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Wondering how to Sell Your Car to a Dealership and Where to Sell It?
Prepping your car up for sale is pretty much a standard procedure if you’re selling a car. Sorting out the paperwork is also a crucial step, as this proves the legitimacy of the process. Besides these, there are other things you should prepare for when selling your car to a dealership.
How to Sell Your Car to a Dealership?
Step 1: Find Out Your Car’s Value
Finding out your car’s value is the first step when selling your car. Evaluate the vehicle, considering its current condition, age, mileage, and options.
If you prefer to have a professional look over your car’s value, you can also bring it to a local mechanic for appraisal. A thorough evaluation can cost around $100. This price will be worth it, as you won’t want the dealership to find out what’s wrong with your car before you do.
Step 2: Check Online Sources
It’s possible to find your car’s value without bringing it anywhere. Just go online and look for valuation resources like Edmunds and the Kelley Blue Book. You only need to input the VIN, your car’s current condition and options, and your location to know your car’s value.
What’s great about these sources is that dealerships also use their valuation. Using these, you’ll know how much you can sell your car to dealerships.
Besides car valuation, you can also check online for car-buying websites, such as eBay Motors and Autotrader. Just look for a similar model, make, and year as your vehicle to know how much people are selling them for, and consider getting the average.
The internet is also home to car-selling companies where you can get instant offers by completing an online form. Sites like Carvana and CarMax lets you provide your vehicle details, and they’ll generate an offer.
Step 3: Decide Where to Sell Your Car
After getting an idea about your car’s value, deciding where to sell it is the next step. Although it’s not a rule of thumb, choosing dealerships that sell the same brand as your car can also get you better offers.
You can list several dealerships near you to help you decide where to sell your car. Then, contact them to inquire about selling your vehicle. A quick Google search can do the trick. Just enter the keywords with your vehicle’s brand + “dealership near me” or similar keywords.
Some of the questions you might want to ask a dealership are:
Do I need an appointment for my appraisal?
What do I need to prepare for an appraisal?
Do I qualify for a certified preowned program?
How long does it take to sell my car?
You can save considerable time and effort by asking questions over the phone rather than randomly popping into dealerships.
Step 4: Get Your Car Ready for Appraisal
Before taking your car to a dealership, ensure it’s ready for appraisal. That means your vehicle should be clean in and out, and you have all small issues fixed. Inspect your car for any dents that little elbow grease won’t fix.
Additionally, take your car for a test drive and keep your heads up for anything that doesn’t feel right. Note every issue you notice on your vehicle before taking it to the dealership for appraisal.
Step 5: Prepare Your Documents
Gather all paperwork, such as the title, service receipts, and maintenance records. If you have extra fobs or any valuable accessories, bring them as well.
Local dealerships require the title when you sell your car to them. Service and maintenance records, accessories, and extra fobs can help you get better offers.
Step 6: Bring Your Car to the Dealership
Along with the paperwork, bring your car to the dealership for the appraisal. Let the salesperson know you’re there to sell your vehicle, so you’ll get the assistance you need.
Typically, the salesperson can help you, but some dealerships have a dedicated used car manager. They will ask for your information and inspect your car, which includes checking the brakes, tires, mechanical, and fluid. They might even take it for a test drive.
Dealerships will also run your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in their vehicle history database. Doing this allows them to check for any damage or accident history.
Step 7: Accept the Offer
After the appraisal, dealerships may ask if you want to trade in your car instead of getting cash for it. The trade-in value may even be higher than the cash value dealerships offer. But when it comes to the offering price, here are some things dealerships consider:
Condition of your vehicle
Maintenance and repair records
The dealership’s inventory
If you have any questions about the offer, ask them before accepting it. Once you’re okay with the price, you can accept the offer and finalize the sale.
Or, you can check out offers from other dealerships, negotiate, and choose the best one. Just remember to ask the dealership how long their offers are good for. Once their initial offer expires, you’ll need to have your car appraised again and might get a different offer price.
How to Find Good Dealership?
Finding a good dealership is more manageable these days. After all, you’ll have access to dealership websites where you can find important information, like how you can sell your car to them. Their websites are also the best place to check for their contact details.
There are also third-party review websites you can check, such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. Through these, you can learn about a dealership based on the experiences of its previous customers.
Tips for Getting More Money When Selling Your Car to a Dealership
Keep Your Car’s Maintenance Updated
One of the surefire ways to get more money for your car is to keep its maintenance current. Make sure that when bringing your vehicle for an appraisal, its tires and oil are recently changed, and the brakes are far from squeaky.
Keep in mind that its maintenance records are among the factors that dealerships consider when pricing your car.
Get a Quote for Your Car First
Getting a quote for your car without bringing it to a dealership for an appraisal is possible these days. Many dealerships, like Peddle or Wheelzy, have instant offers you can access through their website.
Just put your car’s information there, and you’ll get a quote to sell your car. No worries, as you’re not required to sell your vehicle to them even if you receive an instant offer. However, you can use this value to negotiate better offers from dealerships.
Complete Any Minor Repairs
To get more money for your car, it better be in top-notch condition when you bring it for appraisal. Make sure to complete any minor repairs as these can significantly affect your car’s value.
For example, fixing minor dents can cost you around $550. But by not doing this, you might be looking at an offer minus $1,000 to $3,000.
Get Your Car Fully Detailed
Getting your car fully detailed will be worth it once you bring your car for appraisal. Like private buyers, dealerships are least likely to pay the same amount for a dirty car versus a clean one.
Besides getting your car cleaned inside and out, auto detailing can solve cosmetic issues and help make your car look brand new. Some detailers may even touch up the paint.
Auto detailing typically costs around $200, but you’ll get these back and more with your car looking at its best shape.
Best Dealerships to Sell Your Used Car
Local Dealers
Local dealerships are one of the best choices if you’re looking to sell your car. Dealerships are purchasing vehicles for their inventory, so they’re likely to make better offers.
They are also a good option if you want a new car after selling your old one. You might even get a higher offer when you opt to trade in your car at a local dealership.
Peddle
Peddle Summary
Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwideGet instant quote on (855) 925 4302Free towing within 48 hours after offerReceive payment upon car collection
Peddle is a website where you can sell used cars. You don’t need to drive anywhere as you can get an instant offer by completing their online form.
If you’re good with their offer, you can schedule a time for them to pick up your car. Unlike with local dealerships, selling to Peddle offers convenience as they’ll just pick up your car and pay on the spot.
Besides used cars, you can sell junk and damaged cars to Peddle.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a weekGet offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108Free towing of your car from your locationInstant payment via cash or check
Wheelzy is another online platform where you can sell used cars. How it works is quite similar to Peddle, as you need to fill out an online form to get an instant offer. But compared to the latter, you can also call Wheelzy by phone if you want to sell your car to them.
What’s also good about Wheelzy is their offer validity. Many dealerships, including Peddle, only hold their offer for up to 7 days. However, Wheelzy doesn’t specify any offer validity, and you can choose to claim your instant cash offer at any time.
CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
Get an online offer within 2 minutesGet cash for your car in under 48 hoursCarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditionsUp to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
CarBrain is another good option if you’re looking for places to sell your car. After all, you don’t need to bring your vehicle anywhere if you decide to sell it with them. You only need to fill out an online form, accept their instant offer, and wait for their towing partners to come to your location.
From there, they’ll inspect your vehicle and finalize the sale. You’ll receive the payment before they take your vehicle away, with the entire process taking only around 24 to 48 hours.