Do’s and Don’ts When Selling a Car
Do’s and Don’ts When Selling Your Car in Kennesaw, Canton and Holly Springs, GA, and Elmhurst, IL
Here at Perrin Auto Group, we understand that selling or trading in your car may feel daunting, especially if you don’t know what the process looks like. That’s why we want to share a few do’s and don’ts you can follow in order to seamlessly sell or trade in your ride. By preparing yourself with this information, you’ll be sure to conduct a smooth and secure transaction. Keep scrolling to learn more!
DO: Find out Your Vehicle’s Value
Before you put a price tag on your current ride, it’s imperative that you understand what its fair market value is. Without this insight, you run the risk of pricing your vehicle inaccurately and underestimating how much of a final payout you should receive. Take advantage of trustworthy third-party resources like Kelley Blue Book® or Edmunds to receive an accurate online appraisal for your car.
Once you’ve gotten your first offer from a prospective buyer, make sure to compare it to your online appraisal before you seal the deal. Sometimes, you may find that the offer is lower than what your vehicle is actually worth. In this case, never settle in order to make the potential buyer happy. Counter with a price that aligns accurately with the car’s true market value. If the buyer declines, don’t let them talk you into any other deal — after all, your end goal is to profit off of the sale, not break even.
Interested in making a trade? To ensure you’re getting the best deal, get quotes from various dealers. To make this process even easier, many of our dealers provide an online trade appraisal tool that can give you an estimate within just a few minutes.
DO: Put Your Vehicle in the Spotlight
You’re about to showcase your current ride — it’s a no-brainer that you’d want to make it look its very best! Help your ride put its best wheel forward with just a little elbow grease. Wash and detail your vehicle, vacuum the interior and remove any customizations (like decals) before putting it in the spotlight. In addition, don’t forget to write a detailed description if you wish to list your vehicle for sale online — this will help shoppers gain a clear understanding of the ins and outs of the car they’re considering.
DON’T: Overdo the Repairs
You may be wondering what repairs you should make before you hand your car over to its new owner. We highly recommend completing all standard routine maintenance such as an oil change, tire rotation and battery inspection. Taking care of these small repairs can improve how much you can sell your model for. However, if your ride requires major repairs such as an engine or transmission replacement, we recommend just selling it as-is. You don’t want to shell out a lot of money for repairs and then not gain a profit from the final sale.
DON’T: Conceal Information From Potential Buyers
Never conceal crucial information about your ride when you’re preparing to sell it. Think of it this way: Honesty is the best policy. Omitting details may initially make your car seem more appealing, but this may have a negative impact on the transaction if the buyer notices something that wasn’t disclosed. Make sure the description of the model is accurate and your pricing also reflects its condition. Refrain from using verbiage such as “limited-time availability” if this is simply false. When in doubt, always be truthful — you’d want someone else to do the same for you!
DO: Provide Records
Providing service records can be extremely helpful for the new owner, reassuring them of the vehicle’s condition. To obtain these documents, simply pull its CARFAX® report in just a few minutes.
DO: Complete all the Paperwork
Once a buyer is ready to finalize the sale, don’t overlook the vital paperwork that ensures a seamless transition. These documents differ from state to state, so double check with your local DMV to understand what necessary paperwork is needed in order for the sale to be considered valid. If this is not done correctly, you risk being held responsible for potential future repairs if the buyer ends up in an accident. To prevent this from occurring, you can schedule a time to meet with the buyer and complete the forms together in person. If you want to eliminate the hassle of selling your car yourself, consider bringing your ride to one of our dealerships and we’ll take care of the tedious paperwork for you!
If you have any questions about what you need to do before selling or trading in a car, please feel free to contact us or stop by Volkswagen Eugene at 89320 N. Game Farm Rd., Eugene, OR 97408. We look forward to serving our customers from Springfield, Salem, Roseburg and Albany.