Selling your car fast helps you move on quickly with cash in your pocket.
Before you hand over the title, you’ll need to do a little prep work to make the sale go smoothly. The process isn’t complicated, but you do need to complete a few steps to move the process along quickly.
Check out these six steps to make it happen.
1. Gather Documentation
Before you can sell your car, you’ll need the title, which is what you use to transfer ownership.
Do you still owe money on the vehicle? Contact your lender to see what you need to do. The lender holds the title until you pay off the loan, so you’ll need to understand your obligations.
Another piece of documentation to consider is a Carfax report. You can show potential buyers that the car has a clean history, which can be a selling point.
2. Spiff Up Your Car
An attractive car often sells faster. No one wants to buy a trashy, dirty car.
Clean out the car inside and out from top to bottom. Getting it detailed ensures a professional clean with less work for you.
Fixing minor repairs can help sell the car faster. But if you put too much money into the vehicle, you might not get it back when you sell.
3. Set the Asking Price
When you want to sell your vehicle quickly, you need to price it competitively.
Setting your price too high can prolong the selling process.
Use pricing guides to determine your car’s value. Add a buffer to account for negotiations. If you set it at your lowest acceptable price, buyers will still try to negotiate and want you to go lower.
4. Take Photos
Photos of your car help generate leads.
Many buyers won’t call about a car if they can’t see it first.
Take photos during the day in sunlight for the best quality images. Take photos of all different angles, including the interior features of your vehicle.
5. Create an Appealing Ad
Get to the point in your ad with concrete facts about the vehicle. Present features with bullet points, so potential buyers can scan the information quickly.
Always represent the vehicle honestly. If you lie about its condition or leave out important information, you’ll likely lose the sale once the buyer finds out the truth.
The buyer could also contact a consumer attorney to take legal action if you lie about your vehicle.
6. Negotiate and Sell
Set up a time for potential buyers to see the car and take it for a test drive. Some might ask to have a mechanic check out the vehicle before purchasing.
Be prepared for the buyer to negotiate. Know what your lowest acceptable offer is before starting negotiations.
If you’re in a time crunch and need to sell quickly, you might need to be flexible on your price. Make sure you don’t get taken advantage of with a lowball offer.
If you don’t want to mess with negotiating, you might consider selling your car for cash to a company that offers quick sales.
Selling Your Car Fast to Make Money Quickly
When selling your car fast is your goal, you want to make the vehicle as appealing as possible.
Getting it in prime shape makes it attractive and helps you get offers faster.
Explore our archives for more car tips.