Selling an unwanted car or commercial vehicle privately doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little research and organization, you can simplify the process and get the most profit possible.
Use this simple Guide to Selling Your Car to help you along the way.
Sometimes the decision to sell a vehicle privately comes down to the amount of profit you’ll gain through the transaction.
Before you can decide whether or not the process will be worth the effort, you’ll need to find out exactly how much your car is worth.
A few resources that will estimate your vehicle’s current market value include:
If your car isn’t worth as much as you thought, you may want to consider it for trade-in value at a dealership instead.
If you wait to do this step toward the end of the process, you find yourself scrambling for all the necessary documents. A better approach is to gather everything you’ll need to finalize the transaction once you’ve decided to sell your car or truck privately.
NZTA has its own requirements for required paperwork when selling a car; as a general guide, be prepared to have:
W.O.F and maintenance records (Keeping up with scheduled maintenance can increase the value and reliability of your vehicle).
A tidy vehicle will be more attractive to potential buyers, and give the impression that the car or truck has been properly cared for.
Before you take pictures of the vehicle or list it online, you’ll need to detail the interior and exterior of the vehicle. If you decide to do this yourself, be sure to:
Wash and wax the exterior of the vehicle.
Clean the rims and tires.
Replace or wash old floor mats.
Vacuum the floor, seats, and trunk.
Clean the ashtrays.
Wash the windows inside and out.
Once the car is clean and detailed, you’ll want to take plenty of best photos. This will aid in your efforts to advertise the vehicle and attract potential buyers.
Be sure to take multiple shots from different angles and choose the best of your selection when you create your ad. A few shots you’ll want to be sure to include are:
The exterior:
The interior:
To advertise your vehicle properly, you’ll need to find an online classified service where potential buyers will be shopping.
There are plenty of options out there (Trademe), so we’ve provided a guide to advertising your vehicle to get you started.
Creating a good ad is a must to attract car buyers, and it starts with knowing the details of your vehicle inside and out.
Since a detailed description will leave a good first impression and help you attract more buyers, you’ll want to make sure it’s as accurate as possible.
Be sure to include the following information at a minimum:
When you negotiate, it’s a good idea to have a starting price that’s higher than what you’re willing to accept. Also have a dollar amount in mind that’s your lowest acceptable price and stick to it.
Once a sale has been agreed upon, you’ll need to finalize all the paperwork. If you accept a cashier’s check, go with the buyer to his or her bank to get your money. When payment has been completed, you’ll need to:
