There are a lot of variables to making the decision of selling a vehicle. What are the pros and cons to waiting? What are the pros and cons to selling now? Hopefully this article can help you with your decision making process.

Why Oh Why?

First question you need to ask yourself is, why do I want to sell my car? Is it an extra car that you just don’t use much anymore? Did your transportation needs change and you are wondering if you can do without? If it’s the former than there are several things to consider. One would be maintenance, even if you rarely use the vehicle you should still maintain it for when you do end up selling it. Things like keeping it clean and making sure it’s still in good working order are important but because you aren’t using this car regularly those costs probably won’t add up as much. There’s less wear and tear and it’s not like you have to pay for gas as often as you would with a car that is used daily. You will, however, have to continue to pay insurance for it, so if that is a cost that you feel adds up then that is certainly a consideration.

As to the latter, then there are some additional considerations. One being, are you still actively paying off the car? If you have found other transportation means that you feel are adequate to your needs then having to pay probably hundreds of dollars a month, plus gas, plus insurance, plus other variables such as tolls or parking depending on where you live, then all of that can add up to quite the sum. While with bus fees in most cities, for instance, might cost you a $100 to $200 a month, depending on usage. If you have already paid off this vehicle well then the other fees associated with having a car day-to-day can still be more than using the bus or other transportation means.

By understanding why you feel the need to sell your vehicle you better understand the urgency of the situation. Another factor to consider is the market itself.

How is the Car Economy?

Since the recession began, the demand for vehicles has dropped because a lot of people have decided they cannot afford making such a large purchase. While there are differences in the used car market vs the new car market, it is important to acknowledge that demand for any type of car is currently weak and this affects all types of vehicles across the board.

A Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market?

One might also call this time a buyer’s market because for those that can or need to buy a new vehicle they have a lot more power and options than they would in a healthier market, thus potentially making it more difficult for someone trying to sell.

On the other hand, there were a lot of older cars that were scrapped during the “Cash for Clunkers” government program and that means there are fewer older cars available – which there is always a demand for.

What is Your Car Worth?

One more aspect to examine would be the depreciation of your vehicle. Calculate how much you could potentially get for your car now and in a year or two. This is especially important if you still owe money on your car. If you are in the lucky spot of being able to get more for your vehicle than you owe, then it would almost be silly not to make the attempt at selling it.

The first thing you’ll want to do is find out how much you owe. Call your bank or lender and get the payoff amount. They will tell you what that is and then how long that amount is good for – like maybe 2 weeks or 30 days. It’s the amount you’d have to bring in to completely pay off the vehicle.

If you don’t owe anything on your car, then go to the next step…

The next thing to do is figure out how much you can get for your car. There are websites like Kelly Blue Book and others that will help you estimate what your car might be worth. Another good place to look is eBay Motors. We explain how to do this in another, good article here on this website:

What Should I Sell My Car For?

Are You Attached to Your Car?

Another thing to understand is that even for the most practical, logical, and/or pragmatic person, selling your vehicle might become somewhat emotionally difficult — it’s not uncommon for people to become attached to their vehicles. Not only is it a big purchase, but a lot of people spend time researching for one that fits not only their needs but also their style, there is a lot to get attached to.

Sell it Yourself or With a Dealer?

Finally, one last consideration would be if you plan on selling to a dealership or privately; the former will probably mean getting less for your vehicle but the latter will most certainly take longer to sell. Ideally, you want your car to sell quickly and get a lot for it. Sure, that’s ideal but it might not happen. It’ll depend on things like your market, the economy, the time of year and your vehicle. Going with a dealer might be the best option for you, so definitely think and consider it. You can even talk to a few dealers and get some offers.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you will have to make the decision if you want to sell your car or wait. If you’re not sure, then you can always put it out there for sale with a higher price and see if you get any interest. I’ve done that… I got it ready, advertised it and put a high price on it. I didn’t get any takers then but at least I knew that I didn’t miss out on anything – meaning, a buyer that really wanted it for about any price. You might get lucky and find such a person but to get in that situation, you have to make the decision to sell your car or not.

If you just can’t afford your car right now, then put it up for sale and at get at least what you owe on it. When you get rid of your car, you won’t have expenses like fuel, insurance, repairs and cleaning (car washes, etc.). You’ll save money. You can always save up or choose to finance a car later when things get better.

Thanks for stopping by and reading this article. We hope you share it with others. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments area below and we’ll be sure to answer your question.

Can I Sell a Financed Car?

First of all, yes – you can privately sell a car that is still financed. You can sell it yourself or trade it in at a dealer but you’ll get more for the vehicle when you sell it yourself (that’s sort of the point of this whole website – helping you sell your car quickly and get the most for it by doing it yourself).

The main thing you need to know is that you have to call your bank (or wherever it’s financed) and ask for the payoff amount. This is the amount you would have to pay in order to get rid of the loan and have the car just in your name.

