Auto: sell your car

Auto: sell your car using these tips. Learn how to get the most value when you sell your used auto!


Selling your car outright can sometimes get you more money than if you would trade it in on a newer car or truck at a car lot. Or, maybe you are not looking for another vehicle, you simply want to get rid of one. Whatever the case, you will need to know some things so that you cna get the most money out of the used vehicle you are selling or trading in.

There are different methods for advertising your vehicle. You can place a big for sale sign in your vehicle and park it in the front yardm an especially good idea if you live on a busy thoroughfare. You can place a classified ad in your local newspaper, post an ad on a local radio station, or post your ad on the Internet with one of the many sites available just for this purpose.

Before you place you ad, though, you must make sure that your vehicle is in the best condition it can possibly be in, and you have all of the necessary paperework you will need to close the deal. You will need a clear title to your vehicle showing that it has no loans on it, and that you are indeed the owner. If you kept service records on your vehicle, they should be handy so that any prospective owner can review them and find out what has been repaired or replaced. They can also see from your records that you had regular maintenance performed on the car or truck and they won't have to take your word for it. This builds confidence in the sell-buy transaction, when you can prove what you claim.

Now it's time to use some elbow grease to make your vehicle look presentable. You might need to do some minor touch-up on the paint. Thoroughly wash and wax the outside of the vehicle afterwards. Pay special attention to the chrome features, and wash the windows too. Remove any trash and vacuum the interior-the seats, the floorboards, and any other fabric-covered areas. If the interior is muddy or particularly dirty, you may have to shampoo it also. If the vehicle interior has any odors in it, such as cigarette smoke, it would be a wise idea to invest a few dollars into a spray odor remover. Don't forget to clean any trash out of the trunk, too, and then vacuum it thoroughly.

Change the oil or have it done if it hasn't been changed recently, as the prospective buyer, if they are knowledgable about vehicles, will pull the dipstick and inspect the oil. Dirty oil will give the prosepective buyer the impression hat the vehicle has not been taken care of properly, even if you have done so. (Unless you have the records to prove otherwise.)

Finally, check out the Kelley Blue Book or another reputable vehicle guide to find out the approximate value of your car or truck. Inspect some key features of your vehicle suchas the body, tires, windows, exhaust system, and battery. If the body has some rust, you will need to be ready to lower the price alittle to allow for that. This goes for the rest of the features also. If the tires need replaced, you can either replace them yourself and try to recoup the cost, or sell the vehicle as is with the tires that need replaced. Again, be prepared to negotiate a fair price for the vehicle since the new owner will have to bear the cost of new tires.

Now you are ready to place your ads and wait for those prospective buyers to call you on the phone, e-mail you, or drop by in person to take a look at your vehicle. But, relax, because you have taken the time to prepare your vehicle, and it shows!

Written by Thanapong S.