When deciding to sell a vehicle, many people don’t know where to start. The car buying and selling process can get overwhelming—so we’re sharing our best tips and tricks on how to sell your car quickly, stress-free, and still get more bang for your buck. Whether you sell your vehicle privately or through a dealership, there are some things we think you should know before you sell your car.
When asking, “How do I sell my car?” there are many options—but the most common are selling your vehicle privately, trading-in at a dealership, and selling for an instant cash offer. The best option for you will be determined by how much work you want to put into the process and how much money you want to make at the end of the deal.
Selling Your Vehicle Yourself
Selling your car by yourself is the best chance you have at making the most money off your used vehicle. It will also take much more work and effort—but it can be done! You will need to market your vehicle with curb-appeal (this is easier to do these days with social media!) and meet several potential buyers before you close the deal. You’ll also need to gather all the paperwork for your vehicle including car title, service and repair history, and initial purchase documents to help the car-selling process run more smoothly and efficiently.
If you can show potential buyers a detailed report on the car’s history and inspection—you will be far more likely to make the sale. If you still owe money on your car, this will complicate the process but it’s not impossible! You will need to contact your lender to determine how you will get the title for your vehicle to find out how to sell a car that’s not paid off. You may have the opportunity to set a higher price for your vehicle if you sell it yourself—and if the extra work is worth the effort, this is a great option to take.
Trading In Your Vehicle
Trading in your old vehicle to a dealership is the easiest way to sell your car because the dealership will take care of all cleaning, marketing, title transfer, and more. You may make less instant cash with this option, but you will save considerable time and hassle. If you already have a car in mind that you are purchasing from a dealership, trading your old vehicle in will lower the cost of your new car and your monthly payment, as well as a small tax savings to top it off!
Instant Cash Offer
There is also a new way to sell your car called an Instant Cash Offer (ICO). This can be done online, over the phone, or at a dealership if you simply want cash for your car and have no desire to trade it in. All you’ll need to do is provide your car’s VIN or license plate number, the car mileage, and a detailed description of the condition—and you can get an instant offer for how much the value will be. By bringing your vehicle in to the dealership will always ensure your highest offer when the appraiser can see your vehicle in person.
Another common question we often get from customers wanting to sell their car is, “How much should I sell my car for?” The answer to this question has many variables depending on car age, mileage, condition, and more. You can find the answer to this question by stopping into a dealership for a quote or searching online for a used car estimate. Study common car costs and trade-in values so you can ensure you are getting the best deal.
Whether you’re ready to sell or just looking at your options—be sure to take care of your vehicle by bringing it in for regular maintenance, oil changes, and tire checks. When you take good care of your vehicle you are far more likely to make more money in the long run if and when you try to sell.
If you need help understanding how to sell or trade-in your vehicle, our knowledgeable vehicle representatives will be happy to sit down with you via phone or in-person to discuss the options that are best for you. Swing by one of our many showrooms today (virtually or in-person) and we’ll be happy to help with whatever you need.
Stay safe and healthy!
- Your friends at Bob Penkhus