Home | Lifestyle | Cars | Sell Cars | When to Sell Your Car

When to Sell Your Car

by Shamontiel Vaughn

Overview

Not paying a car note is one of the many reasons that people keep their cars, even when the car is on its last leg. Or, maybe the car owners have just grown attached to their automobile and don't want to let it go. But there comes a time to let that car go and move on to bigger and better cars or save some money by using public transportation. However, pricing and maintenance can help with this transaction.

Step 1

Check Kelley Blue Book to see how much your car is being sold for now. You can find out what the newest cars are running for by selecting a make, model and a zip code for the nearest dealerships. If you see that your car isn't remotely matching these prices, guesstimate how much you'd spend if you saw your car for the first time.
Step 2

Get full maintenance service on your car, and fix everything that you possibly can without wanting to keep the car. If you are planning to sell this car to another person, you don't want them to be skeptical of a car that can't even make it out of your garage. If you're selling it because it has parts damaged or needs new equipment, at least make it physically look good by vacuuming the carpet and seats, spraying the windows and waxing and washing the car.
Step 3

Look up websites to find the most reasonably priced one to put an ad out to sell your car. People look in newspapers or in online Classified sections all the time to see if they can find a car that fits their pricing.
Step 4

Drop into dealerships that will trade your car in for another car. Trading in a car is a form of selling it to find a better one. If the dealership is willing to work with you, you may be able to get rid of your old car and get a new one the same day, or at least a new "old" car. Make sure their prices match the worth of your car.
Step 5

Compare how much money you're spending on getting car repairs made versus how much you're spending on regular upkeep. If you can't afford gas in your car because you've paid for a new transmission, engine and the car still can't make it on a road trip, it's time to let your automobile go.

3
Price signs Estimates on what the car is selling for Newspaper ads to see who's looking for a car Newspaper ad or online ad to sell your car
Price signs
Estimates on what the car is selling for
Newspaper ads to see who's looking for a car
Newspaper ad or online ad to sell your car
Don't underestimate your own website to sell your car. There have been instances where family and friends bought cars from each other by innocently checking out a person's website and passing the word along that they're getting rid of a car, just by reading a blog or seeing a picture of the car.
Don't underestimate your own website to sell your car. There have been instances where family and friends bought cars from each other by innocently checking out a person's website and passing the word along that they're getting rid of a car, just by reading a blog or seeing a picture of the car.
Sometimes dealerships (such as Car-X) will give shockingly low price quotes like $50 for cars that have major malfunctions like a broken odometer because Car-X can't verify how many miles are really on the car. Beware of these types of setbacks before trading your car in.
Sometimes dealerships (such as Car-X) will give shockingly low price quotes like $50 for cars that have major malfunctions like a broken odometer because Car-X can't verify how many miles are really on the car. Beware of these types of setbacks before trading your car in.