Tips for Selling Your Car for Top Dollar
Are you thinking, “Should I sell my car?” If you’re wondering if the time is growing nearer to sell your car and buy something newer, or if you’re not driving as much anymore, taking some steps to ensure maximum success is advised. You may not be there quite yet, but by planning early and taking care of your current vehicle, you’ll be able to get more money for your car and thus, be able to afford a better vehicle in the future or something else you really want. At Jay Hatfield Chevrolet, we understand that the decision to sell your car is a big one and that it all starts with what you do right now. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our top tips for keeping your car in excellent condition, so you can sell it eventually…and eventually means different things for different people.
Tip #1: Keep Up with Maintenance & Handle Repairs ASAP
The number one priority of anyone looking to sell their car is to maintain it properly. This means finding a trusted service center or mechanic that will take care of your vehicle so that it continues to run smoothly for years. Routine maintenance services, like oil changes, tire rotations, maintaining fluid levels, and more, are all important elements of your vehicle’s maintenance program. Making sure to stay on top of what’s needed and when is easy when you have a dedicated team of service technicians on your side. You’ll also want to be sure to replace parts that will wear out eventually, including brake pads, tires, batteries, and more, so that your vehicle is operating as safely as possible.
Handling repairs as soon as you can is also imperative. After all, the longer something stays broken, the more unsafe and unreliable your vehicle becomes. This, in turn, may result in more money to fix the repair the longer you let it go. In tackling anything that has gone amiss in the vehicle before the situation escalates, you’ll be able to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape, thus improving your odds of getting the most money possible for your car. Remember, the team you choose to help you maintain your vehicle is crucial, so partnering with a service center that you can trust will make this step a breeze.
Tip #2: Stay Clean & Organized Inside & Out
When you make cleaning your vehicle a habit, it’s simple to keep your car looking and feeling fresh and enjoyable to drive. Organization is key in many aspects of life, and your car is no exception. You’ll want to keep personal items conveniently stowed, effectively utilizing those helpful storage cubbies and bins located throughout the vehicle. This way, you’ll be able to easily remove them when you’re ready to sell the car, and nothing accidentally gets left behind. You’ll also want to maintain the exterior of the vehicle, ensuring that bumper stickers, magnets, and other personalized items are removed, or at least kept to a minimum so that you can remove them without trouble when you’re starting the selling process.
You may not realize it, but how you present your vehicle to a dealership when you’re trying to sell it can really impact what is offered for it. First impressions matter and the same holds true for your car. Keeping your vehicle clean should be a priority, whether you’re selling it or not. Washing it regularly, as well as cleaning the interior of it, not only creates a more comfortable driving experience, it’s also safer, as your windshield and mirrors won’t be covered by dust and dirt, hindering visibility. Vacuum the carpets, clean the dash, wipe down the mirrors, and be sure that your vehicle is presentable from every angle.
You’ll also want to take this time to address any dings or dents that happen to be present. Perform an inspection inside and out and make a note of all of the damage that you’ll need to fix prior to bringing your vehicle in to sell. Chipped paint, dented bumpers, and burnt-out lights can all affect how your vehicle is valued. With such a simple fix for most of these items, it just makes sense to take care of this before selling your car so that you’re sure it will wow the dealership.
Tip #3: Have a Place for Important Documents
When you’re looking to sell your car eventually, you’ll need to provide some documentation for the sale to move forward successfully. If you currently own the vehicle, meaning that you’ve paid it off in full, you’ll need to provide the title unless it is electronically stored. You’ll also need documentation, like the paperwork from the initial sale, if possible, as well as service records to ensure that your vehicle has been maintained properly and what sort of maintenance and repairs have been performed on it. It’s a good idea to run a Vehicle History Report on your vehicle as well to better prepare yourself for what to expect when the dealership runs its own report.
In order to keep all of this in check, organization is key…again. Utilize space inside your vehicle to keep everything you might want to keep with the vehicle, like maintenance documents. The glove compartment is always a great place to store these items, but if your vehicle has other types of storage, especially lockable storage, these are all perfect places for these items to reside. However, for things like your title, you should store these in a safe place in your home, not in your vehicle, until you are ready to bring your vehicle in for the sale. In having a place for all of this important documentation, you’re able to effortlessly locate everything you’re going to need when the time comes to sell your car.
Tip #4: Store Your Vehicle Properly
Depending on where you live, you’ll have various options for how to store your vehicle when you’re not driving it. Garages are always the best places to store vehicles because they protect them from the elements, including inclement weather, as well as debris, dirt, dust, and anything else that could compromise the integrity of the vehicle. We understand that this may not be possible for all drivers, and if you want to further protect your vehicle if it resides outside most of the time, covering it with a vehicle cover is the next best thing. Most automakers will offer covers to fit your particular vehicle, so if keeping your car in excellent condition is what you’re striving for, invest in one of these and keep your vehicle protected. Carports, sun shades, and other coverings can also help to mitigate the weather’s impact on your vehicle, so find a place where you can keep your vehicle in order to ensure its quality remains intact.
Sell Your Car to Jay Hatfield Chevrolet
If you’re looking to sell your car, sell to Jay Hatfield Chevrolet when the time is right for you. Not only do we offer top value for your trade, we make it easy to value your vehicle with just a couple of quick steps right from our website. Our professionals strive to keep our lot stocked with some of the best options in the industry, and if your vehicle is one of them, we want to buy it. In addition to making it easy to sell to us, we also provide a vast selection of vehicles on our lot if you’re looking to trade up to a newer model or find something more in-tune with your travel needs. Remember, you may not be ready to sell right at the moment, but keeping these tips in mind will allow you to get what you deserve for the vehicle that has provided you with a safe and reliable ride for the entire time you’ve owned it.