How To Prep Your Car For Sale To Get The Best Deal

If you’re considering selling your used automobile but aren’t sure where to start, you can start by organizing your thoughts in order to get your car ready for sale.

To get the highest possible price for your car, you don’t need to be a professional car dealer or an expert in automobiles. When getting ready to sell your car, there are a few things you should prioritize. Take a look at these three things to do before listing your car for sale.

Take a closer look

You need to give your car a facelift for potential purchasers if you want to sell it as soon as is feasible. It goes without saying that you must do this before putting your car up for sale. The car must be appealing to the eye, smell good, and make the prospective customer feel good about the purchase. 

Now is the time to check the interior of the vehicle for any food stains on the dashboard, other interior surfaces, and the car seat. Now is the time to take off any bumper stickers that you may have that show your support for a certain president, celebrity, or company.

Your car must be in such good shape that it appears as though a new owner is about to take possession of it when a potential buyer comes to check it out. In other words, get rid of any sentimental links you might have to the car. Instead, focus your energy on improving the car’s appearance and functionality. This significantly improves the car’s appeal in the eyes of the buyer. 

Update the Maintenance History

Another step in getting your car ready for sale is updating the maintenance paperwork. The maintenance history provides purchasers with two pieces of evidence: first, that the vehicle they wish to purchase has been operated responsibly and has received regular maintenance; second, that the vehicle is in good mechanical condition.

Try to get the defective parts repaired as you update the maintenance logs. Make sure the car’s mechanical components are all in good working order. If the washer fluid light is on, turn off the dashboard warning lights and replenish the washer fluid reservoir. Make sure your mechanic takes care of any complex mechanical problems thoroughly. Your car’s value will increase as a result of these fixes.

You must prepare the car’s paperwork in addition to the maintenance logs. Nobody wants to purchase a car without all of the necessary documentation.

Has the vehicle been valued?

Finding cars that are comparable to yours online and comparing their average selling prices is a useful method for determining your car’s value. Do not attempt to artificially exaggerate the car’s value because purchasers also utilize web resources to estimate the value of used cars. Making the car’s price competitive but negotiable is what you should aim for.

How To Get The Most From Selling Your Car

• Clean the thing inside and out. For the exterior, give it a thorough wash and a fresh coat of wax. On the inside, get rid of your items and vacuum the entire cabin. Don’t want to do it yourself? Have it detailed. Even though dealers have told us they can see through dirt to find a car’s actual value, a clean car makes a better impression and raises your chances of getting a higher offer.

• Fix small issues yourself. Check all the car’s lights, including interior dome lights, and replace them if needed. Also, check all fluid levels (washer fluid, coolant, brake fluid, etc.) and ensure they’re topped off. If your car needs more serious work, leave that for the dealer. Any major issues will lower the value of the trade-in, but the dealer can perform the repairs for less than it would cost you.

• Gather all important documents. Make sure you have the car’s title, service records, registration, and anything else a prospective buyer might want to see. Cars that have been maintained with scheduled maintenance retain more of their value. Don’t feel the need to get a vehicle history report; dealers will pull one themselves.

• Grab any extras. Bring extra keys or other accessories for the vehicle. If the navigation system has a DVD or SD card associated with it, be sure to bring those items, too. Dealers tell us that if these accessories are missing, you won’t get full credit for your trade-in.

• Conduct your own inspection. Note any exterior dents and dings that can’t be buffed out with a little elbow grease. Take your current car out for a test drive and pay close attention to anything that just doesn’t seem right. If there are any issues with the car, whether electrical or even a need for new tires, note them.

• Determine your car’s estimated value. Do this after your inspection since that will give you a working knowledge of your vehicle’s blemishes. You can then use that information to get a more accurate idea of what you should expect to get when you visit the dealership.