If you’re a driver in the Greater Birmingham Area and you want to sell your automobile, then you’ve come to the right place. No matter what inspired you to sell—whether you're under financial strain, no longer need a car, or upgraded to a new ride—we will be happy to work with you so you get the deal you deserve. For years now, Edwards Chevrolet Downtown has forged relationships with customers by offering top values for their vehicles; that’s one reason why we have so many return sellers—they know they’re getting a square deal.
A lot of folks will tell themselves, “I should sell my car,” but they stop there, unsure of how to proceed. We understand; if you’re the average driver, selling a car can seem like an overwhelming prospect. That’s why we make it as easy as possible. We know you have a busy life and don’t want to become wrapped up in an exhaustive process, so we guarantee your sale will be done fast and by the book. If you want to sell your car in the most efficient way possible, then Edwards Chevrolet Downtown is your answer.
A big question for someone who wants to sell their car is who to present it to. Do you put an ad in the local newspaper? Do you place the ad online? Which venue is the best? And if you place an ad, how much does it cost? Do you subtract that cost from how much you earn from the sale, or do you factor it into the price? Plus, there’s the time investment; if you have to hunt around a lot for buyers, you’re putting in a lot of time—time that could be better spent elsewhere. That’s its own type of cost. Then, once someone reaches out, new problems can arise...
Picture this: You put out an ad to sell your car, and someone responds. They agree to purchase it, and you become excited—but then you never hear from them again. Or someone reaches out and names a price they’re willing to pay, but then—at the last minute—they try to renegotiate. Then, there’s the safety aspect: Where do you meet this buyer? At your home? If you meet in a public place, you'll need to arrange transportation to get you home, should the prospect purchase on the spot.
By doing all the work yourself, there’s a lot to be concerned about. That’s why selling to a dealership is a far better concept for drivers. For one, it’s much safer; you won’t have to worry about having your car stolen or your house burgled when you sell to a dealership, nor will you have to worry about a buyer who wants to skirt the law during the purchase. For another, a dealership also knows all the small details that need to happen during a sale; this saves you time from having to learn the legal minutiae of a sale, as the dealership can just tell you what you need to do.
Selling to a dealership also allows you to form a relationship. Should you want to sell another car down the road or should you want to purchase one, you’ll have an established relationship with a dealer already, which can save you time and money. So, not only does going through a dealership help in the short term, but it also gives you long-term support.
The dealership also wins out because they want a relationship with local folks. That’s why—contrary to what some think—a dealership is not incentivized to lowball a seller; they want the seller to be confident and satisfied with the sale so they'll return later for further business. For Alabama drivers, a dealership is the place to sell your car, and there’s no better place than Birmingham’s own Edwards Chevrolet Downtown.
No matter whom you’re selling your car to, there are some moves to make beforehand. We know that Alabama weather can sometimes turn nasty, so you want to ensure your car is cleaned before offering it to anyone. The shinier it looks, the easier it’ll be to sell.
Consider repairs, too. Is it worth it to spend some money on repairs because it’ll increase the purchase value of the car? In many cases, the answer will be yes. If a $100 fix makes the value of your car go up by $200, then that’s a good deal! This requires knowing the value of your automobile—hence, you should always research its estimated worth so that you’re an informed seller. The used car market is malleable, so make sure whatever information you glean is not out of date; it’s possible your vehicle will be worth a bit more or a bit less than an article from a couple of years ago suggests.
You want to make sure that any subscriptions you have are canceled. Let’s say you have SiriusXM radio in your vehicle; let Sirius know you're done with your subscription, or else you could be paying for somebody else to enjoy it!
Last but not least, you want to ensure you’re selling for the right reasons. Is this a rushed decision? If so, perhaps sleep on it; you don’t want to sell and feel remorse afterward. You want to be positive that you’ve thought through your decision so you can feel confident about it. Selling to a dealership that will ask all the right questions can help you build that confidence.
No one likes doing paperwork. Thankfully, selling to a dealership makes the paperwork aspect far simpler since dealerships will guarantee you’re fully informed, and they'll even handle much of it on their own. Not only are they a purchaser, but they are a guide.
In order to save time in the sale, you'll first want to locate the bill of sale and the vehicle’s title. If you cannot find the title, you’ll have to contact your local DMV to send you a new one. You’ll also need a notice of sale once your vehicle is bought; once more, a dealership helps because they’ll take care of that. You may also want an odometer certificate, as this promises that the mileage on the car is accurate and divulges any accidents the vehicle may have been in.
There’s also some paperwork you want to make sure is gone. If there's any personal information inside your vehicle, be certain to remove it before you sell.