Make an effort and you’re likely to reap a good price when offloading your car

Selling your car privately rather than trading it in typically puts more money in your pocket. But there’s a lot more to offloading your former family chariot than taking a couple of pictures and waiting for the money to roll in — at least if you want to get a decent price.

You need to convince prospective buyers your car is ideal for them. Do that and you’ll have a better chance of selling it quickly and for a good price. Here are some tips and tricks to selling your former pride and joy.

TAKE GOOD PICTURES

Professional car photographers make new vehicles look stunning.

While you’re unlikely to emulate their lifetime of practice in one fleeting walkaround, you can learn elements to improve your skills.

One of their tricks is shooting when the light is low, either near dawn or dusk. It means you’ll get a nice glow off the side of the car rather than the harsh reflection of the sun.

There’s also less chance of dark shadows. When shooting the interior, make sure the steering wheel is straight and empty the clutter out of the centre console.

If the car has been garaged, make sure you point it out in the ad and include a couple of pics of it tucked away in its weather-proof home.

BE CAREFUL WHAT IS IN THE PICTURES

If you’ve used your car to tow a caravan the size of a small hotel it’s probably best to leave it out of