Tips on Selling Your Car

Selling your car yourself is easier than you may think. With today's online resources growing larger by the day, you can reach many buyers for low costs.

Your First Step

You are cutting out the middleman and increasing your profit, so I believe you are ready for putting in some effort! Don't be afraid, you will enjoy selling your car.

Find The Current Market Price For Your Car

A good place to start is the internet. Visiting a few websites will give you a fair idea of your car’s price. You can look out for vehicles of the same make and model. Buyers love to bargain, so keep a buffer on the minimum price you are expecting, but remember, the buyer may have checked the same website for your car, so keep the price near it to make your offer more appealing. To eliminate unnecessary, irritating and non-serious buyers, specify clearly “Best Offer”, “Final Price”, “No Negotiations,” etc.

Make Your Car Look Good

Clean your car thoroughly. A car that looks good attracts more money and gets sold much quicker. Consider taking care of minor maintenance issues.

Tips On Improving Your Car's Appearance:

• Wash it. Wax it. Vacuum it. Let it look clean. The buyer should find a clean engine incase he opens the hood.
• Wipe the dashboard and other surfaces. Wipe the inside of the glove box.
• Gloss up the tires and polish the wheels.
• Clean all glass inside and outside.
• Clear out all the junk from your car. Let it not look like a garbage bin.
• Replace any fused lights or blown fuses.
• Top up all fluids.
• Check for any sounds and noises, and try to eliminate them.

Get all your car’s papers together. “All” means all of them - maintenance bills, service records, warranty receipts for tires, batteries etc. Well-maintained records will command a premium. They show that you care for your car.

Advertising Tips

Your best bet is an online ad. A website that sells used cars gets people who are looking to buy cars. Print ad will reach out to more people, but how many of them are actually looking out to buy a car? Your car will stay on the site until it is sold. You get more space to show off your car.

Tips To Help Sell Your Car Quickly:

• Upload good photos. Photograph your car in daylight – early morning or in the evening. The lighting for photography is close to perfect at this time and will get you some nice photographs.

• Give as many details as possible about your car. This will attract the right buyers and help you sell fast.

• Specify extra fittings like alloy wheels, leather upholstery, CD-changer, music system, new tires, available services, warranties, etc.
Get ready to receive the inquiries

Once you have placed your advertisement, be ready with the information you have put in it. You will need to answer all the questions a buyer has to ask. I suggest you make a note of all the information you have mentioned about your car on a piece of paper and keep it at some place accessible to you. Buyers are making a big decision, so answer every question honestly and openly. You'll save yourself time instead of making unnecessary appointments. Once you start receiving calls from prospective buyers, fix up an appointment for a specific time, rather than allowing a buyer to show up "sometime after work." It increases the chances of the buyer showing up, and it doesn't waste your time. If you feel uncomfortable with a buyer coming to your house, arrange to meet in a populated, well-lit area.

Now the main part – closing the deal

Be patient; you will do well and sell your car.
• Show your car to the interested buyer.
• Don't let the buyer take your car for a test drive without you.
• Check the buyer’s driving license and then let him drive, but you navigate.
• Ask for a deposit if buyer wants you to reserve the car, and specify the time after which his deposit will lapse.
• Negotiate the price, don't allow too much bargaining and don't show desperation to sell. Give it a little attention and leave it for the buyer to decide.