Selling your car is much easier than it was many years ago. Thanks to technology, reaching the ideal buyer has never been easier, faster, or more affordable. However, the basics are still the same if you want to get the best price for your car. Whether you are selling a mint condition car or one that needs a little love, these 5 easy steps to selling your car will help you get a fair price.
1. Local research
Check out the places you can sell your car locally. For example, if you live in Houston, Texas, a quick search on terms such as “sell my car in Houston” will yield many results. There will be websites, trade magazines, and your local classifieds. All these offer a variety of places to advertise your car for sale, some offering quick sales that give you instant cash. By checking out the places to sell your car you will also get a good idea of what your car is selling for in its condition — you can always also find the book value of your car for comparison. Now you are ready to start selling.
2. Gather documents
It is vital to make sure you have all your documents together when selling your car. Having the paperwork conveniently at your fingertips makes absolute sense. It is always worth just checking online to make sure you have the correct paperwork and documents to make an easy sale — for companies that offer to buy your car on the spot they nearly always have a handy checklist for you to use.
3. Clean and repair
Get your car in sales condition. A clean car always fetches more money, and a quick visit to the local car wash for a valet nearly always pays off. Clean the car, the upholstery, and even the engine. It makes sense to fix any minor damages such as broken brake lights or tail lights or a loose exhaust. Once done, take some photos of the car in a good light. From here, you can post your car on the website of choice and wait for the buyers to come.
4. Allow test drives
The penultimate stage of selling your car is the test drive. Having ensured your car is squeaky clean, make sure your tank has gas in it and ideally make sure your car is parked in a place where access is easy. Always join the buyer of the car for the test drive, guide them on a short but suitable route, and while test driving points out some features that stand out on your vehicle.
5. Close the deal
Closing the deal is the final stage, and this can either be easy or difficult. If you are looking for a quick sale and are using a company that buys cars for cash, there will be a price in mind and the scope for negotiation is minimal. However, if selling the car to a private buyer, there is more room to negotiate a good deal. Be fair and be honest; it is easy to know what a car is really worth today and trying to make too much money is a sure-fire way to blow the deal. Have your paperwork and bank details ready and make sure you get a signature once the deal is done.
This is a collaborative article.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.