How to Sell a Used Car

How to sell a used car will outline the basic steps to successfully sell a car with minimal headaches and no mistakes. It's easy to get taken advantage of if you don't know what you're doing, so take the time to get educated.
Used Car Selling Tips
1. Research the market.
2. Clean your car.
3. Take care of basic repairs and maintenance.
4. Find the Kelley Blue Book Value of the Car.
5. Figure out the minimum you're willing to accept.
6. Advertise online and in local papers.
7. Be safe when meeting buyers.
8. Accept only cashier's checks or money orders.
9. Don't let the buyer drive off with your plates.

How to sell a used car will outline the basic steps to successfully sell a car with minimal headaches and no mistakes. It's easy to get taken advantage of if you don't know what you're doing, so take the time to get educated.
Used Car Selling Tips
1. Research the market.
2. Clean your car.
3. Take care of basic repairs and maintenance.
4. Find the Kelley Blue Book Value of the Car.
5. Figure out the minimum you're willing to accept.
6. Advertise online and in local papers.
7. Be safe when meeting buyers.
8. Accept only cashier's checks or money orders.
9. Don't let the buyer drive off with your plates.
Introduction
- Whatever your reason for wanting to sell your car, you don't have to be an expert salesman, auto aficionado or part-time grifter to do it. Unfortunately, there are some dishonest people out there who will try to scam you,Used Car Advisor: Used Car Buyer Scam but it is possible to have a smooth ride if you take some simple steps to prepare and protect yourself.Edmunds.com: Quick Guide to Selling Your Car
Step 1: Make the Decision to Sell
- This seems like a given, but it's important to make sure that selling is the right choice for you and that you're selling at the right time. Otherwise, you won't get the cash you deserve.
1. Carefully evaluate your current transportation. Are you buying a new car because you want one and not because you need one? Does it really make sense to sell now and potentially pick up a car loan, or would you be better off delaying the sale and saving a little extra cash in the meantime?Kiplinger.com: Should You Keep Your Old Car?
2. Evaluate your finances. If you still owe money on the car, it may still be possible to sell it. Your lender might be willing to work something out with you, but is it in your best interest to do it? If you haven't paid down much of the principle, you could lose cash in the long run.Cars.com: Selling Your Car if You Owe Money on It
3. Ask yourself if you're really up for this. Some people are born hagglers and others don't like to deal. If you don't have the time to invest in the process or if the thought of bargaining with a potential buyer makes you weak in the knees, carefully consider whether selling the car yourself is the right option for you.Bankrate.com: Seller or trader: Which one are you?
4. Research the market. We're talking good old-fashioned supply and demand here. If everyone and their brother are selling cars just like yours, it will probably drive prices down, especially if you're only advertising locally. If your neighbors are selling a similar car at a ridiculously low price, you may profit from waiting until it's gone.Edmunds.com: 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
Step 2: Prepare the Car
- Think of this like a first date: you want to put your car's best foot forward. You'll have an easier time selling the car at a good price if you make the car as appealing as possible.
1. Clean the car. Put yourself in the shoes of your potential buyers. If they see a mountain of McDonald's wrappers in the backseat and six years of old chewing gum in the ashtray, they're going to assume that you didn't take very good care of the car. Clean both inside and out to maximize the curb appeal, and your car might just sell itself.Cars.com: Prepping Your Car
2. Take care of simple repairs and basic maintenance. It only costs a couple of bucks to replace burnt bulbs or repair the ding that your little brother put in the fender. Same thing with an oil change and topping off the fluids. But the little things can really add up, and you'll likely end up with a better sale price if you take care of them in advance.Edmunds.com: 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
3. Take the car to a professional detailer. They'll spiff up the car and make it look like new. Detailing costs a lot, though, so it's best to do it yourself if you can.MSN Autos: How to Maximize Your Car's Curb Appeal
Step 3: Decide How Much to Charge
- Choosing the right price point is one of the most important steps to a sale that won't make you cringe when you think about it. Set it too high, and no one will so much as look twice. Set it too low, and you'll sell it fast and regret it later.
