Saying Goodbye to Your Old Car

Car Inspection

Selling your used car doesn’t have to be a headache. While it can seem like a daunting process, these steps will make the process easier.

Step 1: Assess your urgency

How soon do you need to get rid of your car? If you need to express-sell your car for any reason, you may not have enough time to prep your vehicle and put it on the market. If speed is what you’re looking for, you might want to consider selling your car on consignment. In this case, you would sell it through a third party vendor—a dealer—who typically keeps a fee or a commission that derives from the sale. While this arrangement saves time and is less problematic, it will obviously give you a lesser return.

Step 2: Beautify your car

Make your car appealing inside and out; give it a thorough wash, change the floor mats, make sure you repair any dents, scratches, or anything that isn’t working properly. You want your car to look like it has been well maintained for years. While preparing your vehicle costs money, it will also help you sell it at a higher price.

Step 3: Determine your car’s value

A car loses value every year. To know what your vehicle is worth in the market, we suggest you find out what similar vehicles are being sold for through websites like Cars.com or eBay Motors. Also, use resources like Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides, where you can find a range to get you thinking about the price tag.

Step 4: Put your car on the market

Now it’s time to place that ad. Be honest in your description, take images of your vehicle, and share the VIN number so they can do a CARFAX report on it. To give the potential buyer peace of mind, you can say you have all maintenance and service records in hand and even throw in a complimentary “professional inspection.” Spread the word through social media and vehicle selling sites. This will give it more exposure and your chances of selling will skyrocket.

Step 5: Choose a buyer

Once you have a potential buyer, it’s time to make the transaction. Make sure the check clears before handing them the keys if they’re not paying in cash. Now it’s time to transfer the title and registration. Say goodbye to your beloved vehicle.

Step 6: Cancel your vehicle’s insurance

This is the last necessary step. Congratulations! You just sold your old car.

 
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