How to sell a used car
Escalating costs of new cars have led many buyers to look to the preowned vehicle market when the time comes to replace their existing automobiles. While the rising reputation of preowned vehicles has been good for automotive dealerships with vast inventories of trade-ins, it’s also been good for private sellers, who no longer have to deal with the stigma once assigned to preowned cars and trucks. Private sellers who want to get top dollar for their preowned vehicles can take several simple steps that might help them sell their vehicles quickly and at an acceptable price.
Organize maintenance receipts. According to Edmunds.com, an online resource for all things automotive, the average price of a preowned car reached a record $16,800 in 2014. That’s a significant sum of money, and as a result preowned vehicle buyers are no longer taking the risks they might once have been willing to take when buying older, less expensive cars and trucks. Many prospective buyers expect to see a vehicle’s maintenance history, so sellers should organize their maintenance receipts for everything from routine oil changes to tire rotations and so on. If you did not keep your receipts, visit your mechanic and request a statement indicating your vehicle maintenance history.
Get a vehicle inspection before putting it up for sale. Many sellers put their cars on the market and then wait weeks, if not months, before they sell their vehicles. That may be a byproduct of misjudging the market value of their vehicles. Have your vehicle inspected before putting it up for sale so you know its true value. Share the results of the inspection with prospective buyers so they feel more comfortable purchasing your vehicle.
Address any issues that come to light during the inspection.
Fix any minor issues, like broken taillights, dents, scratches and worn down tires before putting the vehicle up for sale. Such damage is typically inexpensive to fix, but buyers won’t want to see a car with such issues, which suggests sellers did not care much about the vehicle. If any larger issues arise during the inspection, consider trading the vehicle in rather than selling it on your own.
Be courteous with prospective buyers. Customer service is often an overlooked part of selling a preowned vehicle. Patiently answer all of their questions and allow them to size up the vehicle as they see fit. Always go with prospective buyers on a test drive, taking a friend or relative along for optimum safety. If buyers want to take the vehicle to their own mechanic, agree to it so long as you can come along and be present when any inspection is performed. Being respectful of the position preowned-vehicle buyers are in is a great way to develop a rapport that can help you sell your vehicle.
The preowned-vehicle market is booming, and private sellers can employ several selling tactics to get the best price possible for their cars and trucks.