| Selling your car can be surprisingly tricky, particularly if | | | | way of getting the car off your hands as you don't |
| you want to receive the best possible price. Buyers | | | | have to advertise, deal with buyers, or take the risk |
| have a huge choice so it's vital to make sure that | | | | of being unable to sell your car for months, during |
| your car stands out from the crowd. Some simple | | | | which time your car continues to devalue. Companies |
| tactics, such as making sure you set a fair price, | | | | such as will provide an instant quote online for the |
| ensuring that your car looks great and using clever | | | | majority of used cars. |
| negotiation tactics, can be the difference between | | | | The downside with selling to a dealer is that you're |
| making a quick sale or being left with an unwanted | | | | unlikely to receive the best possible price. Advertising |
| car on your hands for months. | | | | and selling the car yourself is more time consuming |
| Setting the Price | | | | but can also be more profitable. eBay Motors has |
| Ensuring that you've valued your car correctly is the | | | | become one of the most popular ways of buying |
| most important aspect when selling a car. Set too | | | | and selling a used car, so much so that a car is now |
| high a price and you could end up with a car stuck on | | | | sold every 2 minutes through the site. When selling |
| your hands for months, whilst setting too low a price | | | | through eBay make sure that you include a lot of |
| will result in a quick sale but knowing that you could | | | | information about the car along with a couple of |
| have done better. Parkers.co.uk has an excellent used | | | | photos. |
| car guide section, where you can quickly receive a | | | | Negotiating the Price |
| reliable price estimate. | | | | When potential buyers take a look at your car and |
| Also, take a look through the local classifieds to get a | | | | decide that they are seriously interested in purchasing |
| feel for prices. Take into account the number of | | | | it the chances are that they will attempt to negotiate |
| miles that you car has traveled and whether any | | | | the price. This is to be expected because buyers like |
| extra features have been installed over the years, | | | | to think that they are getting a good deal as well. |
| such as air conditioning or a stereo system. | | | | Therefore have a target price and lowest acceptable |
| Preparing the Car | | | | price in mind before you enter negotiations. If the |
| On average clean and polished cars sell for 10% more | | | | two offers are some way apart then a moment of |
| than the same cars when they are filthy because | | | | silence is often the best tactic. People find silence |
| buyers like to know that the car they are buying has | | | | uncomfortable and awkward, often resulting in them |
| been cared for. Dealers will also pay more for clean | | | | making a compromise offer half way between the |
| cars because it saves them time and money cleaning | | | | two valuations. It's at this point that you can propose |
| the car themselves. | | | | meeting half way between your offer and the new |
| For the outside of the car use a good quality car | | | | offer, gaining yourself a better deal. |
| shampoo before polishing the car to create that 'new | | | | Completing the Deal |
| car' shine. Then power spray the tyres and clean | | | | Once a price has been agreed the deal still needs to |
| alloy wheels. This clean and shiny car exterior will | | | | be completed. Ask the buyer for their ID, address, |
| create an excellent first impression. | | | | and landline number because sometimes things go |
| Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust and dirt | | | | wrong in which case it's good to have a way to |
| from inside the car. Dashboards should be cleaned | | | | contact them. If paid by cheque only let the buyer |
| with a 'low-gloss' dashboard cleaner. When cleaning | | | | drive the car away once it has cleared. Finally, write a |
| the windows remember to be careful around the | | | | receipt stating that you are selling the car, and include |
| heater elements in the rear window. Finally, ensure | | | | the details of the car, yourself and the buyer. Write |
| that the car smells nice. In particular remove any | | | | on the receipt 'accepted as tested and seen' to |
| cigarette smell. | | | | cover yourself against any future claims for damages. |
| Where to Advertise | | | | Then have the receipt signed by both yourself and |
| As a generalization when selling a car there are two | | | | the buyer, after which a successful sale will have |
| options available - sell it yourself or sell direct to a | | | | been achieved. |
| dealer. Selling direct to a dealer is a quick and easy | | | | |