There are many reasons why you would want to sell your car. If your car belongs to the outdated versions, it is better to get rid of it sooner than later because with every passing day, you may lose on the value.
Selling a car can seem daunting, so if you’re wondering how to sell your car fast, we got you! Check out our 15 tips and you might just end up securing the best possible deal and price for your vehicle.
Best ways to sell a car:
There are different ways to sell your car and you need to be careful while considering which way you choose, the value of your car will also differ accordingly. The first method is trading in at the car dealership. This will be a quick process and save you the hassle of listing, setting a price, contacting potential buyers etc., it might also help you save on the sales tax on your new purchase. However, a con is that you might not have to settle for less than the best value for your car.
The best way to sell a car is to sell it privately. Although time taking, it will allow you to negotiate on your own terms and is the most profitable way. Besides this there are also Instant cash offers available these days. This is the quickest way to sell a car and can be redeemed instantly at any of the local dealers.
Collecting your documents:
This is a crucial step that is often overlooked. You need to be well aware of the paperwork for selling a car and make sure all your documents are in place. Important documents include the Car title and service records which usually show tracks of oil change, mechanical fixes etc. The service records might be good to cast a good impression on the potential buyers, if you’re selling a car privately. The original sales paperwork is also an important document that should be taken care of. Besides this, you must also keep a history of the vehicle, like, involvement in any accidents, etc., handy.
How to ready your car for sale:
You should put your best foot forward as you ready your car to sell. You should begin by decluttering the inside, removing all personal belongings, cleaning the dashboard, washing the carpets and clearing the trunk space properly. As for the exterior, you need to remove all kinds of stickers and magnets and get the small dents and scratches repaired and if possible, polished. Last but not the least, you should check your brakes and tires and get them replaced if needed.
How to find the right sales price:
Everyone wants the best sales price for their used car. But what this often leads to is that you end up overestimating the price of your vehicle, which can lead to many problems. If you set your value and expectations too high you will face problems in selling your car. In order to get a realistic assessment you should get the condition of your car checked by a mechanic and also look at local listings of the given model to get a fair idea of the price range. If your car needs some major repairs then the set value will go down automatically.
Also Read: How To Sell Your Used Car At The Right Time And Get Maximum Returns
How to sell a car safely:
If you are selling your car privately you need to be careful and assure that all safety measures are taken to ensure a hassle-free and secure exchange. There are some simple tips that can help you.
Bring a friend or family member with you as you go to get the vehicle inspected or test driven by the potential buyer.
Meet at a known, safe place
You may opt for any reliable escrow service while making the deal as it takes payment from the buyer before the exchange and will prevent any chances of fraud.
Choose your medium of payment carefully: It is advisable not to take large payments in cash, online or electronic payments are preferable.
What to know before inspections:
For starting off good, you should get a pre-sale inspection of your car done by a reliable mechanic. Used car pre inspection is often opted by the buyers before they make a purchase to make sure the condition of the vehicle is good. If you get it done from your end it might put them off from their own inspection and will also tell you about any issues that you might need to know about.
How to negotiate the price:
You might want to have the upper hand while conducting negotiations but you must also keep in mind that you’re making a deal with the buyer as an equal. So after initially setting the price, you might want to let the buyer take a lead in negotiating and see where it goes. However, always keep in mind the lowest acceptable price and try to stay stern on that so that you don’t lose out on profit.
How to prepare yourself for paperwork:
We have already talked about the paperwork for selling a car. Paperwork mainly concerns the transfer of ownership and that differs from state to state. You may check at the local DMV location which will let you know about the required paperwork and procedure. Most states require the buyer to :
Retitle the vehicle
Make a registration in his or her name
Payment of transfer fees which will also include the state tax.
As the seller, you need to get a pollution(smog) test done on your used vehicle before you sell it to someone, as a part of the regulations in most states.
How to choose payment options:
You should also look into the different private car sale payment options available and choose one which is reliable as well as convenient. The safest payment methods include payment via online instruments like PayPal or cheque transfer as both the options keep your private bank information confidential and will most probably safeguard you against fraud.
How to take good photos of car:
In this day and age of digital technology you want to make sure that the pictures you upload with your “for sale” advertisement are perfect. Here are some useful tips:
Choose the right time of the day and photograph your car in the daytime
Check for the background, it should not be very distracting
Shoot your car from every angle
Take both long distance and close up shots
While taking pictures of the interior, make sure that there’s no clutter lying around.
Update your car insurance:
Another important step while selling a used car that needs to be taken care of is updating your car insurance and its transfer to the new owner. Many state laws make the transfer of the vehicle insurance policy to the new owner soon after the purchase is made, mandatory. So make sure to update and tell your buyer about the policy and also check in with the insurance company for hassle free transfer.
Why should you sell your car to a dealer:
Out of the many ways to sell your car that we discussed, selling it to a dealership is perhaps the most convenient. It will provide the following benefits; first you will save up on the time and effort which usually comes with private listing and sale, you will be paid quickly, the dealership will usually pay for all the repairs required after adjusting it in the price you get, and you will also have to pay lesser sales tax! Usually you will only have to pay up for the amount of money which is equal to the difference between the selling price of your used vehicle and the purchase price of the new one.
How to choose best dealership in market:
If you have decided to sell your car at a dealership, you need to make sure that you choose the best one out of the lot in the market. You can look at things like the quotation offered by a number of dealerships and opt for the best out of them. Besides this, reputation and reliability also matter a lot, so you should go for the trusted and tried ones around the town.
Don’t hide anything about your car:
As they say, honesty is the best policy and this is also the best way to sell a used car privately. As you meet and negotiate with the buyer, you need to make sure that you don’t hide anything from them, especially any drawbacks, technical issues and accident history about your vehicle. Being authentic and negotiating on honest terms will cast a good impression and increase your credibility as well.
Where to sell your car easily:
We’ve talked about how selling your car at local dealerships can be easy and hassle free. Another way to sell your car is through private listing. For that, you don’t need to worry for days and run about here and there. Nowadays, sales advertisements can easily be put up on websites and you can upload your ad and get a line of buyers right up your alley, pretty quickly. Cashforcars is a website that makes this process especially easy for you! So get ready to sell your used car in a number of simple steps.
Planning always makes way for a successful outcome and using these amazing tricks, you can sell your used car in the best way and at the best price. So get started while keeping a checklist of these 15 tips for success handy!
