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Meet in a public place, a local police department parking lot is probably not a bad place to start. Bring a friend as well!
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Create a written agreement signed by both parties. Take a few minutes on this: include the date, the terms of the agreement, and add some detail, no returns, sold as is, etc. Be as descriptive as possible to cover as many contingencies that you can think of in case a disagreement arises. If this deal is really important, you might consider the assistance of an attorney.
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Check the Internet for certain sales, make sure what you are doing is legal and you are following proper procedures. Firearms and cars are two examples of items where there may be some catches. It's not hard, just do a little research on the web before you get started.
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If you're going to let someone take your car for a test drive, accept a check or payment plan, or purchase something that "could" be stolen, ask to see their ID before you exchange property and WRITE THEIR INFORMATION DOWN! You might even go as far as discreetly writing down their vehicle description and license plate number. Trust me, you can't tell if a check is forged, you also don't know if something is stolen. This small bit of information can really help later if you have to file a criminal charges or a initiate a civil action.
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Be honest in what you are selling. It's true that you might get a few extra dollars if you "forget" to mention that the transmission slips when you go uphill, but these little "forgotten tidbits" are what turns many situations into something bad (lawsuits, accusations of fraud, etc.)
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Use your "hinky bell". The hinky bell is the little bell in your head that says something is not quite right in the situation or in what the other person is telling you. If something feels weird, it probably is. Be assertive. Back out of the situation and don't get lured in by an awesome deal or a great promise. Don't worry about being rude or unkind, it's better to be safe.