Your car is an investment. Although it is rare that you will get back all the money you put into a car, it can still have value. There might come a time when you want to sell your car and maximize that value. After years of driving, it might be time for a newer model. Many folks use the old car as a trade-in at a dealership. However, those trade-in deals are always more advantageous to the dealer than the car owner. That is why you might find that you can get more money by selling your car privately. There are plenty of online sites that can let you accomplish that goal. You can be successful in securing the highest amount for your car if you take this approach:
Lots of Photos
You’ll want to provide photos of the car that you’re selling. These should be photos from every angle: Front, both sides and rear. They should also include all the interior angles. Essentially, you should sit in every seat in your car and take a photo from that angle. You’ll also want to get shots of the trunk or rear storage area. Of course, before you start snapping pictures, you want to make sure the care is spotless and empty of all possessions and clutter. Just imagine the minute you upload those photos, you might get an offer. You want to have the car ready to be “driven off” by its new owner.
Provide a Service History
It is important for the life of your car that you keep your service history. Hold onto every receipt for an oil change, smog check or battery replacement. All of that information will bolster you claim that you took good care of the car. There will also be a historical record of the car available online that will report any significant accident that the car was involved in. You can’t hide from that but you can provide the receipts for repairs.
Provide a Driving History
The odometer doesn’t lie. It will quickly demonstrate a part of the driving history of the car. Most motorists drive anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 miles a year. That means a car that is five years old, should have between 50,000 and 60,000 miles for every use. When you’ve got more mileage on a younger car, then it might indicate that you were doing a lot more driving. There isn’t anything wrong with that provided you’ve kept the car in good shape (see above). If your driving history was just as used as the family car for trips to school and shopping, then let that be a part of your description.
Be Transparent
When approached by a prospective buyer, you want to be transparent. Your receipts will help but you shouldn’t hold back any “secrets” about the car. When sold as a private sale, it will be an “as is” sale. That means once the title is transferred, you won’t have anything else to do with the car. You should give the seller the opportunity to test drive the car with you and to have it checked out by their mechanic. All of that transparency will go a long way towards getting you the best price possible for that ride.
