Many car buyers opt to sell their car themselves rather than haggle with the dealer over trade allowance and muddy the waters. Selling a car can be a lot of work, but there are some things you can do to make your vehicle much more marketable and get a better price.
To sell a vehicle, you will need to price it, make any necessary preparations for sale, and find a buyer. The first thing you should do is be realistic about what you have and why you are selling it. If it is on its last leg, acknowledge that and price it accordingly. However, if it is a newer car in good condition, you should take that into account as well.
In order to determine the value of your vehicle, you should consult the major online sources like Kelley Blue Book, NADA, and Edmunds. Be sure to look at trade, retail, and private party values from each source to get a well rounded idea of your vehicle’s potential value. A quick search to see what the same model is selling for in your area is another way to find a decent price for your vehicle. If you are asking several thousand more than everyone else, there should be a good reason, but you should be sure to leave some room for negotiations.
Some cars are very marketable with little or no work, but many can benefit from a little bit of maintenance or attention to appearance. Taking your vehicle to a mechanic and having a state inspection done is cheap and will ensure the buyer can license and register the vehicle without making any repairs, as well as make you aware of any issues. Many small things like squeaky brakes can leave a bad impression on potential buyers, but a mechanic can fix this with a simple cleaning. An oil change, replacing old air filters, wipers, and topping off the fluids will make your vehicle seem well maintained.
Although having your vehicle professionally detailed is not necessary, a thorough cleaning, inside and out, will help you get top dollar for your vehicle. Using Armor All on the interior and tires, replacing ugly floor mats, and applying a coat of wax will make your vehicle as attractive as possible.
It is possible to sell your vehicle by sticking a sign in the window or through personal networking, but listing your car in the local paper or an online source is probably your best bet. Remember, it only takes one curious caller to buy your car, so try to write an ad that focuses on your vehicle’s strong points like mileage, age, equipment, appearance, or reliability. Whether your contact info is for a phone number or email address, think about a quick and honest pitch for your vehicle, but remember that you cannot sell the vehicle over the phone, so try to arrange a test drive if the caller sounds promising.
If you do these things and are willing to bargain, you should not have much trouble selling your vehicle.
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