As a car owner, there are many things you can do over the life of the car to ensure it’s in top condition to sell when you’re ready. These include regular car maintenance, fixing major issues, keeping it clean, and watching the mileage.
High mileage cars are less likely to fetch you a great price when you’re ready to sell. And when your car looks like a trash can exploded in it, you can’t expect someone to pay what the vehicle is worth.
You have a couple of different options when you can say, “I’m ready to sell my car, what do I do next?” Your first option is to try and sell your car to a private buyer. This option comes with some challenges and can take a lot of time. A better option, especially if you need to sell your car quickly, is to sell it to a dealership. Here are three easy steps to help you sell your car to a dealership.
1. Gather all the Important Paperwork
You’re going to need all the details about your car when you start calling up dealerships to get quotes. You can’t just call and say, “help me sell my car.” You need to tell them the make and model of your car, the mileage, the condition of the body, the VIN, and even the type of engine. Some of this information should be in your owner’s manual. Others you’ll need to document by observing the car on your own.
2. Get and Compare Offers
You have a lot of leverage when it comes to selling your car. It’s important that you take the time you need to get and compare multiple offers. Dealerships tend to offer deals at the lower end of the spectrum. Sometimes you can negotiate this price higher, especially if you know the value of your car, how upgrades impact the price, and when you have lower than average mileage on the odometer. Once you select the right offer for you, you’ll need to bring it to the dealership for an inspection. They’ll verify all the details you provided and confirm the sales price with you.
3. Decide What to Do With the Money
Some people sell their car so that they can reinvest it in a different vehicle. Others are trying to get rid of a car they don’t need anymore. Whether you need the cash for a trade-in, or you want to take the money and run, the choice is up to you.
I’m Ready to Sell My Car
Can you say, “I’m ready to sell my car?” Then gather all the documents and information, start calling dealerships, and choose the best offer. You can’t go wrong when you sell to a great dealership. The process is quick, and they can either help you find a different car or hand you a check for the agreed-upon amount. Plus, you won’t have to worry about meeting up with people day after day hoping for the right buyer.
