Now is the time to find the best ways to sell a car! Why? The pandemic has created a shortage of cars in the United States, and used cars are in high demand.
With the massive car shortage in 2022, the prices of cars are skyrocketing, and used car prices are going through the roof right now.
It’s the time to get rid of your old ride for a great price!
We’re going to take a look at the best ways you can sell a used car this year. We’ll also include some of the most common questions you may have about selling a used car.
Best Ways To Sell A Car In 2024
1. Know What Your Car is Worth
The first step in selling is to know what your current car is worth.
It’s essential to get an accurate estimate of what the car is worth so that you sell it for a fair price, regardless of where you wind up selling it.
Use an online service like Carvana or Kelley Blue Book to find out how much your car is worth, and then you can set your asking price.
Another place to find your car’s value is to check out local dealerships for similar cars to yours.
A perk of researching what your vehicle is worth is seeing the price points for new cars.
It’ll help you with your money management by giving you an idea of how much money to save to pay cash for a new car.
2. Clean Your Car Up!
Once you know how much your vehicle is worth, it’s time to clean up the entire vehicle- inside and out.
Cleaning up your old car helps you get the best price and means a potential buyer to be more likely to buy it.
One of the reasons people avoid buying used cars is that they sometimes look dirty and worn down. Why buy something that looks like it won’t last you long, right?
If I see something used with good photos, and it looks clean, I’m more likely to buy it, and I’m sure it’s the same for you!
Give it a good wash; make sure that there are no stains on the seats or floor mats! You may need to remove bumper stickers to bump up your car’s curb appeal too.
Also, remove any personal belongings from inside your vehicle.
That includes CDs, sunglasses, or anything else like phone chargers or loose change. It makes your pictures look nicer for your listing!
3. Fix-It Or Disclose It
If your vehicle needs repairs, fix them before selling the car. You definitely can’t sell a car that needs major repairs, but some minor repairs may not be a deal-breaker.
Some common issues include:
- Leaks and problems with the engine
- Faulty air conditioner
- Malfunctioning windows or locks
- Get the oil changed
- Have the vehicle inspected
If you can’t fix an issue, it’s crucial that you disclose it to buyers. Disclosing any problems will ensure that buyers know about any of them and will help avoid any surprises down the road.
Where Will You Sell It?
Now that you have your car ready to go, it’s time to sell it!
Sell it to a local dealer. Dealers are the most common way to sell vehicles, and it’s usually the most hassle-free way to go.
Local dealers will usually give you a fair price for your car, and they will take care of all the paperwork. You can trade in for a new car or get cash for your sale.
List your car online. Several websites allow you to do this, including Carvana, Craigslist, or our Favorite Facebook Marketplace. These websites are a great way to reach a large audience of buyers.
Sell your car to a private party. Selling to a private party might be a good option if you want to get more money for your car.
You’ll need to handle the paperwork yourself, and there is always the risk that the private party won’t follow through with the sale.
Online sellers for used or totaled cars. Worried your car is in too rough a shape to sell to anyone? Well, you should check out CarBrain.
CarBrain takes old used cars- you can even sell damaged cars and totaled cars here!
Simply provide your car details on their site for an instant quote, which is good for 7 days if you want to check out dealerships or other options.
Then if you accept, they’ll schedule a free tow to pick up your car, and the workers will have a check with your name on it!
Read more about how CarBrain works with my in-depth CarBrain Review.
Decide how to sell your car!
Word Of Mouth
When you sell your car by word of mouth, it is best to make a private sale through friends and family.
Let them know that you are looking for a buyer for a private party sale, and they might have someone interested in buying your car.
You can also use social media to get the word out about your used car!
Post on Facebook or Instagram that you’re looking for a buyer or post links on Craigslist or other classified ad websites where people post car sales online.
In-Person
Selling a car in person is the best way to get top dollar for it. It’s also the most involved because you meet people and answer questions while you make the private sale.
Put a for sale sign on your car with your phone number.
Be sure to screen callers carefully and only meet with serious buyers- and don’t meet with different buyers at the same time to make it easier on yourself.
Ensure that you have enough time available to pay off the vehicle if you owe money on it and handle all of the title transfer paperwork for your old ride before giving it to the prospective buyer.
Also, be prepared for people who want to test drive your car. Make plans to protect your safety if you don’t know the person you are meeting for the test drive.
Remember to be careful when selling your car and take precautions against scams.
Always keep in mind your safety and the safety of potential buyers: make sure that you meet in a public place and that another person knows where you’re going.
Finally, always remember to negotiate and never take the first cash offer that comes your way. Don’t take a lower price than you are comfortable with taking.
Private sales should be made with a cashier’s check for payment for your financial protection.
Car Selling Sites
There are several websites that you can use to sell your car.
Often these websites allow you to list your car for free, and they reach a large audience of buyers. They make it easy for buyers and sellers to connect!
