How to Prepare Your Car for Sale

Many articles detail the difficulty of shopping for a new car. Understandably, browsing a vast range of makes and models and choosing just one can seem complicated. But what about the opposite end of the equation? If you have finally said to yourself, “I’m going to sell my car,” you might be wondering the best way to go about the process. Well, get out your notebooks. Car selling class is in session. Selling your car to us here at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown may be one of the best choices you can make this year. Today, we will go over the step-by-step process of preparing your vehicle for sale.

Dress Your Car for a Successful Sale

You wouldn’t go to a job interview in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. The same analogy can be made about selling your car without making it appear presentable. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is why this first step is crucial before you bring your car to us for a successful sale. This doesn’t mean having a fresh coat of paint, but having your vehicle detailed and thoroughly cleaned is essential to get it ready for a sale.

Vacuum all of the upholstery, and be sure that if any spots are noticeable, have them promptly removed. Once things have been cleaned, vacuumed, and detailed, we advise going over the vehicle with a fine-toothed comb. You might have some essential personal items you forgot about, so taking the time to ensure they’re removed makes all the difference. Think about the last time you visited our dealership. The cars on the lot and in the showroom all look pristine. Presentation is vital with any sale. A little extra work goes a long way.

Pre-Sale Inspection

Before you take your vehicle to sell it to us, you should have it thoroughly checked by a mechanic. This is an excellent way to help ensure you get the best offer for your vehicle or at least know if anything is wrong that will bring down the value. Getting any car ready for the showroom requires a little bit of legwork. Aside from making your vehicle look presentable, having it up to date with repairs and maintenance is just as imperative.

When we see someone bring a vehicle in to sell, and they have receipts from their mechanic showing us that everything is up to date (or, better yet, have used our service center to maintain their vehicle), we’re more willing to make them a better offer because they’ve taken the initiative to ensure that they’re selling us a well-maintained car. A vehicle is only as good as the amount of care that’s gone into it.

Gather Up All the Necessary Documentation

If you have purchased a car and registered it in your name, you are probably familiar with some of the paperwork involved. If you want to sell the same vehicle, then having that paperwork is necessary. One of the advantages of selling to a dealership and not undertaking a private sale is that the team here at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown can assist you with completing the necessary paperwork to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Any other documentation you might have, such as repair receipts, is also helpful and can determine a final offer. However, you don’t have to worry about obtaining a CARFAX vehicle history report or other third-party documentation––we can handle that ourselves when we inspect your car.

Understand the Market Value

One of the advantages of working with Edwards Chevrolet Downtown is that you can either trade in your old vehicle for a newer model or sell it to us for cash. However, before you make either decision, you must take the time to fully understand the current market value of your car. This will give you an idea of how much you might make if you sell it to us.

All vehicles go through a process known as depreciation, in which their resale value decreases over time. It’s relatively easy to find out your car’s current value. Market values are listed by publications such as Kelley Blue Book, and we have a KBB value your trade tool here on our website. Resale value is based on many factors, but the most important one is demand—is it a car that other drivers will be interested in buying?

The values listed by KBB indicate the ballpark value of your vehicle, but it’s also important to remember that other factors will impact resale value. A major repair after an accident can lower the resale value of a vehicle. Other items aren’t always discussed, such as whether or not you’ve got a paint job that replaced the original and whether or not you used OEM parts during any routine maintenance or repairs.

You should also take into account whether your vehicle has negative or positive equity. If you own your vehicle outright, you will get the full market value when you sell your car. However, if you’re still paying off a car loan, some of the money will go to your lender. If the amount that you still owe is higher than the current value of the vehicle, you have what’s known as negative equity. Understanding this will allow you to tell whether or not selling your vehicle is feasible.

Advantages of Selling to Us Instead of a Private Sale

Many drivers wonder if a private sale is easier and more advantageous than selling to a dealership. While some have opted to go this route, it’s a much longer process than many realize. Selling to a dealership provides a quick turnaround and can all be done within a few short hours, sometimes quicker.

You do much more work with a private sale, such as advertising, gathering paperwork, and determining value. Regarding the price you’ve set, there’s a good chance that even if it’s fair, you’ll still deal with customers who attempt to lowball you and underbid your asking price by a considerable amount.

Dealing with potential buyers, besides the ones who are trying to lowball you, can also present a considerable level of danger. Thieves and scammers are known to case ads in publications such as Craigslist, so if you decide to sell your vehicle in a private sale, always be sure to meet any potential buyers in a public location.

A Better Way to Buy (and Sell) at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown

Choosing to sell a vehicle can sometimes be challenging. Some people do so for the chance to upgrade their lifestyle, while others simply want to obtain something with more storage options or better fuel economy. There’s no wrong reason to sell a vehicle, but when you feel you’re ready and want the best offer, we invite you to see us at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown.

We have a wealth of experience when it comes to buying and selling cars. Whether you want to trade in for a new car or sell for cash, we’ll make you the best offer we can. With a team that will help you understand your options, complete transparency in every transaction we take part in, and the necessary expertise to guide you, there’s a reason why so many continue to shop and sell with us.