The FIRST Thing You Need To Do Before Selling Your Car

Selling your car may seem like a daunting experience. You’ll need to clean it and have it inspected. You’ll need to wrangle all of your paperwork from the depths of your filing cabinet.

Then you’ll need to decide how to sell it. 

Will you sell it to a cash for car Sydney dealer, a transaction that involves less hassle but also less money? Or will you put up a classified ad and look for an independent buyer? And when you finally agree on a price, will you take a certified check, or do you prefer a cash transaction?

Your first job is to be sure you’re selling a car that’s in great working condition – the better the condition, the better the price you’ll receive. If you’re not car-savvy yourself, you’ll need to take it to a competent mechanic and have them make a full inspection on it for you.

That doesn’t mean just looking under the hood and checking the pressure of the tires – you’ll want a complete inspection to help you avoid any nasty little surprises later on.

If your car is looking a little worse for wear, 

Then a more intensive clean may be required. Minor scratches, scuff marks and baked on bird-poo can be vamoosed with a cut and polish, while a detail service will leave the inside and outside looking its best.

This can cost hundreds of dollars, depending on the level of attention needed, so you’ll need to weigh up whether or not spending the extra money will make the car more appealing to potential buyers without over-capitalizing.

Sellers nowadays have several avenues for marketing their car

  • First you’ll need to decide whether you want to sell it to a dealer, an independent buyer, or a third-party service. 
  • Selling through a dealer is easier but earns you less money; 
  • Selling through the classifieds requires more effort but could entail a larger payoff. You can go to car selling Australia, when you will sale your car make sure to ask for free car removal Sydney wide.

Check the tires are at the very least in a fair condition. Uneven wear, bald patches or low tread depth will certainly be noticed, it’s a massive deterrent for buyers and you’ll be handing them a bargaining point.

Uneven wear could point to bigger issues with balance or suspension, 

Which would also raise red flags. And, let’s not forget, worn tires aren’t roadworthy – so you shouldn’t have let them get to that point. Again, tires are expensive, so if they are technically roadworthy but a little shabby, you’ll need to weigh up your options.

Windscreen wiper blades and loose or broken fixtures inside could be quick and cheap to fix, so take the time to check everything over thoroughly and repair or replace what you can within a reasonable budget.

It’s also a good idea to check the fluids under the bonnet and make sure they are clean and topped up. If your car is not roadworthy or unregistered, find out what is needed but don’t get it done until the sale is secured. Use it as a negotiation point when settling on a price with your buyer.

Lastly, be sure to protect yourself against anyone with less than honest intentions. 

Ask to take a photo of their license, and immediately email or message the photo to yourself or a friend.

Join the potential buyer on the test drive of your car and, if you’re worried about your safety, bring a friend along or ask a friend to follow behind. Likewise, arrange to meet away from your home if you’re worried about an unscheduled visit before or after the arranged meeting time.