It’s hard to believe, but the summer is about to come to a close and school will resume for many in just a few weeks. This can mean that many people are starting to think about what they’re going to do with their old car. In many cases, this is not a good idea.
Here are tips for preparing your car for sale.
Do your homework
You should do this before you buy the car, but it’s never too late. You have to know what’s wrong with the car so you can price it accordingly. Check the CarFax or AutoCheck report, get a copy of the maintenance records and the title.
Know the options
The key things you should look for are how many miles are on the car and what type of tires it has. If you see something that gives clues about performance or mileage, check it out carefully. You can also check to see what kind of warranty your car has. If you’re not sure if used cars in rancho cordova has options- ask if you can take it for a test drive.
Know the price
If you want to hold onto the car and sell it, you won’t be able to get top dollar. Also, if you’re planning on trading in your car, the dealer will cut the price of your new car because of the mileage and other issues with your car. If you’re planning on selling it privately, know how much similar cars are selling for and be ready to negotiate with potential buyers using that as a starting point.
Know the total value
If you put too much mileage on the car, it will depreciate more quickly and the value will go down more quickly. If you have an older car, it may be worth less than a newer one of similar age and quality. You can check out Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds.com for more information about what to expect with used cars in your area.
Know the history of your car
If you have a problem, check the records to see if you can be assured that it was taken care of. If it appears that all problems were fixed, you don’t want to be stuck also paying for more work.
Know what’s missing
If a check engine light is on or something else looks amiss, ask about it. You can get a warranty on the problems and use the money to fix it or trade it in for a newer vehicle.