Along with that, you’ll need to notify anyone coming to see the vehicle that the title is not clear and that there’s still a loan on the car. Be sure to tell them that you know the payoff amount. They’ll ask what that is and it’s fine to tell them. It just can’t be for more than you’re asking – you’d essentially be “underwater” with your vehicle loan-wise if this is the case.

Underwater With a Car Loan

Being underwater with your car loan means you owe more on the car than it’s worth. This is a problem if you want to sell the car. Your best option here is to wait or find the money to pay down the loan more so that you’re not underwater with it. You should ask yourself if you really need to get a different car or if you can wait.

I was in this situation once – I traded in a car that I owed money on and got a new car. The dealer and bank then rolled what I owed on the old car into the new loan. I look back and don’t know why they did that. It seems that today, banks would be less likely to do that.

One option is to try to sell the car, get the most you can for it and then take out a personal loan or home equity loan to cover the difference. You might even be able to take a loan out on your 401k or retirement plan but that’s not a good idea and it should be avoided if possible.

One more option might be to get a different loan on the vehicle if you have good credit. Maybe you can get a lower interest rate or extend the payments over another year or so and then you’d have a lower monthly payment. Often, these loans don’t take effect for 45 days, so you’d also be able to skip a payment, which might also help you.

Selling Your Car That You Own On

Let’s go through the complete process on how to sell a car that is not paid off so that you do it right and don’t run into problems. Know that you’ll have to do a little bit of extra work but if you really want to sell the car, you probably can. One important thing is to make sure potential buyers that come by to look at the car feel comfortable. If they ask you what you owe or what the payoff is and you don’t even know, they’ll probably leave.

1. Call your lender and find out what the payoff is. They’ll tell you how long that amount is good for. It might be a week or 15 days or 30 days.
2. Find out how much your car is worth and then price it properly.
3. Clean your vehicle and get it ready to sell. Take good pictures, write up good ads and get the word out (online and offline).
4. Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork ready for when people show up. You’ll need the title (with the lien note on it), a bill of sale document and any other paperwork that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your state requires (smog test, etc.).

What to do When the Sale Happens

When you have agreed on a price with a buyer, you’ll need to get the title in their name. To do that, you will first have to go to your lender (bank) with your check or cash from the buyer and then have the loan paid off. The complicated thing here is that if you have a personal check, the bank might want to wait for the check to clear and this will delay things. If possible, get cash or a bank check. The bank check can be made out to you or your bank.

Your lender might be able to give you a lien release right then or it might take a few days. When you get it, you’ll need to go to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and get a clean title that does not show a lien on the vehicle. Once you have that, you can sign the vehicle’s title over to the new owner, like normal.

The buyer might want to go to the bank with you. If this is the case, then that’s fine. Plan a time where you can both do it together. Maybe call your bank ahead of time and ask what the best time is to do that and who you should talk to – just to ensure that everything goes smoothly. If you get in there during their busiest time, you’ll have to wait and let’s face it, that’s just awkward being there with someone you don’t know.

What Not to Do

Probably the worst thing you can do is not tell the buyer that the vehicle isn’t paid off. If you take their money and then tell them that you have to first go to your bank, they might not be happy. Be honest and tell them.

More Tips

If you want more tips and advice, I have another article here on this website that you should read:

How to Sell a Car Privately When it is Financed

Conclusion

Know that it is possible to sell a vehicle that is not paid off. It’s more work but it can be done. Your best bet is to find a way to first pay it off so that you don’t have to deal with all this extra work. You’ll also attract more buyers when the car title is clear as they know they won’t have to also work a little more to get the vehicle – it’s just a lot cleaner and easier this way.

Do everything you can to make the sale hassle free. Think of what questions someone might ask about the loan and have answers ready. Get the payoff and talk to your bank and see if they’ll work with you on your loan – just let them know what situation you’re in and they might even have some ideas that you haven’t thought of.

Thanks for stopping by the website and reading this article. If you have comments that might help someone, please leave them below. Please do share this article with others you know if you think this article is valuable and would help them.

Here are some tips and things to remember when buyers come to look at your vehicle.

Welcome Them and Be Hospitable

You may choose to meet at a mall, park or maybe at your home. Either way, greet people with a smile and a handshake. Tell them your name and ask them their names. Look them in the eye and be happy to see them… after all, they’re giving up part of their day to come look at your vehicle.

Give Them a Summary of the Vehicle

If you have a sheet printed out, that’s good. Give that to them. Also talk about the car and give them a nice summary of the history. The more you have on this sheet, the better it will look. You’ll look prepared and it will look like you have a good amount of knowledge about the vehicle you’re selling.

Selling Points

Have a number of selling points ready. These are highlights of the vehicle that they should know about. Here are some examples that someone might give:

• The car has only had one owner.
• We had the oil changed every 5,000 miles.
• We just had these things done to the car…
• Most of the miles are highway miles.
• We had the car detailed and waxed twice a year.
• The car gets great gas mileage.

