Selling Your Car: What You Need to Do Beforehand

Are you ready to sell your car but are unsure where to start? Making the decision to sell your car is easy, but actually doing so can be a little bit more challenging. When the time comes to sell, we would suggest you make things easy for yourself and sell to a dealership like Kings Ford. We can help you navigate the process, handle the paperwork, and even get you into a new vehicle in no time if that’s what you want.

But before you even get that far, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the most for your money and make the best decision for your circumstances. If you’ve been Googling “sell my car,” you’ve probably come across endless lists, articles, and blog posts about what you should or shouldn’t do. All of that information can get overwhelming and lead you to make the wrong decision, leading to a lesser sales price or maybe no sale at all.

So let us make it quick and easy for you. We’ve done our research and pulled together some of the essentials you should check off your list when you’re thinking about selling your car. Because when it comes to such a big investment, you want to get it right. Don’t get less than you deserve, but don’t overprice it either. Presenting a clean, road-worthy vehicle with all the right paperwork is the best way to ensure a successful sale.

Research the Market

It’s time; you’ve decided to sell your vehicle. So, where do you start? We suggest one of the best places to begin is to research the current market. Like house prices, car prices can go up and down, as evidenced in the last few years. Auto companies experiencing supply chain issues couldn’t get new vehicles on the market fast enough, which led to a massive demand for used vehicles, causing the prices of used vehicles to rise. So you never know what you might have parked in your driveway.

Visiting websites like Kelley Blue Book can get you a general idea of your cars worth. On their website, you can plug in things like your car’s make, model, year, miles, and any extras or body color to get an estimate of what your used vehicle is worth. However, if you want a quick and easy way to see how much we will pay you for your car, just use our online Value Your Trade tool powered by TradePending to see a quick snapshot of what your car is worth in the current market. Unlike Kelley Blue Book, TradePending takes into account the current market rates and will give you a quick and easy offer for your vehicle that you can bring with you when you come to the dealership.

You can also stop by our finance center to have one of our team members give you an offer in person. Our financial experts will do a quick inspection of your vehicle and then make you an offer that you can take as cash or use the value as a trade-in towards your next vehicle purchase. Either way, we make things quick and easy, so you can get an accurate offer for your current ride and can use that information to budget for your next one.

Get the Paperwork Together

Now that you’ve done some research and found a general price for your vehicle, it’s time to gather all of your paperwork. When it comes to selling a vehicle, the more, the better, but you don’t have to go too crazy. You are going to need a valid proof of identification and the title to your vehicle, at minimum. If you still are paying the loan for the vehicle, you will want to bring in your loan provider information and payoff amount so we can work with you to get the loan paid off and transferred. Maintenance records are optional, but not a bad idea to have to show you have kept up with everything that needs to be done.

If you can’t locate important papers like your car title, don’t stress too much. Visit the BMV to get a copy of your car’s title. It can often take up to a week or more, depending on processing times to receive a copy of your car’s title from the BMV, so make sure you plan accordingly. Finally, you’ll want to have your insurance information so you can cancel your current vehicle and add your new one. As for the bill of sale and other things related to the change of ownership, you can leave that to us.

Get It Inspected

Next up, you want to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy. Mechanical issues like a faulty air conditioning unit or a fluid leak can bring down the value of your car, so investing a little to fix minor issues can save you big in the long run. However, this is another area where you do not have to do too much. If there is a bug fix, it’s better to leave it up to us to do. We can handle any needed repairs in our service center. Though this may mean a slightly lower offer, depending on what needs to be fixed, it’ll still be better than paying for these repairs out of pocket.

Visit a certified mechanic and have them do a general inspection on your car. Small things like scratches, broken tail lights, or a chipped windshield can all be things worth fixing. Make sure you keep any bills or estimates you get and include them in the paperwork. It is better to show that you have taken good care of the major maintenance or that you have taken steps to fix smaller things in order to get the most money for your vehicle.

Clean It Up

Now that your vehicle is running great and you’ve assembled all the paperwork you’re going to need, it’s time to take your vehicle to the next level. The most important thing you can do before you sell is to clean your car inside and out. This will make your vehicle seem well cared for and can also help you get a higher offer for it.

Remove all the extras, including trash, loose change, CDs, anything hanging around the rearview mirror, stickers, and decals. Touch up minor scratches on the outside. Try your best to remove any lingering odors from food or smoking and remove stains from seats to make your car shine like new. Shampooing carpets and floormats can remove dirt, build-up, and stains that regular sweeping or vacuuming can’t.

Just like selling a clean house will get you more money, selling a crisp, clean car is more likely to get you top dollar from your vehicle sale. As you are selling your vehicle to a dealership, we will deep clean the car again before putting it up for sale, so you don’t have to drop a ton of money on a professional detailing job. However, putting in a little time and effort to clean your car before you sell can go a long way.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Has All Its Pieces

No, we aren’t talking about parts (though if any of those are missing, that is something you will want to address). We are talking about all the smaller things that might be scattered around. This could be user manuals, spare keys, or key fobs. Also include any extra screens, pieces for equipment like roof rails, or other gear that was originally included. All of these things will help make the value of your vehicle go up.

Ready To Sell

Now you’re ready to sell! Make sure you keep your expectations realistic and flexible and make the best choice that works for you. When you work with Kings Ford, we will offer you a quick and easy estimate for your vehicle, help you handle all of the paperwork, and we can even help you pick out an excellent replacement for the car you are getting rid of. When you’re ready to sell, make the hassle-free choice by visiting Kings Ford.