an additional 60 days. If you would like to renew your ad while it is inactive, login to your Garage, select renew next to your ad and click "Go." If you do not see your ad in your garage, contact us and we will reactivate your ad. Once your ad has been inactive for 60 days it will be deleted from the CarSoup database. Once it is deleted it is not possible to renew the ad, you would need to re-place the ad and pay the listing fee again.

I have not received renewal reminders from CarSoup and now my ad has been deleted.
Renewal reminders are automatically sent twenty-three days after you last modified or renewed your ad to the email address you provided when you registered with CarSoup. If your ad is not renewed within seven days, you will be sent another email notifying you that your ad has expired and has been removed from searches. If you do not receive these emails please check the accuracy of the email address in your user information at CarSoup. You can do this by logging into your Garage and clicking "Modify My User Information." If your email address is correct in our records, it is likely that you did not receive these emails due to a spam or junk mail filter on your email account. Due to the automated nature of the messages we send you, these filters may falsely identify CarSoup emails as spam. We recommend adding CarSoup.com to your safe list to avoid missing these important reminders. To reactivate your ad, please contact us.

I am unable to modify my ad. All I see is a blank page.
If you see a blank page after clicking "Go" next to the "modify" drop down menu on your ad, the page is likely being prevented from displaying by an ad blocking software. Common ad blockers that cause this are the Ad Blocker feature in your Norton Internet Security software, Ad Subtract, Panic Ware Pop-up Stopper and some settings within AOL 9.0. You will need to disable the ad blocking software. Once ad blocking is disabled, return to your Garage at CarSoup and modify your ad. You may need to click the "refresh" button on your web browser or open a new browser window.

To disable the Norton Ad Blocker, follow these steps: Open the Norton control window by clicking "start" then "programs" then "Norton Internet Security" then "Norton Internet Security". The Norton control window will open. Click the "Norton Internet Security" tab on the left. Click "Ad blocking" then, just to the right of that click "turn off." Other Norton features protecting your computer such as Personal Firewall, Intrusion Detection and Anti-Virus should remain running.

Removing your ad: Return to Top

I want to remove my ad from CarSoup.
In order to remove your ad from CarSoup, simply login to your Garage, select "delete" from the pull down menu next to your ad and click "Go." While you won't see your ad in your garage after removing it and it won't be viewable on the website, it will remain in our database in an inactive status for an additional 60 days. If for any reason you'd like your ad reinstated during those 60 days just contact us and we'll reactivate your ad for you at no additional charge.

Premium Services: Return to Top

I have not received my Premium Services.
If you purchased a Premium Services package with your ad, you can print out your Flyer, Window Sign and Bill of Sale at anytime you'd like. To access your Premium Services, login to your Garage at CarSoup. In the grey box that surrounds your active ad you will see a drop down menu with "modify" selected. Click the small down arrow next to "modify" and select "Premium Services." Click the "Go" button. On the next page you will be able to print your Premium Services items on your printer. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open these items and is a free download. A link is provided for Acrobat Reader.

I can’t download my Flyer or Window sign. The page is blank.
In order to download the Flyer, Window sign and Bill of Sale form you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you have a version prior to version 5.0 installed, you will need to upgrade before you can download the documents. To download the most recent version of Acrobat Reader, click the link provided.

My Vehicle History Report is not showing with my ad.
The Vehicle History Report does not automatically display with your ad. This is to allow you the opportunity to view the report and determine if there are any errors or items that you would rather the public not see. To view and activate your report, login to your Garage. In the grey box that surrounds your active ad you will see a drop down menu with "modify" selected. Click the small down arrow next to "modify" and select "Premium Services." Click the "Go" button. Click the "View My Report" link and if you wish to display the report, click the "Show/Hide my report" link.

Payment: Return to Top

What payment methods are accepted?
The easiest and most secure method of payment is with a credit card via the secure server page at CarSoup. After you review and approve your ad you will be taken to this page. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards. We do not accept American Express at this time.

Is it safe to send my credit card information through the Internet?
Yes. CarSoup uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) with a 128-bit encryption key making it virtually impossible for someone to have unauthorized access to your credit card information. This level of security is the industry standard for most types of internet transactions such as online banking.