Only say things that are true, of course, but those are some ideas. Be sure to explain what you like best about the car and why.

Be a Used Car Salesman

Ok, don’t be obnoxious, but be nice and courteous. Point out the features of “their new car” – that’s right tell them it’s theirs from the start. State that it’s new because it’ll be new to them. Buying a car is very emotional, so do your best to work that angle. It’s just being nice and courteous and making the experience the best it can be for the buyer since they’re making a big purchase. Treat them how you would like to be treated.

Watch and Listen

Pay attention to what they like most about the car and then emphasize those details. Don’t move on. Feed their interest by talking more about what they like. If something you pointed out seemed important, then talk more about that. Give more details. Remember these things at the end, too, when you’re negotiating.

For example, if you mentioned highway miles and that seemed important, then mention more and explain that route you take. Ask them if they’re familiar with that route.

Be Funny

It doesn’t help to throw in a little humor. Make sure it’s clean, not offensive. Buying a car is a bit emotional, so if you can make them chuckle a little, that only works in your favor. You’re making them feel more comfortable with you and the car.

Recognize the Trust Factor / Honesty

Part of what a buyer is thinking is if they can trust you. They don’t know you. If you’re honest, you’ll give quick answers that make sense. If you’re lying, your answers won’t come as quickly and you may end up contradicting yourself – so be honest… for sure!

If people sense something you’re saying isn’t right, they’ll probably leave right then and not waste any more of their time. Things will go smoother if you be honest.

Ask for the Purchase

Don’t forget your “call to action” and make sure you ask them if they want to buy it. Don’t wait for them to finally bring it up. Don’t ask too soon but a good way to ask is, “Is there anything else I can answer for you or are you ready to take the car home?” or something like that. This gives them two options… either ask more questions or buy it.

When it Comes Time to Haggling

Of course, it’s always better to wait for the other person to list a price but you already have a price for the car listed in your ad, so this is already done. You should always assume that the price listed there is the current price. Don’t come down in price right away until they say something first.

One show on TV I like is “Pawn Stars.” I really like the haggling they do when they buy something from someone. If you get a chance, watch that show and pay attention to how they haggle. They have a bottom line price in mind and usually won’t go beyond that price. That’s a good strategy. Don’t be afraid to let a buyer go – another one will be by soon. Have patience and you’ll make more money.

Have some vehicle estimate sheets printed out from KBB.com, Edmunds and NADAGuides.com. It’s good to have the one with the highest price listed (usually NADA) because if the buyer happened to do their homework and shows you the lowest one, you can whip out the highest one, which can help you negotiate in your favor.

Conclusion

When you go to a store or buy something from someone, you like to be treated well, right? That’s why you should treat people well when they come to see your vehicle. It’s not hard to do. Smile and be friendly to them. Answer their questions. If you don’t know something, maybe offer to find out and get back to them. Be honest with them. Don’t dodge questions but answer the question they’re asking without changing the subject. Make a joke or two. Tell a good, short story about a good time you had with the car. You have an advantage over a salesperson at a local car lot – unlike them, you’ve had firsthand experience with the car you’re selling. Use that to your advantage!

I’ve tried to pack a lot of good information and advice into this article. If I missed something, please leave a comment below. Don’t forget to share this post with people you know.

1. Clean Your Car Thoroughly

First impressions count more than any other. Remember if your car is an absolute mess it gives an indication to the potential buyers that you didn’t pay much attention to maintaining your car in other more important ways in the past. The outside is more vital than the inside so do your best to pay attention to details. Consider having the car cleaned up professionally if you must.

2. Research the Right Price

Knowing how much money you should be aiming for is much easier when you research the Blue Book value of your car and sensibly judge its condition. Otherwise you are flying blind and someone who did their homework could fast talk money out of your pocket!

3. Make Minor Repairs

Do you have a window that leaks or other minor repair that is both quick and inexpensive to take care of? Handle it and you greatly boost your chances to get more for your used car. The benefit of your doing this is mainly a psychological one, but it works well. Trust me. Not being lazy about minor repairs is a tip not to ignore. You could earn extra hundreds by paying attention to these types of details.

4. The Smell Counts, Too

You might be surprised at how your call smelling a bit “off” compared to having a new car smell can affect your final selling price. People will be in the car, checking it out and feel that something is not quite right. They might notice a smell or maybe not but smell is one of our senses and it’s connected with emotion, so you want to make sure you have this one covered.

Even if a two dollar air freshener resulted in a extra twenty in your hand it’s nothing, but a great investment isn’t it? An air freshener is the least you can do. To go the extra step, have the car’s upholstery and carpets steam cleaned – either by yourself or at a local car wash.

All these things add up in the end!

5. Use the Web to Your Advantage

Craig’s List is a obvious great choice to put the good word out about your used car being for sale. It’s free after all. Another free resource is social media. Facebook and twitter can let your friends and family know you have a car for sale. A few shares later and your ca may be sold minus any hardcore negotiations at all. Don’t forget to include lots of quality photos!

