If you’re putting up your car for sale, you should successfully learn to sell it at the best price. You can sell it privately or through a car dealership. But, there is more to consider than just choosing a selling route.
Get to know various ways of selling a car, preparing it for sale, pricing, selling safety tips, price negotiations tips, and more.
Below are 10 tricks and trips to enable you to get a better sales price for your car.
1. Know the Value of Your Car
Current market rates set your car’s value. Additionally, other factors like mileage, service history, age, etc., come into play too.
Honda dealerships Florida helps you get an evaluation of the current market value of your car. These dealerships allow you to get your car values online; easier and quicker. It will enable the dealership to determine the cash payable to you. Also, it helps set the amount you’ll pay for another car (for trade-ins). A car dealership will enable you to value your vehicle online with only 5 items;
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Mileage
- Trim
You can also search for similar car advertisements to get a rough estimate. Also, car valuation databases like Red Book can be resourceful.
With your car value estimate, you can add some hundreds of dollars on top to get the sale’s price. This addition is essential when planning price negotiations with potential buyers.
2. Choose the Right Selling Path
After getting your sale’s price, you can sell the car either privately or through the dealership.
Selling privately: you can sell it at a higher price. Unfortunately, it may be hard to get sales. Besides, you’ll have to deal with potential buyers coming to your place for test drives and viewing. Don’t forget the calling and other admin stuff.
Yet, car dealership eliminates most of the above hassle in private sales. They connect you with buyers willing to pay top dollar conveniently and swiftly. If everything is in order (paperwork, ad details, etc.), you can have your money in 24 hours. And the best part is: you get sales tax savings in most trading. For example, some Honda dealers in Florida offer more than 6% on-sale tax savings.
3. Get Your Car Documents Right
You can’t make a sale without proper documentation of the car. Ensure these documents are available;
- Car title
- Service records. It is the only way to convince a potential buyer you take good care of the car periodically. That’s a selling point for a higher price.
- Original Sales Document. It contains key features of your car. If available, you can include high-selling features like leather seats to prop up your resale value.
4. Check Out Online Car Selling Offers
If you opt for an online sale, then do due diligence. Several online buyers’ sites exist, but do your research and weigh options. Every site has a significant difference, so settle and decide what works best for you.
5. Create An Engaging Advertisement
If you choose to sell your car privately, create an engaging ad to reach out to your audience. Consider the following ad tips:
- Include most in-demand features in the brief description (e.g., high MPG, available warranties, low mileage, etc.)
- Reason for selling the car. Let potential buyers understand your reason for selling the car.
- Put up the asking price and terms of negotiation (if any).
- Include payment options
- Photos and Images. Let your buyers’ feel the high-selling features (close up of interior & exterior) and overall video walkaround.
Place the ad on your local classified services provider to reach many local potential buyers.
6. Prepare the Car for Sale
Do not let the buyer make a hard bargain because your car is not in good shape. Fix your vehicle before putting it up in the market. You can do basic detailing that can cost a couple of dollars.
But, if the basic detailing is too costly, you can do some by yourself. For the interior, remove your items and clean all corners (don’t forget to shampoo the carpets).
If you can, remove all magnets, replace faulty lights, and repair dents for the exterior. Also, check out your tires if they need replacement. Include any new installations like new brakes to the sales price.
7. Conduct a Pre-Sale Inspection
Buyers always want their mechanic to check the car or truck before deciding. So, do a pre-sale inspection to have the information you may get if they run their assessment. The buyer may even forego their inspection if yours convinces them.
If buyers insist on conducting their inspection, choose trustworthy public businesses for your safety.
8. Observe Safety Tips
Additional car safety tips will facilitate positive selling outcomes for all parties. Follow the above safety tips in these three areas;
Safe Transactions
- Meet in a secure public area like restaurants.
- Bring company (a colleague, family or friend, etc.).
Track the Paper Trail
Ensure proper documentation of the sale process. Get copies of title transfer and Bill of Sale (and subsequent Release of Liability). Also, remove and return your license plates. These are done at your local DMV and protect you from liability after making the sale.
Safer Test Drives
- Plan wisely and tag in a friend for the test drives.
- Check if your insurance covers other drivers and adjust accordingly.
- Decline any unusual request that makes you uncomfortable or unsafe.
9. Provide Room for Price Negotiations
If selling privately, allow the buyer to lead in price negotiations. But only after you’ve included some padding in your asking price. You can eliminate the need for haggling through car dealerships. Consider these tips;
- Set your minimum acceptable offer. Understand the number of potential buyers for better negotiations.
- Always be realistic. If the offer is reasonable, be ready to accept it. But, if it’s lower than your lowest acceptable price, then decline.
- Be ready with documentation if the buyer decides to finalize the process on the spot. But, keep everything safe until you are done with the process.
10. Choose the Safest and Convenient Payment Option
Stick to safe and legitimate payment options. Cash isn’t safe for large transactions. Credible cashier checks, money orders, and other online payment options may offer safety and convenience.
Besides, you make use of an escrow service to avoid fraud. The escrow service provider will only release the money to the other party when the deal is done and every party is satisfied.
But, payment arrangements may be different if your car has an outstanding loan. In such a case, your buyer may send the money to your lender to get the car title.
Car dealerships also offer similar arrangements when your car has an outstanding loan. For example, Brandon Honda, a Honda car dealership in Florida, offers its customers the best fair prices and takes care of their car loans too.
Take Away
Know your car’s value and find ways to get the best price for it. Whether you’re selling privately or through a car dealership, each has different advantages.
Use these tips and tricks to sell your car or truck for top dollar.