Selling a car can appear daunting at first but by following some basics it can be as simple as ABC.
Most sellers have three options:
Trade-in:. You’ll get a lower price than you want but it’s largely hassle free. The value comes if where you’re trading in has the vehicle you next want to buy whether new or second-hand.
Sell privately – you’ll get the best price if you’re savvy enough but are you prepared for all the paperwork if you’ve never done this before.
Or perhaps the best – let someone else do it quickly and efficiently for a fee. That’s what I did when I wanted to sell my car online in NSW.
But whatever you decide to do there are still some top tips to ease the process that everyone should follow.
First impressions always matter so you should clean and detail your vehicle to make it look its best. Washing, vacuuming, waxing, cleaning the windows – look at it as paid work because it adds value!
Get all your documents together. Service history, registration papers and any other relevant documents all in one place will inspire confidence in a buyer.
Take high-quality photos – you want to take high-resolution shots in good light from every angle in a location away from things like bins or other vehicles. Don’t forget to photograph the interior as well as the exterior. Take a shot of the engine number so buyers can clearly see it correlates.
Write a detailed description of your vehicle including information about the make, model, mileage and service history and include any special modifications. Be upfront about any issue or damage – there’s nothing worse about being found out hiding something. The buyer will think – what else are they keeping from me and walk away.
Be realistic about the price. Do your research in magazines or online searches. There are many websites online like Gumtree or Drive that will help you figure out the price.
Choose the right online platform. I’ve been impressed with the guys at the first link above who provide a quick service and take away many of the hassles.
Selling online with others bidding for your vehicle will take away the painful haggling element. But if you are selling privately you need to be ready to bargain. You should decide in advance what really is your lowest figure.
Online platforms will screen for serious buyers. But if selling privately you need to be able to gauge a buyer’s reliability. Are they genuinely interested before you arrange a viewing or a test drive?
When it is time to finalise the sale make sure that you use a secure payment method, bank transfer being best. It should go without saying to avoid accepting personal cheques or accepting large amounts of cash.
Finally, make sure that you handle the transfer process properly. This typically involves completing the Notice of Disposal paperwork and submitting it to the relevant territory or state authority.
