Quickly Sell Your Car

Quickly Sell Your Car

Learn how to sell your used car in a week or less by following these essential tips on preparation, pricing, and advertising.

So you need to sell your used car, and it needs to go fast! You can sell a car in a week or less if you take the right steps. When somebody is looking at your car, what kinds of things do you think they are going to want to see? Complete service records? Clean seats and floorboards? Expect it.

1. Most used car buyers are looking for a reasonably priced car that's in good mechanical condition. Since they can't really look inside the parts of the engine, most people rely on other indicators to tell them what kind of condition the car is in. They might look for fluid leaks underneath the car or signs that you haven't kept up with basic car maintenance. They'll also probably check the fluid levels—especially the oil level. Buyers will observe how well the interior has been taken care of and draw conclusions about the whole car based on easily assessed parts like the floorboards and seats. So, if there's one step you don't want to take shortcuts on, it's preparation. You need to clean the car to showroom condition, or you will cost yourself money.
2. Dealers: Used car dealers may be willing to offer you cash for your car, but it's probably not going to be the best deal you can get. If you're in a huge hurry, call a few dealers and ask if they'd be interested in making a bid. Don't plan on getting full value for the car, but this might be the quickest way to unload it.
3. If the price is right... Overpriced cars don't sell very well at all. If you want to get the full book value for your car, it might take longer than you can afford, so plan on pricing the car at least 10% below its value. Use Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, or NADAguides to determine an approximate value.
4. Advertising: Equally important as pricing is where you advertise. If you're going to sell fast, you need to reach interested buyers quickly by reaching as many potential buyers as possible. You have several choices. First, advertise the car in free local publications or low-cost classified magazines. Also, take a moment to create an ad on a free online classified site like Craigslist. The local newspaper might be your next best option; advertise for a weekend to reach extremely interested buyers.
5. Post a "For Sale" sign in one of your car windows. Don't forget to list your asking price and whether you're willing to accept other offers. Of course, include a phone number you actually answer, as many people prefer speaking to a person rather than leaving a message.
6. If all else fails, consider listing your car on eBay. You can create a no-reserve auction to sell the car for whatever price the market thinks it is worth. If you're lucky, you'll get 100% of its value; otherwise, you might only get 50%. It all depends on how well you present the car and how the market views its value.