Taking time to prepare a car for sale is crucial and may affect how much money ends up in your pocket to invest in a new car.

There are many ways to sell your car, but no matter which course you choose, making sure your car is displayed well will go a long way toward getting you the best price or deal.

To help, we’ve put together a list of precautions worth taking before selling your current car and to increase your chances of getting the right results.

1. Not Assessing the Condition of Your Car

Before you consider how much your car might be worth on the market, you need to identify any issues with it. There are two things to think about when deciding if repairing the car is worth it.

• Will you be able to recuperate the costs in the sale price?
• Could you get a roadworthy certificate (RWC) without repairs?

If you discover problems with the car, you may have to face the fact that when you sell a car that needs repairs, you will pay for it out of pocket.

Generally speaking, the older the car, the less likely it’s going to be worth the cost of repairing and better to sell “as is”. In comparison to newer cars, repair costs can be cheaper and more profitable to fix, as you can significantly increase the sale price, or at least maintain the actual market value of the vehicle.

2. Forgetting to Determine Market Value of the Car

When preparing to sell your used car, a very common difficulty is determining the market value of your used car. The first place to start determining the sale price of a used car should be online.

You also need to “read” the market to understand how many similar cars are on sale and what differentiates your car. Things to pay attention to include:

• Price
• Odometer
• Condition
• Service history
• Extras
• After-sales accessories

By failing to do your due diligence, you can also become a victim of many auto sale scams (https://carsbrisbane.com.au/avoid-different-types-car-scams/). Your potential buyer could be a professional car “flipper” offering a price much lower than its market value. Use car price estimators or speak with your mechanic before you place your ad to feel completely confident about the car and what it is worth.

3. Forgetting to Clean Your Car

An untidy car will come across to potential buyers as neglected, reducing your chances of a sale. Giving the car a thorough clean inside and out before taking photos or letting someone view it can also have a big impact on its sale value.

Start in the interior by removing the big stuff, like trash and any random items lying on and under the seats and in the boot. Only clean the upholstery and console with high-quality or cleaning products recommended by your car brand to avoid damaging the interior. For the hard-to-reach places, head to the petrol station and use a high-pressure hose to blow any remaining debris.

Whether your car is in good shape or more worn, don’t ignore the exterior when selling it. Give it a decent soap wash, and if the car has some rusty spots, we can recommend using WD-40 to prevent further rust damage to it.

4. Accepting the First Offer

As tempting as it can be to accept the first offer on your car, chances are this is much less than its market value. You can open negotiations with the potential buyer, but if they don’t meet your desired price, drop ‘em.

The best thing you can do is hold back and wait for a few reasonable offers before deciding on a potential buyer. One way to identify when you have received a few good offers is to create a target selling price. Start negotiations here, letting them know the competing offers. It’s up to them to either walk away or raise their end.

An experienced potential buyer will tell you everything that is wrong with your car. Be prepared for this. They may start haggling, exploiting every advantage including the car’s condition, its colour, or its features.

In negotiating, first address the potential buyer’s concerns. Don’t be afraid to defend your car. Remember, the potential buyer wouldn’t be interested to negotiate with you if it wasn’t a good car. If the potential buyer threatens to walk away, remember that you have only listed your car online for a few days and may receive better offers from others.

5. Not Going Along for the Test Drive

Never let someone drive your car without you in the car. Even if they offer to leave their driver’s license with you, these can be faked, meaning they can drive off with no chance of returning.

Even before this step, listen to your gut. If the potential buyer makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t give up your keys for a test drive. We also recommend checking your insurance policy to see what’s covered in the case of an accident.

Some potential buyers will try to get you out of the car during the drive, by asking to check the tire pressure or engine condition. To minimise this risk, wait for the potential buyer to get out of the car before you do or invite a trusted person to accompany you.

What’s Next?

The best way to sell a car depends on what you are ultimately trying to get through the sale. To sell your car in a reliable, cheap, and time-efficient way, contact Cars Brisbane now to get an idea of what you could receive. We offer very competitive prices and guarantee that you will get the best value in selling your car with us!