Car Selling Checklist: Ace Your First Car Sale

Are you actively looking to sell your car online? Perhaps you’ve never undergone this process and wonder, “how long does it take to sell a car?”. Many drivers find themselves in this situation for one reason or another.

Common catalysts for vehicle sales include but aren’t limited to:

• Desiring an upgrade

• Switching to another driving class (ex: SUV vs. sedan)

• No longer need an extra vehicle

• Prioritizing public transportation

To make selling your car as easy as possible while maximizing its value, you’ll need to:

• Inspect your car thoroughly

• Give the car a proper cleansing

• Invest in professional servicing

• Fix minor issues

• Get all documentation in order

• Research the price

• List your car on major websites

Private sales often yield more profit but offer less convenience than auto dealership sales. However our car selling checklist to help you ace your first car sale ensures you won’t experience any stumbles no matter your route.

Steps for Selling a Car

Learn more about how to sell a car below with the rest of our easy-to-read guide.

Step #1: Clean and inspect your vehicle

First on our car selling checklist is cleaning and inspecting your vehicle. This step allows you to spruce up the vehicle’s appearance to attract potential buyers and identify any minor issues that need resolving. The cost of remedying a problem will help you decide whether something’s worth fixing and how to market the vehicle, which we’ll discuss more in-depth later.

Let’s begin with how to approach giving your car a thorough clean, which can also help reveal surface or wear-and-tear defects you may want to repair.

Thoroughly cleanse your car

Investing in a professional detail service is the most effective way to cleanse your car thoroughly. Many auto dealerships offer detailing, but some regions also have mobile detailing companies.

A dealership detail service typically takes around six hours on average. The actual detail process may take around two or three hours, but the total amount you’ll have to wait hinges on factors like how busy the dealership is and your car’s requirements. Extensive detail jobs may require dropping off your vehicle for several days.

Alternatively, a mobile detail company equips one or multiple vans with the machinery and cleaning supplies necessary to complete the service and drives to meet you at a convenient location, like your home. Generally, a mobile detailing company can prioritize your individual needs more than a dealership’s service center with more tailored work through their smaller client base.

Detail service costs

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to over $500 for a dealership detail and slightly less for a mobile detail company. However, mobile detail services are often more prevalent in cities or metropolitan regions.

If you don’t want to hire a dealership or mobile detailing service, you can save money by researching DIY interior and exterior car cleaning tips.

Thoroughly inspecting your vehicle

Seasoned car detailers are professionals in their own right, but it takes an especially trained eye to inspect and determine your vehicle’s mechanical and surface-level condition. Establishing your car’s condition helps you attain a more accurate market estimate of your vehicle’s value.

Hiring a detailing service is the most thorough way to cleanse your vehicle, but ordering a 182-point technician inspection is the most comprehensive way to evaluate your car’s condition.

A 182-point inspection will identify if any parts of the vehicle need fixing along with an issue’s severity. Prioritize fixing minor issues, as remedying significant problems may exceed the cost of the car’s value. In cases where resolving a major issue requires you to spend more money than you’d get through a sale, it’s generally best to focus on selling the vehicle at a discount to someone who can fix the problem themselves to sell later or drive it. You can alternatively seek out part buyers.

Dealership and independent mechanics can perform 182-point inspections. However, some independent or corner mechanic shops may not specialize in the car brand you’re selling like certain dealerships. Once you receive a 182-point inspection report, it’s helpful to get a second opinion from another mechanic for additional peace of mind and verification.

Step #2: Gather documentation

Some sellers may be eager to determine their vehicle’s value directly after a thorough cleansing and evaluation. Still, getting your car’s documentation in order will streamline your ability to get an accurate figure on its worth.

Gathering documentation for private vs. dealership sales

Earlier, we touched on how private sales tend to yield more profit but are less convenient than selling or trading in through a dealership. This difference in profit and convenience is due to dealerships handling most of the paperwork or heavy lifting for you. If you decide to take extra steps to sell privately, having proper documentation helps establish trust between you and prospective customers.

Private sale documentation summary

Paperwork or documentation for a private vehicle sale should include:

• A vehicle history report

• Maintenance records

• Valid/transferable warranty documentation

• “As Is” document

• Odometer disclosure

• Vehicle title

• Bill of sale (not required, but protects against disputes)

• Emissions and safety certificate

You can acquire a vehicle history report through sites like CarFax and AutoCheck for a relatively small fee. By providing the car’s VIN (vehicle identification number), you can help solidify trust and transparency with potential buyers in case they want to check the car’s history themselves.

Maintenance records are equally significant as a vehicle history report since they help reflect how well the car has been taken care of. The dealership or repair center from which you’ve received maintenance work, like oil changes, can provide this documentation. Some manufacturers also offer smartphone apps with accessible maintenance histories.

Valid and transferable warranty documentation should highlight what’s covered and provide contact numbers for the provider. You’ll also need to supply OEM (original equipment manufacturer) paperwork for any replacement parts. Contact the coverage provider to learn what you must file to complete a transfer and whether you need to pay a fee. An “As Is” document notes you’re not responsible for any repairs not covered by current warranties. Odometer statements include an odometer’s reading, the reading’s date, and the reader’s name.

Providing a vehicle title and emissions/safety certificate will help you maintain legal compliance. You can only transfer a title if the car is paid off. While gathering necessary paperwork, a dealership will handle steps like a title transfer and loan balance payoff..

State-by-state consideration for gathering documentation

Some states have varying documentation requirements, so checking your state’s DMV website beforehand is helpful. Even if you’re not ready to sell your car right now, keeping paperwork in order saves you time for a future sale.

Step #3: Establish your vehicle’s value for advertising

Now, it’s time to establish your vehicle’s value. Key factors influencing your car’s value include:

• Condition (surface and mechanical)

• Age and mileage

• Make and model (market supply and demand)

• Vehicle history (documentation)

Websites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds can help you research your vehicle’s value with its individual characteristics in mind. Once you’ve established low, fair, and high sale value figures, advertise your car on major websites such as AutoTrader, Cars.com, CarGurus, and Facebook Marketplace. If your vehicle doesn’t run and the buyer can’t perform a pickup, it’s helpful to receive a quote from an auto transport company before listing the car. Buyers typically cover shipping costs, but this can vary.

Your car-selling checklist wrap-up

Successfully selling your vehicle involves thoroughly cleansing and inspecting the car, gathering proper documentation, and establishing its value. You must handle these first two stages before posting listings, as a dirty vehicle, mechanical problems, and missing paperwork can all negatively impact your potential profit.

Even if you’re not ready to let go of your car, staying on top of maintenance, cleaning, and organizing documents will save you time if you decide to sell in the future.