Ready to finally part ways with your long-time set of wheels and need some tips for selling a car? You're not alone.
Research shows people sold nearly 41 million used vehicles in 2019. That's more than double the number of new vehicles sold.
The right tips for selling a car privately may help you unload your vehicle quickly. Up-to-date tips to sell your car may also help maximize your profit. What are the best car sales tips?
Let's explore the top tips when selling your car in 2023.
Tips for Selling a Car: Options
What's the best place to sell a vehicle? You have a couple of options.
Consider trading your car in at your local dealership or selling the car yourself.
Trading in a car is convenient and fast. You won't have to deal with personal calls, emails, or texts. This method also eliminates the cost of listing your car.
Wondering "How do I sell my car to a dealer?" The most important car salesman tips and tricks include the following:
- Know your car's worth before accepting an offer
- Spruce up the car first (more on this later)
- Get several dealership offers first
Depersonalizing your car is another one of the top tips for selling a car to a dealership. This means removing any personal items from the car, even the rearview mirror's air freshener. A neutral-looking car may be more appealing to dealers.
Selling your car yourself may lead to a higher profit, though, since you can negotiate with buyers directly. Handling your sale will save you money since there won't be any overhead costs.
You might be asking, "Where do I sell my car online?" The best websites to sell a car online include Cars.com, CarMax, and CarGurus. Many online car buyers also rely on AutoTrader, making it one of the best websites to buy used cars.
Online car auctions are another option if you're looking for the best way to sell a car online.
Car Sales Tips: Ads
An important tip for selling a car in 2023 is to market your car to thousands of potential buyers in your target area. Posting an ad on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist may increase your chances of finding a buyer.
Highlight your vehicle's best features, like low mileage or remaining warranties. Explain why your car is for sale, and honestly list its condition. Include plenty of images and even videos in the ad to show prospective online car buyers what your vehicle has to offer.
Tips For Selling a Car Privately: Docs
Another important step for anyone asking "How do I sell my car" is gathering the car's paperwork. These documents include:
- Car history report
- Original sales documents
- Service records
- Car title
Service records are especially important since they may help you negotiate a better price. Buyers might be willing to pay more for cars that have been well taken care of.
The original sales documents and car history report will give potential buyers more information about the car's features and past accidents, respectively, so they can more confidently buy from you. The car title will go to them once they make the purchase.
Tips When Selling Your Car: Preparation
One of the most important selling a used car tips is to prepare your vehicle for sale.
Fix small problems like cracked windshields or broken door knobs before advertising your car. Larger mechanical issues don't need to be fixed if you plan to sell the car "as is," which means you'll take a reduced offer.
Get your vehicle professionally detailed, too. Having a clean car may instantly increase your car's sales value.
Tips to Sell Your Car: Pricing
Not sure how much to charge for your used car? Ask a mechanic for their assessment. They'll be able to identify issues like broken taillights or engine problems that may affect your car's price.
Kelley Blue Book also has valuation tools that may give you an accurate, easy, and quick car value.
Check out local car listings to see how much buyers are paying for other similar cars near you.
Car Selling Tips: Safety
Selling vehicles to private individuals can be dangerous, but a few safety tips can help ensure positive outcomes.
Meet with a potential buyer in a well-lit and well-trafficked restaurant or retail parking lot. Bring a family member or friend with you whether you're letting a potential buyer test-drive your car or buy it.
Choosing only a legitimate form of payment will also protect your best interests during a car sale. Receiving an online payment may be most convenient for your large transaction. Accept a cashier's check only if it comes from a reputable credit union or bank.
Never take personal checks or money orders for used cars. Problems with these types of payment may not crop up until after your buyer has disappeared.
Car Shipping
What happens if your car buyer is in another state? A reputable cross-country car shipping service can help.
A trustworthy auto transport service can pick up your car and drive it to its destination using an open car hauler or an enclosed car hauler.
Enclosed haulers are more expensive but will shield your car from the elements. Open haulers won't protect your car from debris or weather, but cars transported on these types of trucks generally don't experience damage-related issues.
A car shipping calculator can help you determine how much it will cost to ship your car to your buyer.
How We Can Help
The most important tips for selling a car include advertising it online to private buyers or selling it to a dealership. The best tips for selling a car privately include using websites like AutoTrader to make the sale.
Other important tips to sell your car are to clean the car first. Essential car sales tips also include pricing your vehicle properly with a mechanic's help. Using an open car hauler to cost-effectively ship your car is another one of the best tips when selling your car.
Nexus Auto Transport can ship a car to another state for you. Contact us now!
