So you’ve decided that it’s time to say goodbye to your car. Whether it’s because you want to trade it in for a shiny new car or because it’s stopped working altogether, you want to get to the most cash for your old vehicle as possible.
Here are 3 of the best ways to sell your car – at the end, we’ll reveal what method will earn you the most money.
1. Sell to Another Company
The easiest way to sell your vehicle would be to sell it to a cash-for-car company. These companies specialize in buying “junk cars” for their parts. For example, a cash for cars Perth company like WA Car Removals will take any vehicle regardless of its condition.
These types of services will give you a price quote for your old car, then it is up to you to decide if the price is right.
2. Sell it Privately
Selling your car privately may take longer than if you decided to sell it to a dealer, but if you know how to advertise, you can make a lot of money.
Make sure you look up the value of the vehicle in its current condition and begin negotiating with that price. To help get the word out, let your friends and family know that you’re selling it. That way, if they happen to know of anyone looking to buy a car, they can refer to you.
Get it listed in local newspaper ads, and take plenty of pictures of the interior and exterior of the car and post them online. Write a description that highlights your car’s best features, such as being accident-free or having low mileage.
3. Trade It In
When you trade in your vehicle, the dealership will negotiate a price with you. The next step is selecting a new vehicle from the same lot you sold your old one to. The price that you and the dealer negotiate will be subtracted from the total cost of the car that you decide to purchase from them.
The most important step in this process is doing thorough research. Research dealerships in your area, read the reviews to see which ones are reliable and offer fair trade-in values. That way, you can get the most money possible for the vehicle that you are selling.
Tips for Getting the Best Price
The better shape the car is in, the more value you’ll get for it, especially if you’re selling privately. Start by cleaning out your vehicle inside and out – take it to the wash and polish the exterior off yourself with a towel, vacuum, and use air fresheners.
You’ll also want to look up the current value of your vehicle. There are many certified resources to calculate this for you such as CarFax and Kelley Blue Book. The website will ask you a few questions about your car such as special features, damages, and mileage to determine a reasonable list price. The last thing you want to do is assume your car is worth less than what it is and not get your money’s worth.
The Final Verdict
As you can see, each method of selling your car has unique advantages and disadvantages. But which one will earn you the most money?
If the car you’re selling is still in good condition, selling it privately will probably earn you the most money. But if your car is older, doesn’t run, or has more than 100k miles on it, selling it to a cash-for-car company will be the best option. A dealership won’t give you the best price, but it is a convenient way to put the value of your old car toward a brand new one.
Getting the most out of your used car will require a bit of research, but it is well worth it to put as much cash back into your pockets as possible.