Should you sell your used car yourself or trade it in?

It's a good question and one that gets asked a lot!

We cannot answer that question for you, but we can tell you what it takes to sell it yourself.  After all, we are experts at selling pre-owned vehicles:

1. Have the vehicle professionally detailed inside and out.  It will probably cost over $150, but it is definitely worth it.
2. Fix the minor problems and take care of any immediate maintenance.  Customers do not want to buy someone else's problem.  They will quickly reject a vehicle that needs any sort of repair when they buy it, that includes the tires.  In fact we spend an average of $800 dollars on maintenance and repair on every pre-owned vehicle we sell.
3. Expect to spend about $225 on advertising your car in the newspaper and online portals such as Autotrader.com. Do not rely on just one advertisement and be sure to not price your vehicle competitively.
4. Now get ready to wait.  It take about 30 days on average to sell a pre-owned vehicle and we are more efficient than most.  The national average is closer to 45 days.  A vehicle that needs tires, maintenance or repairs takes even longer to sell.
5. Be prepared to meet potential buyers at their convenience.  They may even show up at your home unannounced.
6. Ask potential buyers if they have arranged for financing and when it is sold prepare to spend extra time completing paperwork to transfer the Title.
7. Finally, think about the Tax savings you receive when you trade...6.25%!

You will probably get a little more money for your vehicle if you sell it outright. However, after considering the time, inconvenience and cost most people choose to trade their car in.

Want to find out what your trade's worth?

Click here for you quote.