Why should I sell my car instead of trading it in?
It's simple - to boost your profit. Sell it yourself, and you get a higher value out of your car.
Depending on the age and condition of your car, you can pocket an extra $1,000 to $2,000 or more. If you have a late-model vehicle, you stand to make much more. Just think of it as cutting the middle man out. If you trade your car in, the dealer has to pay to clean it, advertise it and sell it while making a comfortable profit. Your lower trade-in reflects that.
Besides, with today's online resources, selling your car is easier than ever. Find out all you need to know to put your car up for sale, and then list it at a less expensive price than traditional printed classified listings. Plus, you reach more buyers in your area - and across the country.
What are my first steps?
Selling your car yourself can be rewarding, especially with a little guidance. We've come up with a few tips to make the experience easier and to help you get the best price for your car.
A good place to start is determining the market value of your car. Check out our used-car values page to find out what your car is worth. You'll want to price competitively in your local market-look at our online ads in your area to see what used cars similar to yours are being sold for
If you're open to negotiation, determine the least amount you will accept. Based on that amount, you may want to create some cushion in your price - $500 is a good minimum.
Remember, buyers are looking at the same online pricing guides, so if your price is close to or lower than the price they found, your car could be that much more appealing.
Once you set your price, consider using the proper ad lingo to make your point:
Inserting "or best offer" (OBO) or "asking price" signals you'll consider an offer lower than the stated price. You may get more responses.
Stating your price is "firm" signals that you're sticking to your price.
Smart car shoppers want to know how well maintained your vehicle is and will ask for maintenance records. A presentable maintenance log with all of your receipts, especially oil changes, can be a powerful selling tool.
Consider collecting the receipts you have and creating a maintenance log. If you know you had something done but can't find the receipt, log it anyway. Warranty receipts are especially important. If you've recently replaced your tires or battery, present the warranty to the buyer.
You can put buyers at ease by showing a copy of your car's vehicle history report.
One of the biggest fears of used-car buyers is unwittingly buying a car that has been in a wreck. A vehicle history report reveals if a car was ever wrecked, whether the odometer was rolled back and other costly problems.
Presenting your maintenance records and a clean vehicle history report instills confidence in buyers - it could make the sale!
Will you sell it yourself or trade it in? You’ll need to know before you visit the dealership. You may make more money if you sell the car yourself. Before making your decision, read our tips on how to sell your car.
When you’re ready to sell your car, you can quickly and easily place an ad right here on Uscarland.com. Post photos, provide a detailed description and edit your ad later if necessary.
If you prefer the convenience of letting the dealer take the car off your hands, then trade it in. Either way, it's a good idea to tell the salesperson that you're not sure what you're going to do with your current car. Be sure to focus on negotiating a fair price on the new car before you address questions about trade-in, financing or down payments.
Before you sell your car or trade it in, find out what it's worth. Check out our car values page to make a decision about your asking price. Remember, what you get from trade-in will likely be lower.
