Ready to sell your used car and move on to your next ride? Selling a car can be a hassle, but there are steps you can take to make the process much smoother. From clearing out items that are often forgotten to making sure that your title or lien release is ready to gathering maintenance records, here are some tips for selling your used car to help your experience go as smoothly as possible.
5 Tips for Selling Your Used Car
1. Don't forget to remove everything
It's no fun to watch your vehicle drive away, only to realize a week later that you forgot something important! Vehicles these days are full of helpful compartments and places to tuck away your important items for streamlined travel. However, this can be to your detriment when you forget something and your car is gone!
Before you close the sale, do a thorough check in every compartment of your vehicle. Go through the trunk, check under the seats, and look through all the compartments. You should leave the manual, spare tire, jack, floor mats, and anything else that was part of the vehicle's original package.
2. Clean the interior and get a car wash
If you want to cash in on the highest sale amount possible, make sure you're presenting a clean and well-kept vehicle. Take the time to detail your vehicle and thoroughly clean the interior. Vacuum, wipe surfaces, and clean the inside of the windows. Then, take your car through a car wash to get the outside squeaky clean, too. Remember, the outside of the vehicle is the first impression potential buyers will have!
3. Make sure you have the title
Although it may seem obvious, most individual sellers don't necessarily have dozens of used vehicle sales under their belt. It can be easy to get caught up in thinking about about the best way to find buyers, negotiating, and making sure your vehicle looks spick and span.
Don't neglect to make sure that you have the title ready to go, and the lien release too if applicable. Don't forget to take a copy of the title before you let it go. You should also write up a bill of sale when you close the deal for seller (and buyer) protection.
4. Gather maintenance records and receipts
Gather any maintenance records and receipts that you have for your vehicle. Everything from oil change records, new tires, and larger repairs are helpful information for the buyer to have. These allow them to know when repairs have been made and when they might need to be made again. It also gives the buyer peace of mind to know that they have some history on the vehicle.
It's a great idea to keep a small notebook in your car and write down the date, service provider, and any details about each repair or upgrade you made.
5. Consider a used car dealership
If you're nervous about selling your vehicle yourself, you may consider taking it to a used car dealership to sell or to trade. When you sell your own vehicle, you'll need to be comfortable with taking pictures, listing it online, meeting with potential buyers, answering questions, negotiating, and completing all of the administrative steps of collecting your funds and closing the sale.
If you'd prefer to streamline the process, you can always take your car to a used dealership, collect your cash, and let them do the work.
At Tillema Auto, we make the process of selling your used vehicle easy. We also encourage buyers to trade in their vehicles. This gives you a better value with Michigan's trade-in sales tax credit and gives you options for easily finding a reliable, new-to-you vehicle.
Finding Your Next Vehicle at Tillema Auto
At Tillema Auto, we're committed to treating our customers like family. We know that your vehicle is a huge part of your life - it gets you where you need to go each day, and it needs to be reliable. From helping you sell your used car to finding you the best next vehicle for your needs to taking care of your ride in our service center, we take your needs seriously.
Ready to buy or sell? Contact us today at 616-878-5991, and we'll get you on the road.