I don’t have a credit card or I prefer to pay by other means.
If you prefer, you may pay with a personal check or a money order. Proceed through the ad placement process as instructed until you reach the last page where you will be asked for your credit card information. At that page, exit out of the process. The information for your ad has been saved in our database. Your ad will not be viewable on CarSoup until payment has been received. You may send a check or money order to our offices at:

CarSoup
1401 American Blvd. E, Suite 6
Bloomington, MN 55425

Please be sure to include your name, the email address you used when placing the ad and the VIN of your vehicle so we know which ad to activate. Your ad will be activated when we receive your payment.

My car has not sold and I’d like a refund.
Due to the nature of the Internet, your ad is instantly accessible to the thousands of visitors to CarSoup. Due to this immediacy, CarSoup does not offer refunds for ads once they are placed. CarSoup does not guarantee that the vehicle will sell and will not grant refunds for vehicles that do not sell or are sold in a manner unrelated to CarSoup. Please review the Sell Your Car Agreement for an explanation regarding your ad listing. CarSoup agrees to list your ad at a base fee of $25 until you choose to remove the ad or it is deleted from our database after 60 days of inactivity. If you would like to improve the quality of your ad listing, or would like assistance making changes or corrections, please contact us. We would be more than happy to assist you.

Using CarSoup: Return to Top

What web browser do I need to view cars on CarSoup?
CarSoup has been designed to work with up-to-date versions of the major browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and above and Netscape Navigator 6.0 and above.

I keep ending up at the map page. What do I do?
CarSoup uses "cookies" to remember the location you wish to search in and other preferences you select on CarSoup. If you have cookies disabled in your browser or through a security program you will not have full access to CarSoup. To enable cookies, follow these steps. If you are using Internet Explorer, select "Tools" then "Internet Options", then the "Security" tab. Select Medium or if you have customized settings be sure that cookies are allowed. In Netscape Navigator, select "Edit" then "Preferences" then click the "Privacy and Security" tab. Select any of the three option that allow cookies.

What are "cookies" and do they affect my privacy?
Cookies are pieces of information that a web site transfers to your hard drive for record-keeping purposes. Cookies make the web more useful by storing information about your preferences on a particular site. The use of cookies is an industry standard and many web sites use them to provide enhanced features for their customers. Most browsers are set by default to accept cookies. This should not cause privacy concerns as users can delete the cookies from their hard drive at anytime. Users with disabled cookies will not have full access to all CarSoup features.

At what screen resolution should my monitor be set to view CarSoup?
To get the best view of all dynamic features in CarSoup, your monitor should be set to 800 x 600 pixels.

Some of the text or pictures on the page don't display or don't display correctly.
Due to congestion on the Internet, small packets of information that make up a web page are sometimes lost. This is most prevalent during the busy times of the day. Click the Reload or Refresh button on your browser and the information should display correctly.

Information requests: Return to Top

I’m selling my car at CarSoup and received a request for more information. What should I do?
A request for more information email is how CarSoup gets private party sellers and potential buyers together. When a CarSoup shopper clicks the "contact seller" graphic on an ad, each party is sent an automated email with the contact information of the other party. We encourage you to make contact as soon as possible to facilitate selling your vehicle quickly.

I have received an email that I think may be a fraud or is otherwise suspect.
If you receive an email from a potential buyer that you believe is highly irregular or seems suspicious, you are generally better waiting for a legitimate local buyer to contact you. There are a wide variety of ongoing internet scams and frauds. Typically these will come from a buyer claiming to be in an overseas country and offering to purchase your vehicle through a third party for more than your asking price. This is a well-known and common internet scam and you should ignore any such contacts. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of any purchase offer please contact us. Please also refer to our legal disclaimer.

Am I obligated to purchase a car if I submit a request for more information?
You are not obligated to purchase a car if you submit a request for more information. The seller should contact you regarding your request and it's up to you where the transaction goes from there.

I submitted an information request to a dealership over 24 hours ago and haven't heard from A CarSoup Certified Dealer. What should I do?
If you haven't heard from a CarSoup Certified Dealer within 24 hours after submitting your request, please send us an email including your name, the name of the dealership you requested the information from and the vehicle you requested information about. We will contact the dealership to verify that your information was received and have them contact you as soon as possible.