5 Best Ways To Sell A Car in 2023 Step By Step Guide

When you sell a vehicle to Carvana, they will come to your house to pick it up if you live in their service area. Then take the car to a participating dealer within seven days to redeem the offer or apply the quote toward a trade-in. Be sure to research the different sites before choosing one! This way, you’ll know that you’re getting the best deal for your car.

Service records will be great to show any interested buyer. Kelley Blue Book® Values and pricing are based in part on transactions in your area. Your ZIP code also helps us find local deals and highlight other available offers. Not having a logbook does not limit where you can sell the car, but you might find it even more difficult through a car dealer, who will be more likely to require full documentation. One common example of over-maintenance is changing engine oil at 3,000 miles, even though most modern oils are designed to last thousands of miles longer, according to Lardear. Repair shops also sometimes recommend maintenance that goes beyond what car manufacturers recommend, or want to replace parts that aren’t worn out and still have useful life remaining. The American Automobile Association calls the problem “over maintenance” and sees it as widespread.

How To Choose the Right Sales Price

Group-think across the automotive industry is, 12,000 miles is the annual-mileage standard. Most leases are based on that 12,000-mile annual number, as are most new-car warranties. Likewise, when evaluating a used car’s value, 12,000 miles per year is considered average. In other words, a 3-year-old vehicle should have about 36,000 miles on the odometer.

Tools for Setting the Asking Price

If everything looks good, the CarMax representative will move forward with buying your vehicle. You can simply sell it to CarMax or trade it in for a vehicle CarMax has in the lot. If you already picked out your trade-in online, you can test drive it while your car is being inspected.

How To Prepare Your Car To Sell

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Many states require the seller to provide the buyer with a current smog check or state inspection certificate showing the vehicle passed emissions before transferring ownership. If you want to sell your car quickly, lowering the price helps you get there faster. The mechanic can identify problems with the engine, plus things you may overlook, like a broken taillight or features you don’t use. Not only will this help you set the price to sell your vehicle, but it can also help before buyers take a look. (See section — What To Know about Pre-Sale Inspections). Some owners tend to overestimate the value of their car, which can lead to unrealistic expectations. If you ultimately set your asking price too high, you could experience trouble selling it.

Regardless of whether you’re planning on selling your car to a private party or dealer, you MUST take the time to prepare it properly so you can get the maximum price possible. A final reason pricing guides shouldn’t be relied upon is the tendancy to undervalue prices so as not to offend dealers. KBB has a seperate pricing guide for dealers called QuickValues which you can only access with a paid subscription. Once you select an option to take a look, similar to Carvana, the company offers 360-degree views of their vehicles for you to look at both the interior and exterior. You’ll also be able to see additional details about the previous ownership of the car, features and even videos explaining certain functions.

There are also large price discrepancies depening on your location. If you’re trying to sell a convertible in North Dakota, you won’t get as high a price as if you were selling it in sunny Florida. If the vehicle has been repaired after an accident, it will be worth a lot less. Usually, the diminished value equals half the cost of repairs – so if it cost $5,000 to repair, the diminished value would be about $2,500.

After you accept a cash offer, Carvana will send a representative to inspect your vehicle and pick it up from your home. That means you can sell your car to Carvana without leaving your driveway. When the buyer decides that your car is the one for them, and you’ve agreed on a sales price, the smartest next step is determining which payment option works best.

The positive reviews focus on the buying program offered by the company, with great tools to sell or buy used cars. To understand which forms you’ll need to complete a car sale in your state, check with your nearest DMV, or contact AAA if you’re a member. Also, it’s a good idea to have your maintenance records on hand, in case you need to refer to them.