1. Find out the Kelley Blue Book value of the car.Official Site: Kelley Blue Book Or, use a used car appraiser like the one at Edmunds.com or Yahoo! Autos.Edmunds.com: Used Car Appraiser Yahoo! Autos: Blue Book Values
2. Carefully evaluate the condition of the car to help determine how much it's worth. Honesty is the best policy here.AOL Autos: 4 Tips to Properly Evaluate Your Car Your buyer is going to see the vehicle before they buy it, so deluding yourself into thinking of a dent as small when it's really the size of the Grand Canyon isn't going to benefit you.
3. Figure out how much similar cars are selling for. Look at dealerships as well as used car listings.Cars.com: Pricing Your Car
4. If your car appears on a list of best used cars, keep it in mind as a selling point when you set your price.Yahoo! Autos: Best and worst used cars
5. Evaluate whether or not you want to bargain. If you're willing to strike a deal, you'll want to put "OBO" in your ad, indicating that you'll take the best offer. Make sure that you have two prices in mind: the price you're going to ask for and the minimum you'll accept.Edmunds.com: Quick Guide to Selling Your Car
Step 4: Advertise Like Crazy
- If you live on a busy street, it's possible to successfully sell a car by leaving it parked outside with a sign in the window, but for a quicker sale and a better price, you're going to have to be a little more proactive than that.
1. Carefully consider posting your home phone number in the window. The sad fact is that there are a lot of lunatics out there.AOL Autos: Tips to Sell a Used Car
2. Find local places to advertise. The local paper is a good low cost choice, as are message boards or local auto trading magazines.
3. Decide if you want to advertise online. Sites like eBay do a lot of business in used car sales.Edmunds.com: Buying and Selling Cars on eBay However, you'll need to help your buyers evaluate the car long distance and make some travel arrangements, either for them to come and get the car or to have the car brought to them. You may get more money and will certainly get the car off your hands quicker, but carefully evaluate what you'll need to do before you take this step.
4. Write a compelling ad. Tell potential buyers the major things they need to know:AutoTrader.com: 10 Tips for Writing Online Car Ads
  1. Year, make, and model
  2. Asking price and whether the price is OBO or firm
  3. Mileage
  4. Mention if the car has been kept in a garage
  5. Briefly list recent repairs or things in need of repair
Step 5: Show It Off
- The chances of someone buying your car without evaluating it in person are about as high as the chances of you becoming the next American Idol. It's probably not going to happen. So do it safely and effectively by following these steps:
1. Put your best foot forward. Remember that potential buyers are not only evaluating the condition of the car but also you as a potential seller. If you seem to be honest, trustworthy and open to negotiation, they'll be more likely to work with you.
2. Be safe when meeting your buyers. If you don't feel comfortable showing the car to them, say that it's sold, make arrangements to show it in public or make arrangements for someone else to be there when you show it.
3. Be prepared for calls. Carry some notes on the car in your pocket so that you can answer questions on the spot rather than risk losing a potential buyer.
4. Buyers will probably want to drive the car. It's amazing how many people skip this step, but make sure that they have a current driver's license and insurance, and don't let them drive off alone with the car. Who knows whether or not they'll come back?
5. They may also want to have a mechanic evaluate the car. One way to head this off is to have a mechanic's evaluation in a handy dandy folder for your prospective buyers to look at. Still, they may have a trusted mechanic and want to get it evaluated. Decide in advance how to respond to this kind of request.
Step 6: Close the Deal
- You've done it. Your car may have bare primer on the doors or a dent the size of Hong Kong on the hood, but you've found someone who is interested in making an offer. What next?
1. If you've advertised the car as an OBO, you may need to bargain. But if you've figured out your absolute minimum as suggested above, you shouldn't have much problem determining whether or not to accept the offer or make a counteroffer.Edmunds.com: 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
2. Accept only cashier's checks and money orders and only in the right amount. Make sure the check is valid before you let them drive off with the car.Cars.com: Securing Safe Payment
3. Sign the title over to the buyer. You should be able to download all of the necessary paperwork from the DMV.Edmunds.com: 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
4. Don't let them drive off with your plates. You could be liable for any tickets they might get. You should also cancel the insurance policy after they leave.AOL Autos: Tips to Sell a Used Car
Conclusion
- You've done it! Your car is off your hands, and now it's only a question of what to do with your hard earned cash. Maybe it's time to go car shopping?
References for How To Sell a Used Car