Several online sites will buy your car directly from you. They’ll give you a price based on the make and model of your car plus the answers to questions about its condition.
Dealerships Trade-In
Dealerships are a great place to sell your car. It’s the most common way to sell a car and most of the time they often offer fair prices!
They aim to sell at wholesale prices and offer you something below it so that they have a bit of wiggle room for profit.
You can also trade in your old ride for a new one. It’s an easy option if you want to upgrade your ride without having all of the hassle involved with selling it yourself.
Social Media
Use a social media online marketplace to help sell your car! Consider posting a photo of the car and mentioning that you’re selling it. You can also post links to websites where people buy cars online.
Another way to sell your car on social media is to create an advertisement for the car using Facebook marketplace or Twitter. This option can be pricy, but it will reach many people!
Sites To Sell Your Car
Some popular sites include Carvana, Craigslist, and eBay. Take advantage of these sites to get the most money for your vehicle! Some even give an instant cash offer!
Be sure to research the different sites before choosing one! This way, you’ll know that you’re getting the best deal for your car.
Kelley Blue Book- Instant Cash Option!
If you’re looking for a more immediate sale, Kelley Blue Book might be a good option.
You can get a quote for your car. Then take the car to a participating dealer within seven (7) days to redeem the offer or apply the quote toward a trade-in.
Cargurus.com
Sellers can list their vehicle for $4.95 for a 30 day listing on Cargurus to reach a large audience of potential car buyers. Buyers can search for nearby listings by inputting criteria including make, model, year, and location.
Another option available on Cargurus is to sell your car to the Cargurus dealership network. Simply input the car’s VIN and miles to the Cargurus car dealer network and get an offer in two minutes!
After you accept the offer, schedule a time for the car to be picked up and receive payment quickly and easily.
Autotrader.com
Autotrader.com can be a great place to start when you want to sell your car! This online car buying and selling website connects prospective buyers with different car owners.
Sellers can list their vehicle for $49 per listing on the Autotrader website to reach a large audience of potential buyers.
Buyers can search for nearby listings by inputting criteria including make, model, year, and location.
Users can also contact sellers via the email listed on their listing page if they have any questions before making a car purchase decision.
Cars.com
On Cars.com, you can sell your car directly to a dealer. Just tell them about your car’s mileage, condition, and other features that will affect its value.
Then take the car to one of the participating car dealers to verify the offer. You can get the cash or use it to trade in for a new car.
In addition, Cars.com offers many resources to help you through the selling process, including a guide to pricing your car, preparing your car for sale, and a guide for taking photos of your car.
Carvana
Carvana is a website that allows you to sell your car quickly online without ever leaving your house!
All you have to do is give them some information about your car – things like your car mileage, the license plate number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), etc.
Carvana will pull a vehicle history report that shows everything that was done to your car. Then, they will give you an instant cash offer that is good for the next seven (7) days.
When you sell a vehicle to Carvana, they will come to your house to pick it up if you live in their service area.
If you don’t live in a service area, you can drive it to them, and they will meet you to pick the car up and pay you for it.
They will also take a photo of the car when they pick it up. Once you sell your car to Carvana, you will be paid via check, direct deposit, or PayPal for your car quickly, usually within 48 hours.
eBay Motors
Like buying a new car, it can be tricky to sell an old car. But eBay Motors makes it easy!
You can create your listing for $19 to $79. Each package features a certain number of photos that can be uploaded.
You can choose several sell pricing options from Reserve Price auctions, No Reserve Price auctions, Buy It Now listings, and Best Offer listings.
So if you’re looking to get rid of that old vehicle fast, one of these options should do the trick.
eBay Motors also offers a Vehicle Protection Plan:
“For items purchased on or after September 1, 2016, your eligible vehicle purchase is protected for up to $100,000 or the purchase price paid, whichever is lower.”
Craigslist
Craigslist is a popular online classifieds website that allows users to post cars and trucks. When you list your used car on Craigslist, it will be seen by millions of potential buyers!
It is a great way to sell your car. You can list it for $5. Many people are looking for cars on Craigslist. It’s important to be careful when selling your car on Craigslist, though.
Although there are many prospective buyers on Craigslist, there is also a higher chance of scams.
Be sure to take precautions when meeting with a prospective buyer and never give away your car before the sale is finalized!
Key Takeaways
Now really is the time to discover the best ways to sell a car. Used car prices are soaring, and you need to take advantage of it!
Trade-ins can be quick and easy, whereas selling online or through personal sales can take more time and effort. But you could get more money so it may be worth your while.
When selling your car online, it’s essential to research and find a website suited to your needs!
It’s also important to consider how much time you spend on the process because some websites require more effort than others.
You need to get an accurate estimate to get the most money for the car and don’t sell it for an asking price that is less than its trade-in value.
Try using one or more of these websites to get the best results.
And don’t forget if you’re selling your car, what are you going to do about picking the next one? It’s time to figure out if you’ll be leasing your next car or buying a new or used car!
