When it comes time to sell your car on, youll naturally want to make sure you get the best price you possibly can whether youre planning on putting the money towards a new car or could simply do with having the extra money in your pocket.
Heres some advice on four simple steps you can follow to make sure that you get a fair valuation (and, ultimately, a great price) for your car.
Ensure your cars in tip top condition
When it comes to selling your car, its obviously important that its in good working order, but appearance also matters. Its sometimes hard to see beyond layers of dirt and bits of minor damage so, the better your car looks, the better your valuations likely to be.
Give it a thorough wash, vacuum the interior and clean out the glove compartment and boot its actually worth investing in a professional valet to make sure every nook and crannys been polished and preened.
Simple DIY fixes like pumping up the tires, filling up the coolant reservoir and repairing any minor scratches can only help to improve the price youre offered.
Get your paperwork in order
Of course, you wont be able to sell your car unless you have the necessary documentation that proves youre the owner… But if youre also able to provide evidence that youve taken good care of it, all the better MOT certificates, proof of servicing and receipts for any repairs carried out build a solid picture of a car thats definitely worth paying more for.
Do your research
We car owners are very lucky in that the internet now offers a whole wealth of information that can help us to determine what kind of price we might be able to get for our old car without even having to leave the comfort of home!
Its a really good idea to dedicate a few hours to compiling some online information about the possible value of your car. Its important to remember, though, that its not only the type, age and mileage on your car that effects what its worth, but also the general market conditions, so be thorough.
Some websites offer a free car valuation service, where you can input all your cars details to instantly find out how much theyd be willing to offer you. Be wary, though some of these sites have well-hidden small print that means they might end up reducing their offer later. Look out for reputable websites that promise to stick to the original price or you could face disappointment later down the line.
Sell to a trustworthy second hand dealer
Try and sell your car privately and the likelihood is that youll get short changed somewhere along the way… Timewasters and scammers are stressful to deal with; it could take you several frustrating months to find a buyer, and even then its possible that youll get ripped off in the end.
Avoid potential pitfalls entirely by going direct to a second hand car dealer. As experts in their field, theyll be able to clearly explain exactly why theyve given you the valuation they have, and make sure all the legal stuffs sorted for you. Easy!
