How to sell your car

Next to buying a car, selling your car is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make. Therefore, considering your options is of the utmost importance, and there are that many avenues out there though which to sell your car, and just as many ways you can screw yourself over. The key is patience…coupled with a whole lot of know-how that is available free of charge on the world wide web. A little bit of savvy can help you get the best return on your investment.

1. Do your research, and decide which of the most common sale methods would work best for you: private sale, advertising, trade in, dealer or auction.
2. If you choose to go with private sale, you'll need to ensure you're presenting your car as well as you can. This may mean dishing out a little dosh to ensure your car is washed and polished inside and out, and the car is in perfect working order mechanically, with wipers, heating, air con and so on all tip top.
3. Never misrepresent your car. If you decide to put out an add in the newspaper or on the internet, list all the car's features, but be honest about its condition. Even if the car has a pretty big defect, be up front with it, or you could risk being sued down the road. If you have a list of the complete service history, this can definitely do wonders to calm potential buyers about your car's condition.
4. If you decide to take the least stressful road and trade in, still give your car a good wash and fix minor defects. Ensure you shop around too, as trade in values can vary significantly based on your attitude, the salesperson, how much you're paying for the car you're purchasing, and more.
5. Selling to a dealer will most likely pull in a slightly lower price than selling privately, but it does away with all the hassle of selling your car yourself. There are also a lot of risks with selling through consignment, including that if the car is damaged or stolen, it's your problem, not the dealer's. Just be sure you're aware of the risks before taking the plunge.
6. In terms of pricing, don't overprice the car for this could risk scaring off potential buyers, but also don't undershoot. Leave room for haggling. Ensure you know the lowest price you will sell the car for - a car is a big investment, and you don't want to dispose of it all willy-nilly. Do your research and remember to be patient.