In every car's life span, there is a moment when it gets sold to the next owner. It is a perfectly normal chain of events, and every day, millions of used cars change hands all over the world. There are two most common ways you can sell your old car. One is to go to the dealer, get a quote, or trade it for a newer model; the second is to sell it privately.
How to Sell Your Car Privately?
If you are looking to get the best price for your vehicle, and in this economy, this is the smart thing to do, you should sell your car privately. But how to do it, and what is the best way to sell your car privately? Let's cover this process step by step.
Step 1: Determine The Market Value Of Your Car
The first step is continuously determining the selling price and making room for negotiation. Most people aren't sure what the actual market value of their cars is, so it is essential to find out what you can realistically get for your vehicle. The best way is to search the classifieds for the exact make, model, mileage, and model year. Be sure to find the car with the exact trim level, optional equipment, or color combo. You can ask more if you have an incredibly nice, low-mileage example or desirable version. We always recommend being realistic since it will ultimately help you with the sale. Sometimes, people include sentimental value in their car's selling price, which puts potential buyers away.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car For Sale
Before taking any photos or listing the car online, you should do several things in order to prepare it for the sale. A thorough detailing job is recommended, including cleaning the interior, polishing the exterior, and making minor paint corrections. A car that is driven daily and used for commuting often has small paint chips, scratches, and dings. All of that needs to be sorted so you can comfortably demand the asking price, and the buyer will pay it, seeing that it is in excellent condition. Of course, any acute mechanical issues need to be sorted as well. You don't want a potential buyer to be scared by suspicious sounds from under the hood.
The car needs to be cleaned of any personal belongings and contents, including the glove box and door pockets. You should particularly pay attention to infotainment systems and be sure that your phone is disconnected, your profile is deleted, and no personal information is stored or found anywhere in the car. Most people forget to do that, which is why we mention it.
Step 3: Getting The Paperwork In Order
Regardless of how or to whom you will sell your car, you will need to have paperwork in order. The key documents are the title, bill of sale, and registration. Some states do not require all three, but regardless, you should have them on file. Also, you mustn't owe any back payments, which means that the title is the lienholder's possession. If you do, you should pay off any remaining debt and get a clear title before the sale. Any other paperwork you might have, like service records, maintenance receipts, bills, and so on, is not required, but they are nice to have since they provide the service history and proper maintenance and support your asking price. A Carfax report is always a good addition to the car's file.
Step 4: Create A Effective Listing
When posting the ad, be sure to take clear photos of the vehicle you are selling. You don't need a professional image (although it sometimes might help), just nice and sharp pictures of the exterior, interior, trunk, and engine bay. It is best not to take photos in front of your house, showing people or location. An empty parking lot will do just fine. You don't need to take pictures of the car's documents; just mention that you have a clear title, complete service history, etc. The final piece of the puzzle is the honest description, accurately presented information, relevant details, and price. Buyers love such ads since they find all they need and see that the seller has nothing to hide.
Best Place To Sell Your Car Privately
There used to be ads in local newspapers and used car lots, but today, the internet has revolutionized how we sell our cars and communicate with potential buyers. We are sure you have heard of several popular car-selling websites like
· eBay Motors: Online auction and sales platform for vehicles and parts.
· Autotrader: Online marketplace for buying and selling new and used cars
· Craigslist: Classifieds site with local listings for vehicles and parts.
· Bring a Trailer: Auction site for unique and classic cars.
All those sites are easy to register, and putting the ads is pretty straightforward.
Step 5: Handling The Sale Safely
When selling your car privately, the main concern is the safety and security of the transaction. It is always recommended to meet the potential buyer in a public spot and to take a picture of their license and insurance before going for a test drive. The smart move is to document everything in writing (terms of sale, price, date) and accept only cash or secure form of payment (cashier's check or bank transfer). Only then should you transfer the ownership. You should complete all the paperwork according to local laws and not cancel the insurance until the car is fully transferred to the new owner.
How Nexus Can Help You
At Nexus, we also connect individuals who would like to sell their car with car dealerships locally and nationwide who would be interested in purchasing that vehicle. This helps our clients sell the car online in a fast and secure manner and without any hassle. Sellers are always concerned about how long it takes to sell a car, and with the help of our platform, your vehicle will quickly find its way to the new owner. But that is not all; one of the best things about Nexus is that we operate an auto transport company, which means that your vehicle can be shipped to the next owner by the country's most reliable auto transport company. We offer door-to-door shipping with open or enclosed car trailers, cross country, or different states. We even have specialized classic car shipment packages with special car and insurance. We know time is money, so we offer expedited auto transport and tight deadlines. Using our platform, car sellers are covered along the way by our expertise, proven partners, and stellar work ethics.