6. Write Good Ad Copy (or Have Someone Write it for You)

Yes, selling your used car makes you, at least for the moment, a sales person. Sales go much easier when following up good marketing, which is exactly what your ads are – marketing your used car. The better wrote your ad ultimately the more you will get for your car. And quicker too.

7. Gather Your Maintenance Records

If you have well documented maintenance records they could earn you a good deal more on your car’s final sale price. These papers offer hard credible evidence you have taken good care of your car over the years. Some experts estimate this could mean even as much as an extra ten percent tacked on to your selling price! Keep good records, they pay off in more ways than one.

8. Negotiate Like a Boss

Negotiating prices can be both an art and science. Now it may not pay for you to read one of the many books on the subject or listen to an audio course, but why not hit Google and get some tips on how to best haggle about your final sale price? I bet even reading a good page or two will pay off in the end.

Conclusion

All in all if you pay attention to these little (and not so little) details you are nearly guaranteed to walk away better off from your used car sale than if you rushed in blind and unprepared. After all you’d like every extra dollar you can get to go towards your new car wouldn’t you? I certainly value every penny in that situation.

Best of luck selling your used car. Did I miss one of your favorite tips? Let me know I would love to hear them! Leave them in the comments area below. Please also share this article.

Find Out What’s Wrong First

In order to know what needs to be fixed, you have to find out what’s wrong. You might think you know of a few things but have you had the car checked by a mechanic? You need to be aware of all the issues of the car you’re selling.

Stop in at a Local Mechanic

Take the car to a local mechanic and tell them that you’re going to be selling the car and want it checked over. Ask for a complete diagnostic of the vehicle. Some places do this for free because your car is already there and you can have them do the work. They will do an inspection and give you a list of things that either need to be fixed or should be fixed. You might decide right then to get a few things fixed or you may pass on some things.

When you do this, you’re doing what a buyer might do. They might request to have the car inspected by someone. When you do it yourself, you’re one step ahead of them.

You can either opt to take care of some items so that the list isn’t so long or you can simply tell them that you’ve had it done and show them the list. Doing this, you’re showing your hand and not giving them a chance to even be dealt any cards. You’re showing that you’re basing the price you’re asking for knowing about these issues. They then can’t ask for much money off the price to get some things fixed.

This is a really valuable thing you can do. Even if you don’t decide to get anything fixed by a mechanic, you at least know what needs to be fixed. You might have someone come by to look at it that knows more about cars than you do and if they spot 3-4 things right away that you didn’t know about, you don’t look too knowledgeable about what you’re selling and it’ll be a tougher sale.

Go ahead and make some copies of the report that you get and hand it to the people coming to see the car. This is also a great tip because by doing this, they probably won’t want to have it checked out again by someone else. Your sale will go much quicker as you won’t have to wait for them to have it inspected or coordinate that with you and their schedules (huge headache avoided). Make sure the date on the report is recent to show that you just had it checked.

Phone a Friend!

Besides going to a mechanic, it’s good to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Ask a friend to come over and look over the car. Ask them what they think of it and what they might find as being wrong with it. You know most of the quirks of your car but you might also be blind to some things. They should look for things like dings, scratches and things not working. Ask them to pretend they’re buying the car.

When you do this, it’s kind of like a dress rehearsal for when you actually put it up for sale. By doing this practice session, you’re better able to come up with reactions to what people say because you’ve done it once before.

Go for Some Cheap Fixes

Personally, I’d rather get things fixed right than put on bandages that might hold until the car drives off with a new buyer in it. Even so, this doesn’t mean that you have to put on the best tires if the car needs tires. Go for the cheaper version of the fix if you can.

Using “Bandages”

Again, this isn’t my style but, for example, if you have a leaky radiator, you might try some fluid to help stop the leak or something like that. There is basically a whole aisle at your local auto parts store devoted to fluids and things to fix things cheaply. A trained mechanic will most likely see right through what you’ve done. They might see that something was leaking and now it’s not and know what you did.

OEM Parts

The acronym OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” This means get replacement parts made by the original manufacturer of the car. You’d be amazed at how cheap some of these parts are when you buy them online instead of at a dealer.

I had a broken hook on the privacy shade of my RSX and found that part online for like $2. I then went through the car and found 3-4 other small parts like that which were broken or missing from use over the years. I think the whole bill with shipping was less than $20. By doing this, the car looked more “put together” and cared for. I believe I got more than $20 worth by investing that money.

Car Parts at Amazon

You can also find some good car parts over at Amazon.com. They have a huge selection of whatever you would need for your car. You can either buy replacement parts or car maintenance parts as well.

