Selling your used car is not an easy task! You can maximize its selling price by making a few small improvements and repairs. Here are some tips on how to make more money selling your used car: replace some of the worn parts, do a thorough cleaning, improve your car’s presentation on car selling sites, and improve your car’s appearance for an inspection and test drive. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of our best tips to sell your car.
1. Good Maintenance
For a well-maintained vehicle, you can charge significantly more than for a car that hasn’t seen the inside of a car wash in years and is just now passing inspection. A regular inspection once a year and a well-maintained maintenance booklet can justify a slightly higher price. By the way: Do-it-yourself inspections are often much cheaper. Here are some tips.
If it’s been a long time since your last roadworthiness test, it may be worth renewing them before you sell. And even if you have passed the technical inspection, the tires should not be very worn. Although the law prescribes a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm, tires should have a tread depth of at least 3 mm. Tires should not be too old, either. The DOT number on the sidewall of the tire indicates its age. According to experts, tires should not be older than 6 years, but there are no legal regulations on this.
By regularly cleaning your car of dust and dirt, you reduce the risk of paint damage from flying particles. Minor paint damage can be repaired with a touch-up stick if necessary. You also need to make sure that the windshield wipers work and therefore do not scratch the windshield in the long run. Rust should also be removed as soon as possible, as it spreads over time and attacks the substance.
Non-smoking vehicles sell better than smoking vehicles. If you smoke in the car, cigarette smoke settles in every nook and cranny and in the trim. There are cleaning methods (e.g., ozone treatment), but they can easily cost $100 or more. As an added bonus, you can make sure that the spare tire, warning triangle and first aid kit (complete and not outdated) are present and in good condition.
2. Clean the vehicle thoroughly
It’s all in the eye- even when buying a used car. Before the photo shoot for the advertisement, or at the latest before the viewing appointment, the vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned inside and out, surfaces and windows. Private items and trash have no place in a car for sale, either. If you want to leave a shiny impression on potential buyers, you end up applying a shiny spray to the tires and engine. These tips are important when selling your car.
3. A good and honest presentation
If the goal is not to sell your car to a dealer, then online portals are the most popular solution. To get the best price possible, there are a few things to keep in mind when advertising. Before the photo shoot, the car should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out (see above). Photos should be taken outdoors and in good weather. There should be as few shadows or reflections on the vehicle as possible, as they can easily look like a damage in the photo. If the gate allows, a video of the vehicle can also be taken.
Small beauty defects such as scratches can often be removed with simple means. However, actual defects must be communicated and documented in the ad. Anyone who deliberately conceals serious defects can still be prosecuted after the used car is sold. If you have done your research well, you can offer a reasonable price for your vehicle. This should already include some leeway so that both parties still have room for negotiation.
If defects are discovered during the inspection or test drive, it is good to lower the price a bit without having a bad feeling. On the other hand, there are, of course, aspects that increase the value of the used car. Have the brakes been renewed recently? This is a good argument for a higher price, even if the new brake discs are not top quality. But be careful: if you exaggerate the asking price, you risk scaring away potential buyers.
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