For whatever reason, you’ve decided to sell your car. Perhaps you need to upgrade to a larger model as you’ve got another child on the way. Or, maybe you’ve had this car for years and it’s just been sitting on your driveway never being used. Whatever the reason, it’s nice to try and sell your car for as much money as possible.
Unfortunately, you need to face the reality that cars are rarely going to sell for a profit. Unless you’re a master wheeler-dealer that’s flipping a car, you have to prepare to get less than what you paid for it.
Funnily enough, this is why you should make every effort to squeeze as much money out of your old car as you can. Here are three things to do before you sell, which will help you get a better price:
Service the car
Always book your car in for a check-up before you try to sell it. Take it to one of the top rated auto tune up service providers in your area, and they will take a look at it. Basically, this gives them a chance to spot any lingering problems. It also means you can make a few little improvements to your car so it’s more attractive to buyers. For example, you change the engine oil, put new brake fluids in, add new brake lights, etc. Small things make a big difference as buyers know they can pay for a car that’s driveable right away. In fact, they will pay more money to avoid having to do these things themselves!
Clean the car
You’ll be amazed at how different your car looks when you give it a deep clean. Spray it down on the outside and scrub away at all the dirt. Vacuum the interior and wipe everything clean. This does two things that can influence the price of your vehicle when you sell it:
- It makes your car look more attractive, so more buyers are drawn to it. This creates competition, leading to higher bids being thrown at your car.
- It makes your car look a lot better and in a good condition. Thus, people are willing to pay more than if you left it looking old and worn down.
Get all the paperwork
Your car comes with a lot of paperwork that you’ll need to hand over to the next owner. This includes the manufacturer’s guide, the driver’s manual, and the complete service history. All of these things are crucial as it can be hard to sell a car without them. Will people trust an old car without a full-service history or manual? Unlikely, and those that do will pay way less than you want because they know the car will be hard for you to sell!
Do these three things before selling your car to maximize the value you get from it. To reiterate, you aren’t going to make a profit from this vehicle. Don’t expect to; just try to sell it for the highest price possible.
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