How to Sell Used Cars by Private Party
Selling used cars yourself instead of trading them in to a dealership is a good way to ensure that you get the maximum amount for your vehicles. Selling a vehicle yourself can take some time, patience and diligence but it can be very beneficial whether you are selling one vehicle or many.
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Instructions
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Wash your car and remove any personal items from it. Get the inside and outside looking as new as possible and clean the engine compartment as well to remove any excess dirt or leaf buildup.
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Perform any standard maintenance on the vehicle, such as oil changes or tune-ups to make sure everything is in the best condition possible. Fix any problems the car currently has, if possible. If there is an issue you are not repairing, you need to alert the buyer and adjust the sales price accordingly.
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Research the seller price of your car. A car's value is different if it is sold privately compared to if it is sold by a dealer. Resources such as Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book can help you figure out what the asking price for your car should be.
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Retrieve a vehicle history report for your car and have it ready to show a potential buyer. It is a written testament from a third party (such as Carfax or Autocheck) that shows the history of the vehicle, such as mileage, major repairs or any accident history.
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Advertise your cars that are for sale. Classified ads, Craig's List and Auto Trader are all options that can yield good results. The more you diversify your ads through various sources, the better your odds of finding a buyer. Park your cars in places where they are highly visible with 'For Sale' signs on them and include a phone number where you can be reached.
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Write a sales contract stating clearly that the car is being sold "as is" and there are no warranties or refunds available. Receive payment before you give the buyer the car and transfer the title.
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Tips & Warnings
If you still owe money to the bank for your car, your selling price will either have to cover what the bank is owed or you will have to immediately pay the difference to the bank before the title can be transferred. If neither of these requirements can be met, you can't legally sell the vehicle.
Ensure that your car is in good enough running condition to avoid any legal issues down the road.
