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ome sprucing up and savvy marketing can help you sell your vehicle for a lot more cash than a dealer would ever offer you. By Kiplinger's Personal Finance MagazineSelling a used vehicle is easier than ever, thanks to the Internet. Just post an ad and wait for the calls.
Just one problem: Thanks to the Internet, buyers are smarter, too. So to get a good price, you need to have an edge over the thousands of others selling similar vehicles.
1. Think like a dealer
If you're getting rid of an old car because you are in the market for a new one, trading in your car to a dealer is the route of least resistance, but it's not the path to the best price. You can get $1,000 to $2,000 more, on average, by selling the car yourself. Part of the reason is that when you go to a dealer, you're introducing a middleman who needs to cover costs (such as paperwork, transporting the vehicle to auction or reconditioning the car to sell it himself). And let's face it: Dealers are experts at the haggling game.
Insurance industry names safest cars
Also, dealers have a few tricks up their sleeves. They know that even a clunker can look like a cream puff when it's cleaned up.A detailing that includes vacuuming the interior, cleaning the seats, and washing and waxing the exterior will run about $50. Shining up older tires is cheap -- $5 to $10 -- and helps increase curb appeal. Dealers also steam clean the engine, polish chrome surfaces and even use Armor All on the plastic tubing, says Phil Reed of Edmunds.com. That can give buyers a sense of confidence in the care of your car when they look under the hood.
Besides the spit and polish, make sure your vehicle is clear of all your stuff. Look in the compact-disc player, seat-back pockets, under seats and in the trunk. Verify that the spare tire is there (if it comes with one) and that all jacks and tools are accounted for.
2. Fix the little things
If your car needs major work, that's another story. But a burned-out brake light or ratty floor mats may leave a potential buyer wondering what else you haven't fixed.Instead of waving a red flag, invest in the car to get more money. A brake light could cost as little as $20 to repair, and carpeted floor mats from AutoZone run just $25 for four mats.
Reed advises most sellers not to put a lot of money into sprucing up their vehicles. But if you think fixing a small dent could make a big difference in how much you get for the car, consider a paintless dent-repair service, such as 1-800-Dent-Doc. Its technicians massage out dents without damaging the paint for as little as $75 per dent.
3. Research what it's worth
Kelley Blue Book, NADA Guides and Edmunds have calculators to determine a used car's value. Enter the make, model and trim, plus mileage, options and condition, to get an idea of what your vehicle is worth."You don't have to take a dealer's word for what it's worth anymore," says Mark Scott of AutoTrader.com. If you get a lowball offer from a buyer or dealer, just show the printouts.
4. Post a killer ad
Pepper the Internet with your ads. Using AutoTrader.com ($20 to $80 per ad, depending on how long it runs and the number of photos), Craigslist, your local newspaper's site and even Facebook, you'll increase the chances that the right buyer will find your car. Take as many pictures as you can, including exterior shots from several angles as well as interior ones to show detail. Highlight improvements, such as a new stereo system and speakers, as well as any flaws, such as a dent in the door.
Continued: Document, document, document
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.co...to-get-top-dollar-for-your-car.aspx?GT1=33006
Just one problem: Thanks to the Internet, buyers are smarter, too. So to get a good price, you need to have an edge over the thousands of others selling similar vehicles.
1. Think like a dealer
If you're getting rid of an old car because you are in the market for a new one, trading in your car to a dealer is the route of least resistance, but it's not the path to the best price. You can get $1,000 to $2,000 more, on average, by selling the car yourself. Part of the reason is that when you go to a dealer, you're introducing a middleman who needs to cover costs (such as paperwork, transporting the vehicle to auction or reconditioning the car to sell it himself). And let's face it: Dealers are experts at the haggling game.
Insurance industry names safest cars
Also, dealers have a few tricks up their sleeves. They know that even a clunker can look like a cream puff when it's cleaned up.A detailing that includes vacuuming the interior, cleaning the seats, and washing and waxing the exterior will run about $50. Shining up older tires is cheap -- $5 to $10 -- and helps increase curb appeal. Dealers also steam clean the engine, polish chrome surfaces and even use Armor All on the plastic tubing, says Phil Reed of Edmunds.com. That can give buyers a sense of confidence in the care of your car when they look under the hood.
Besides the spit and polish, make sure your vehicle is clear of all your stuff. Look in the compact-disc player, seat-back pockets, under seats and in the trunk. Verify that the spare tire is there (if it comes with one) and that all jacks and tools are accounted for.
2. Fix the little things
If your car needs major work, that's another story. But a burned-out brake light or ratty floor mats may leave a potential buyer wondering what else you haven't fixed.Instead of waving a red flag, invest in the car to get more money. A brake light could cost as little as $20 to repair, and carpeted floor mats from AutoZone run just $25 for four mats.
Reed advises most sellers not to put a lot of money into sprucing up their vehicles. But if you think fixing a small dent could make a big difference in how much you get for the car, consider a paintless dent-repair service, such as 1-800-Dent-Doc. Its technicians massage out dents without damaging the paint for as little as $75 per dent.
3. Research what it's worth
Kelley Blue Book, NADA Guides and Edmunds have calculators to determine a used car's value. Enter the make, model and trim, plus mileage, options and condition, to get an idea of what your vehicle is worth."You don't have to take a dealer's word for what it's worth anymore," says Mark Scott of AutoTrader.com. If you get a lowball offer from a buyer or dealer, just show the printouts.
4. Post a killer ad
Pepper the Internet with your ads. Using AutoTrader.com ($20 to $80 per ad, depending on how long it runs and the number of photos), Craigslist, your local newspaper's site and even Facebook, you'll increase the chances that the right buyer will find your car. Take as many pictures as you can, including exterior shots from several angles as well as interior ones to show detail. Highlight improvements, such as a new stereo system and speakers, as well as any flaws, such as a dent in the door.
Continued: Document, document, document
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.co...to-get-top-dollar-for-your-car.aspx?GT1=33006
