How to Sell Your Car
How to Sell Your Car
You have decided it is time for a new car. Yay! Now, what do you do with your current car? Two options are selling it in a private sale or sell it to the dealership. Some prefer to sell it themselves, thinking that they will get more money that way, but don’t realize the amount of work that comes with it. Instead, consider selling your vehicle to a dealership its offers less hassle, and you would be surprised how much you will get. Here’s what you need to know.
How do I find out how much my car is worth?
There are numerous sites you can use to figure out the current value of your car. Sites such as Kelley Blue Book (KBB), National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), and Consumer Reports can validate your vehicle’s value. These calculators can be helpful, but they have some drawbacks, so be sure to use them as a guide. First, remember these sites use information you provide and compare it to their data to estimate your car’s value. Since the value is produced from information that you put in, be honest. For example, when it asks you about the vehicle’s condition, don’t put “good” if it is awful. Another thing to remember is that these sites do not consider unique factors to your area like climate, weather, gas prices, and demographics result in fluctuations in the used car market. Next, look at what similar vehicles are selling for in your area. With both of these factors, you will have a good idea of what your car is worth.
Get ahead of any problems.
When selling your car, it’s best to know everything possible about said car. There are a few sites where you can get a vehicle history report, companies like Carfax and AutoCheck. Checking the history of your vehicle will tell you if there are any shady times in your car’s past. So there are no surprises.
Is it worth it to fix my car before I sell it?
When selling your car to a dealership is makes sense to make some minor repairs. However, if there are any significant issues like engine or transmission problems, it’s not worth the time or money you’ll spend to get those fixed. The dealership will deduct it from the value. This deduction is most like more than what you will pay to have the problems fixed. That said, fixing minor flaws such as burned-out lightbulbs, small scratches, or small oil leaks are entirely worth your time and money to fix.
Should I clean my car before I trade it in?
If you take a dirty car to a dealership to sell it, the dealer will assume that you don’t take good care of it, and can you blame them? With that, they will probably be on the low end of the range as a result. Typically speaking, a well-maintained car is worth more. It’s unnecessary to pay a professional to clean your vehicle unless it is disgusting and you cannot clean it yourself. If your car is the standard dirty, then you are undoubtedly qualified to clean it. It doesn’t take much. Just vacuum that carpets, wipe off the dashboard, clean out any stickiness from the cupholders, clean any fingerprints or puppy noise prints from your windows. Washing your car won’t increase your actual value, but it will give the dealer less reason to lowball you.
Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram wants to buy your car!
If you are in the Big Spring area and are looking to sell your car, visit Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. We offer a hassle-free experience that is fast and simple. We have highly trained professional appraisers who treat you like family and provide an excellent and fair offer. We even offer a safe touchless appraisal. The best part is you will leave the dealership with a check in hand!
All pricing and vehicle details are believed to be accurate but are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice. Prices do not include tax, title, license, registration, finance charges, emissions testing charges, or other fees required by law. Prices also exclude dealer-added accessories and aftermarket products, including $299 theft protection and a $225 documentation fee, which apply to all new and used vehicles. Manufacturer rebates and incentives are subject to residency restrictions, eligibility requirements, expiration, and financing qualifications. Financing is subject to credit approval and may not be available to all customers. Vehicle photos may be stock images and may not represent the exact vehicle. All inventory is subject to prior sale. In-transit vehicles and estimated arrival dates are not guaranteed. Payload and towing ratings are estimates provided by the manufacturer. Additional equipment, passengers, and cargo may affect actual ratings. This website and the information contained herein are provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind regarding website content or data accuracy. All new vehicles are sold with the applicable manufacturer’s warranty. Please confirm all vehicle details directly with the dealership.
Max payload/towing estimate ratings shown. Additional options, equipment, passengers, and cargo weight may affect payload/towing weights. See dealer for details.