Get Some Things Fixed

Depending on the price, probably the best things to get fixes are the obvious ones. If something creaks or makes a noise or makes the car ride bumpy, you are probably best off fixing those things. They’re distracting. You could have a nice car except for kind of loud muffler or squeaky bearings and it’ll ruin the whole experience when someone takes a test drive in it.

Get the safety things fixed for sure. This means the brakes and tires. People won’t want to buy a car that doesn’t seem safe.

You should have no dashboard warning lights on. There should be no “Check Engine” light, maintenance light or any other kind of warning. That’s a huge turnoff and it’ll make it really hard to sell your car.

Alignments are super cheap but they help. I hate driving a car that’s out of line – where you basically have to hold the steering wheel in order to make it drive straight. That’s pretty annoying. Why make a test drive annoying for someone? Pay the $80 and get it fixed so that they’re not bothered by that. They might see that and ask for $200 off the selling price where you could have fixed it for $80 and made an extra $120.

Body Work

Where I live, there’s a local car detailing and body work company that advertises how they take care of small dings and scratches on cars for a pretty decent price. I think this is a good idea because people are holding on to their cars longer now and getting some small dents and scratches fixed can help the car seem more like new.

Try to find a place like this in your area. Go in and they should be able to give you a free estimate on what it would take to fix those things. Maybe you don’t get them all done to save a few bucks but why not get them all done? If it’s $200, then add $400 onto the price of the car so that you profit from it.

Do Regular Maintenance Now

Go ahead and do regular auto maintenance things like getting the oil changed and fluids checked. You’ll be able to show the buyer that this work was recently done. It’ll show you care for the car and it’s something they won’t have to do.

Show The Car’s Maintenance Records

Hopefully you’ve kept a file folder or shoe box full of receipts that has anything to do with the car you’re selling. Most people do this. This is something good to show to buyers. They’ll feel going know that they have some records of history with the vehicle and can see when certain work was done. I do this and even keep oil change receipts in it… why not?

More Tips to Get Your Vehicle Ready

1. Of course, clean the car and get it detailed.
2. Take everything out of it – all your junk.
3. Remove window and bumper stickers.
4. Remove any accessories you’ve added.

It’s best to get your vehicle as close to stock condition as possible. Clean it good. Put in new car mats and add a nice air freshener – stuff like that. Make sure it doesn’t stink and make sure it’s nice and clean.

Conclusion

Again, putting some money into the car takes care of a few things. First, it’s something people can’t bring up when they’re looking the car over – I like to say “less things in the equation” meaning less obstacles and things in the way to get to your goal. Second, think of it as increasing the value of the car. Pay $200 in repairs and raise your asking price by $400 so that you’re making more money. Look at it that way instead of losing money by spending it on repairs because that’s not how it is.

Make sure you sell people a safe car and one they can see themselves driving and your sales job will be much easier.

How did I do? Did I cover everything? Do you have more ideas? If so, please leave those comments below. Also be sure to share this article!

Selling a vehicle privately instead of at a used car lot has its benefits. You are likely to get more money by selling your vehicle privately rather than trading it to a car dealer. However, there are several important factors to be considered before putting your car up for sale. With the right set of knowledge, you will be able to easily set a fair price for the car and avoid scammers who tend to prey on used-car sellers.

In order to avoid any hassles, you should know these 12 things about selling your car yourself.

1. Value

Before you put the vehicle up for sale, you have to establish its true value. This is the only way you are going to set the fairest asking price. There are online sources that can assist you to quickly find out the car’s value based on its model, make, and condition. Here are some good online sources:

• Kelly Blue Book
• Edmunds
• NADA Guides

It is also important to note that vehicle prices can vary by city and state. You can also look at websites of used-car dealers in your area to see how much your vehicle would go for. If you overprice the vehicle, you will be greatly disadvantaged because you won’t attract any buyers.

2. Fix and Clean the Car

When it comes to sales, the first impression can either make or break you. The car has to be in good physical condition to attract more buyers. Even if the vehicle is in good mechanical shape, prospective buyers can be turned off if it has a dirty interior or muddy body. Detail the car and make sure any mechanical issues have been repaired.

3. Paperwork

Make sure you have gathered all the necessary paperwork you will need before you begin the sale. These usually include warranty information (if there is still any coverage) and the title (if your car loan is completely paid off). Having this paperwork beforehand will make finalizing the sales much quicker and efficient.

Make sure your car’s title is clear – which means it’s not showing a lien holder. Sometimes what happens is, your bank will give you something stating that the car is paid for but you still have to pass that on to your state’s Motor Vehicle Department so that it can show it as paid off on the car’s title.

4. Collect Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Records

Collect all the maintenance records – this is everything from oil changes to tires, to brakes to whatever. These records will help potential buyers feel at ease because they know the vehicle was well cared for. You can also buy a vehicle history report then print out recent price estimations. Maintenance records can also be used to answer a potential buyer’s questions and concerns about the car’s condition.

