How to Sell a Used Car: 8 Tips for Success

Consumers are currently paying $10,000 more than normal for used cars. This presents a great opportunity for those trying to get rid of their old vehicle to buy a new one. That being said, you still need to go about the process the right way if you’re going to get top dollar for your car.

Just because people are paying more for used cars doesn’t mean you’re entitled to the best price. Keep reading and learn what you need to do to maximize your return on your vehicle.

1. Sell It to a Dealer

In today’s online world, many car owners have the first instinct to sell their cars privately. This can get you an excellent price for your car, but it’s so much more work, and nothing is guaranteed. You have to advertise the car on your own, negotiate with buyers, and go on test drives.

If you want to take a more straightforward route, take your used car to a dealership. Lots of dealerships will make a deal with you even if you aren’t looking to buy a new car. At M&L, for instance, we’ll give you an instant cash offer on your car — it doesn’t have to be a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or RAM, either!

The process is relatively easy. You just go to our website and input your VIN, as well as any other pertinent info about the vehicle. We’ll give you an instant offer, then you bring your car to us and complete the sale.

2. Do a Trade-In

When you bring your used car to us, we’ll give you an instant offer on your car. You can take this as cash or put it towards a trade-in on a brand-new or used vehicle. 

Not only does trading your vehicle expedite the entire car selling/buying process, but many dealers will give you a better deal if you’re trading your car with them. It is the most convenient option and tends to give you the best possible price for your old car while allowing you to find a great new one.

Learn More: How to Trade in a Car With an Existing Loan

3. Know the Market

Whether you’re selling your used car to a dealership or privately, it’s important to understand the market. Looking at buyer trends will help you determine if it’s the best time to sell or if you should wait. 

A good rule of thumb, if your car is around five years old, is to wait for the right deal. A car depreciates considerably from driving it off the lot until you’ve had it for five years when things level out somewhat. 

4. Know Your Car’s Worth

The other thing you need to know is how much your car is actually worth. An easy way to figure this out is to go onto the listing sites and search for the same make, model, and year. When pricing your car, you should also consider the mileage and the overall condition of the car.

Competitive pricing is the key to a quick sale. You must be reasonable about your car’s worth, or you’ll never find a suitable buyer.

5. Do a Deep Clean

Before selling your used car, it’s a good idea to give it a serious clean. You don’t want to advertise, take it to a dealership, or invite test drivers if the car is filthy inside and out.

It takes a few hours to do a deep clean on a car. Vacuum the upholstery, wipe down the interior, and take it to a car wash to get the exterior shiny and clean.

6. Perform Maintenance 

You should think about whether or not to fix any of the minor issues that your car has. Performing large repairs won’t be cost-effective if you’re turning around to make a sale, but a few inexpensive repairs can go a long way.

This is especially true with cosmetic issues. The better you can make your car look for your listing pictures, the more buyers will be willing to pay top dollar for the vehicle.

Related: The Ultimate Summer Car Maintenance Checklist 

7. Take Good Pictures

The best way to sell your car privately is to take detailed photos of the car. Any buyer will want to know what they’re getting themselves into, so you’re more likely to get responses if they can see every aspect of the interior and exterior.

You can do all of this with your smartphone camera. Go through each part of the interior, show every angle of the body, and make sure to open up the hood and take pictures of the engine. Most people will also want to see the dash so they can look at the odometer.

8. Write a Thorough Listing

Writing a thorough listing is a crucial part of selling your used car privately. How you describe your vehicle in tandem with your photos is basically your sales pitch for potential buyers.

Mention as much as you can about your car, including the make, model, trim, odometer reading, and any special features that the car has. If there have been any major repairs or accidents, you should mention this as well. Any car buyer can get a car’s history through Carfax, so there’s no point in concealing information.

What’s great about selling to a dealership is that you don’t have to worry about any of the small details. There’s no meeting with buyers, negotiating a high sales price. You just take the car in and get your offer.

Sell Your Used Car to Lexington M&L

When you try selling your used car, it can take a long time to find the right buyer. If you’re trying to get top dollar, you may have to wait weeks before someone actually agrees to your asking price. Is it really worth all of the trouble when you could take it into a dealership and sell it in a matter of minutes?

At Lexington M&L, we make it incredibly easy for car owners to sell or trade in their cars with us. If you’re interested in finding out how much your car is worth, visit our website or simply click the button below!