Selling Your Used Car

When selling your used car, you may feel that the odds are against you. Getting what your vehicle is worth seems impossible at times. Simply sticking a “for sale” sign on your car may not help sell your car fast. However, here are five essential things you need to be conversant with to sell your used vehicle at a favorable price.

Clean It up

Before putting your car up for sale, you need to make sure it’s in a presentable condition. Make sure to remove all personal items from the vehicle. A well-cleaned car gives the impression of a well-maintained vehicle. It will be a bonus selling point. You can take the automobile to get a complete detail job like putting new seat covers, fixing scratches and dents, changing the headlight bulbs, servicing the engine, etc. It will get your car close to its original condition. Also, remember to keep the vehicle in the clean state through the selling period as you can get a buyer anytime.

Decide How You Will Sell It

There are several ways to sell your car, either through the dealers, third-party services, or as an independent seller. Selling through a dealer is a stress-free option, although it will fetch you a lower price. It is because they refurbish the car to match the showroom condition and be protected by a six-month warranty per the Lemon Law. You can also sell through online third-party websites.

These websites make the selling process easier but take a cut of the sale proceeds. You can also decide to sell as an independent party through classified ads. Though this process is tedious, it will fetch you a higher price than the other options.

Get Your Paperwork Ready

Having your paperwork ready and in order helps prove that your liability ends with the transfer of ownership to the new buyer. Also, make sure you have your logbook, owner’s manuals, and receipts of service ready for the new owner to inspect.

Create an Eye-catching Ad

Creating an eye-catching advert is crucial if you decide to sell your car as an independent party. A good advert has to have a reasonable price, good quality photos, and a clear description of the details of your vehicle. Be honest about the condition of the car. It will make the sale and negotiations easier. Do some research and understand the market value of your vehicle. When setting the price, consider depreciation. Posting an amount that is not equal to the value of the vehicle will make your car hard to sell.

Meeting buyers and test drive

When you decide to meet buyers, it’s not smart to give out your home address. You can choose to meet at the town center where the potential buyer can check out the car. Also, make sure to confirm the buyer has a valid driving license before they go for the test drive. When you come to a consensus about the price of the car, never sign over the papers before receiving the full payment. If paid through a check, make sure it’s cleared before signing the sale agreement.

Armed with the above tips above, you are now ready to sell your car. Make sure to improve your negotiation skills and have a price that you wouldn’t go below. When you meet potential buyers, you can also bring with you a friend or relative to help you conclude the sale.