5. Look out for Scammers

There are several private car sale related scams. One solid way of avoiding scams is to request picture identification from any potential buyers. If a buyer refuses to provide ID, then there is a high chance you are dealing with a scammer it someone will ill intent.

If you advertise your car on Craig’s List, then be especially careful of who contacts you. You might get people saying they need the car and will buy it without seeing it. If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. Be smart.

6. Advertising is Important

Slapping a “for sale” sticker at the rear window simply does not cut it. You have to increase your chances of selling your vehicle by making sure you have fully utilized car-buying websites and free online classifieds.

Look for free advertising options and exhaust them before you start paying for any ads. Also use social media to spread the word about your vehicle. When creating an online ad, make sure you include a lot photos of the vehicle’s exterior and interior.

7. Be Willing to Compromise

More often than not, buyers tend to offer a few hundred dollars less than the initial asking price. You can pad the asking price a bit, while remaining fair and competitive. You have to be willing to knock off a couple hundred dollars.

8. Deal with the DMV

Every state DMV has their own set of requirements; however, a general requirement is that you have to provide a clear title and that the car must be loan free. You have to document the sale to the DMV. There are some states that require a smog test for vehicles past a certain year. The odometer reading has to be verified before a sale.

Check to make sure everything is in order with the laws in your area if you want a successful car sale without problems.

9. Time Frame

Believe it or not, some times of the year are much better for selling vehicles than others. For example, most people are not interested in purchasing a car around or during the holidays because their focus is on other expenses such as holiday parties and gifts. A good time to put your car up for sale would be tax refund season. This is a time when people have extra cash to spend on huge purchases like vehicles.

10. Avoid Sharing Personal Information

There are some people who target private car sellers in order to attain their personal info and use it to commit identity theft or property damage or theft. Avoid this risk by clearing all personal info from the car such as registration and insurance information that can be linked back to you. Also meet potential buyers away from your residence.

11. Limit Test Drives

Never allow more than one test driver in the car at any given time. Every potential buyer must provide a valid driver’s license and ID before going for a test drive. Lastly, never allow a potential buyer to drive the vehicle alone.

12. Verify the Payment in Full

Don’t surrender possession of the car till the car payment has fully been made and verified. If possible, do not accept any personal checks. Let every potential buyer know that the preferred mode of payment is cash, cashier’s check or money order.

Conclusion

If you’ve never sold a used car by yourself, then do good research or maybe you have a friend that has done it and would be willing to help you. If something doesn’t feel right in your gut, then trust your gut and say no. You don’t want to learn something the hard way.

If you have any comments on the tips we have here, please leave them below. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends!

If you are looking to sell your car, you may face some challenges. There are many factors which determine the price of a used car. If you are planning to sell a used car yourself, you need to consider all these factors and take action where needed.

When you plan to sell your car, take some time to review the following tips. These tips will help you make the most out of your deal. You will be able to extract more value on your car. Some of these tips require a bit of money, while others require a bit of time. However, if you use these tips while selling your car, you will be assured of a great deal. You will be able to significantly increase the car’s selling price.

Mechanical Issues

If there are any mechanical issues with your car, buyers may be scared away. You need to fix all the mechanical issues if you can. Even if you don’t want to fix mechanical issues, at least talk to a mechanic so that you can tell the buyer about an estimated cost when selling your car.

Tune Up and Inspection

Before selling your car, take it to a garage for a thorough inspection. This will let you know about the condition of lights, tires and brakes. Everything should be working and in good condition if you want a high price. Ask the mechanic to change the oil and inflate tires properly.

Vehicle History Report

Usually, buyers tend to get a report from CARFAX or other similar services If your buyer gets a report and you don’t have one, any issue listed on the report may come as a surprise to you. Even if your car is in good condition, there still may be some issues that may scare away buyers. Get a report, read it and ask the reporting company to fix any errors if there are any.

Detailing the Car

Almost every buyer loves a clean interior. In fact, one of the things that a buyer hates most in a car is smelly or dirty interior. Thus, detailing your car should top your priority list.

A full detail including cleaning cup holders, they engine bay, doing stain removal, wax, tire shine and carpet cleaning is extremely important. You should ask the car detailer to remove window and bumper stickers. Also ask him to remove any sticky residue. Seat conditioning is also very important as it makes your seats look brand new.

Don’t forget to have the carpets steam cleaned and put in a light air freshener. Smelling is a strong sense and you don’t want it smelling bad. If the car smells too strong of perfumes, that might turn people off, wondering what you’re hiding.

Cleaning

In case you park the car outside, it is important to rinse it off every week before each scheduled showing. If you are still using your car, it is important to keep the interior clean. Cleaning your car regularly gives the impression it was kept in good condition.

Mention Everything

Always mention everything about the car / be honest. While posting an ad, you should mention the make, year, model, condition, features, mileage and any kind of history that a buyer may want to know. For instance, if your car was involved in an accident, you should disclose some details about the accident and repairs that were made. You should also tell the buyer about any long-term effects. Usually, mechanical issues, accidents or cosmetic issues don’t kill a deal. However, misleading facts and dishonesty may.

Extensive Listing

List your car extensively on online forums and websites. There are even some specific websites which help buyers find used cars. Extensive listings will ensure maximum exposure and you will be able to get many options to choose from.

Prompt Response

Whenever a potential buyer calls or emails, you should respond promptly. It is important to respond within minutes or within the hour if at all possible. Buyers tend to look at numerous options at the same time. Usually, the first to return a call is able to make a sale.

Take Lots of Good Photographs

You should take multiple photographs of the car. Take shots from all angles and sides. You should photograph everything including the wheels, exterior and interior. This will help you for marketing purposes. You should also photograph all the features like the sunroof, navigation screen, satellite radio and DVD player. Take pictures of each tire as well as the engine.

Go to a place near by that looks good. If you can get the car on some nice grass or else an expensive looking place, then the car will look better. Of course, be careful and ask permission if necessary. Sometimes a local park will work or by a river, lake or ocean might be nice, too.

Make sure the lighting is good and that you don’t have a glare in the lens. Partly cloudy days work good for car photographs because if you catch the sun the right way, you can have blue skies in the background and no glare from the sun on the car.

Look through all the pictures you’ve taken and then decide on the best ones to put in your advertisements.

Pricing Your Car

Again, do your research and know what the car should sell for. See what other cars of your make, model, year and mileage have sold for. Have a price in mind of how low you will go and then stick to it. Go up about $500 or so from your bottom price so that you have some room to negotiate with buyers.

Conclusion

All the tips mentioned in this article don’t require too much money or time. However, they will significantly increase the value of your car. Always use these tips to make the most out of your car sale and get the most cash for your car.

If you have more great car selling tips, please leave them in the comments. Feel free to share this article with your friends.

Below are helpful tips on how to sell your car yourself for the most cash.

Selling Your Vehicle

You shouldn’t make your car look like something you’ve gotten tired of, something you are just too eager to let go. Even if that is the case, the impression you should give when selling your car is that of someone who is so much attached to it, and who values it very much. This kind of attitude will make potential buyers think that you’ve always taken great care of your car, even if it has suffered some few accidents, poor maintenance and numerous dents.

1. Make Your Car Look Great

Think about your car like a bride being led away to her bridal home. She must be well coiffed, embroidered with pearls, and made to reveal the best of her beauty. You should not bring your car to the market in bad shape, looking dirty and with noticeable scratches and dents. This should not surprise you; people will want to buy clean and attractive cars. You’ll not get much for your car if it looks like something picked from the junkyard.

Always remember how you felt the very moment you made up your mind to buy the car you are about to sell and work hard to create that feeling in your prospective buyers by cleaning your car, replacing old parts, and improving the paint. In short, make it shiny.

2. Think like a Car Dealer: Detail and Service Your Car

Car dealers can make the most of old cars that look useless and completely worn out. The secret to their success is common knowledge today: they have cars detailed. Spending $100 bucks to service your car will bring great rewards when you finally sell it.

Car detailers improve the paint, remove scratches, shampoo carpets, remove grease from the engine and replace floor mats. With the proper detailing, you can make your car look brand new and attractive.

Some repairs you’ll need to do to improve the overall rating of your car will include changing tires, fixing the locks that do not work well and fixing dents.

3. Prepare the Necessary Paperwork for Your Car

This may not seem very necessary, but it can be one of the major elements to think about when selling a car. By presenting maintenance papers, you’ll put the buyer’s mind at ease.

After polishing up your car, and getting it ready for the market, you should, like a valiant soldier showing off his brass buttons on an army uniform, prepare to present good papers.

Buyers will also trust you more when they see your CARFAX Vehicle History Report and service records.

4. Be Smart About the Entire Transaction

Where you sell your car can determine how much you get for it. Before deciding where to sell the car, it is important to work out its real value.

You may have done a lot of research on car sales and have greatly improved the condition of your car, but buyers will have done their research,too. Buyers have an idea of the market price of cars like yours. By being realistic, you’ll come off more convincing, whether you’re selling to a dealer or to an individual. Make sure you give a reasonable price for your car.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of selling your car in a dealer trade-in and decide accordingly; the price will certainly be lower than what you can get if you sell the car to an individual.

5. Advertise Your Car

After improving the condition and general appearance of your car, you should get the best advertising for it. The Internet offers free avenues for advertising and you can reach out to a good number of interested buyers. Get the best photos of your car and create free ads on sites like Craig’s List. Post photos on your Facebook profile and announce on social media platforms that you’re selling your car. This way, you’ll reach out to many potential buyers.

If you use a good advertising strategy, you’ll definitely receive many calls, which gives you the opportunity to take the highest bid for the car.

Conclusion

Some people may feel rushed to sell their car and lose out on hundreds of dollars that they could have received if they would have taken some time to get the car ready to sell. Spending a couple weeknights improving your car will fetch you more for it when you post it on Craig’s List Saturday morning.

We hope this article provided you with some good tips to get you the most cash for your car. If we missed something, please leave a comment for us. Please also share this article and pass it on to others.

A second hand car is known to be considerably cheaper than a new one – even so, you can still get a nice price provided that you take into account the following 10 great tips for selling your used car yourself:

1. Have All the Papers Ready

The first thing you need to do before you move on to advertising your car is to have it inspected and get all the warranties and maintenance records. Buyers will probably ask for the car’s papers and service records, so make sure you have all of them prepared. If the buyer sees they are up-to-date and you have them organized properly, he will surely trust you more.

2. Pay Extra Attention to the Ad

One of the parts of selling your car all by yourself is that you will have to take care of every detail, including advertising – even so, the benefit is that you will get all the money and you do not have to split it with a car dealer. Having said that, it is essential to design a great, attractive ad that will make your vehicle stand out from the rest of the ads.

If you want to advertise your car in the local newspaper, then take several professional photos (including the interior, exterior, engine and all the important parts) and write a specific, customer-oriented ad. On the other hand, if you plan to advertise it online then make a video ad as well – videos are far more appealing than plain text, so make sure you point out your car’s qualities!

3. Advertise on a Budget

Now that you have designed the ad and you have taken the pictures, the key is to never stick to just one advertising place. Sell your car online and make good use of specialized online marketplaces (Facebook, Twitter or Craig’s List are also extremely useful), but don’t limit yourself just to that. Post signs and posters wherever you can, and you can even put a “For Sale” poster on your car’s windshield, so that others will see it when you drive your car around town.

Be inventive, customers love original ideas!

4. Offer a Test Drive and Be Flexible

Most, if not all the prospects will ask for a test drive of your car, and that is perfectly normal – in the end, they must know what they will buy. Only discuss the price after the test drive and always be flexible, especially if you are on a really tight schedule and you can’t afford asking for a small fortune on your vehicle. If you want to sell it quickly and effortlessly, then being flexible in terms of price is certainly the key.

5. Know Your Car’s Pros and Cons

If you plan to sell your car, then the chances are that there are some minor flaws that can impact its price. This is why it is vital to be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of your car, before your potential customer points them out for you! Is the windshield slightly cracked, or is there a problem with the trunk? Find the problems and address them – if you can’t, at least hide them effectively.

6. Put Yourself in the Shoes of Your Buyer

This is the easiest and most objective way to see if you’re selling your car the right way. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and pretend you are interested in buying the vehicle for yourself. Be very careful and pay attention to the tires, the switches, controls, scratches, the wipers, the sound system, the lights and everything.

To take this a step further, ask a friend or neighbor to take a look at the car as if they were a buyer. They can give you some valuable feedback and they might ask some questions that a buyer might ask. This will help you prepare for when you actually have a buyer in front of you.

7. Find the Right Time to Sell Your Car

Believe it or not, there is such thing as the wrong time to sell your car. Buying a vehicle is a serious, long-term investment – don’t sell it during winter or bad weather, as the unfavorable weather conditions don’t allow your car to shine and show its full potential.

Also, another great tip is to avoid selling your car if you are short on money, since you may be tempted to sell it for a very low price.

8. Don’t Be Too Harsh on the Buyer

This is actually one of the most common mistakes people do when they try to sell their car – don’t be too judgmental and don’t laugh at your buyer if he can’t drive properly or if they try to negotiate badly. In the end, it’s their right to see if they can get a better price for the vehicle.

If a buyer is interested in your car and has the money, that’s all that matters!

9. Know the Market, Know Your Car

Knowing the market is vital if you want to get the best price for your car’s value. If the price is too high, it will scare off buyers right before they even get a chance to look at it. Is your car a hot commodity at the moment, or is it just an inexpensive transportation option? If you own a convertible or a sports car, then you should know that these cars are seasonal and they should be sold in spring/summer.

Trucks and vans are the most sought-after and they have competitive prices, while collector cars usually take longer to sell but they are a great deal and have an unexpected value for a genuine collector.

See what other cars like yours have sold for recently. You can look on eBay Motors and look for cars that were just recently sold.

10. Give Your Car the Ultimate Makeover

Wash the car, vacuum it, remove dings and scrapes, get rid of all the clutter in your car, clean the brakes and clean the windows, both on the inside and on the outside. Also, don’t forget to empty the ashtray and you can even opt for a low-cost repair that will address all these issues for a low price.

Even going to a local place that does car detailing might be worth it. If you pay $50 for a good wash and detail, you might get hundreds more for the car because of how good it looks. Car dealers know this and it’s something you should take advantage of.

Conclusion

You might not have sold a car before in your life but it’s not too difficult. Don’t be scared by it but be smart about selling your used car yourself. Find out all your can. We have other great articles on our website that might help you, so browse through some more of them.

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