Selling a used car is always a delicate proposition. On one hand, you want to get the sale over with quickly and move on to other things, and on the other hand, you want to be patient and make as much cash as possible from the sale.
One of the many options available to you if you want to sell your car is selling to a used car dealership. This can be a very intimidating task because these people, the used car dealers, buy and sell cars every day, and they know all the little tricks they can use to get the better of a novice.
Armed with the right information and a little courage, however, you can get a great deal for your car at used car dealerships. While we can’t give you the courage, this post will give you the tips that you need:
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Know Your Car’s Worth
Know how much your car is worth, know the market. Sure, you can enter your car’s make, model, and year into online outlets that give out car valuations, but how much help is that if the dealer doesn’t use the same system to value cars? The best thing is to check online ads and see how much other sellers are asking for similar vehicles. You can then adjust your valuation according to your car’s condition.
Cars with low mileage, and in perfect condition (both interior and exterior), are the picks of the bunch. If your car has these, along with detailed maintenance records, you have a good leverage when negotiating with dealers.
If your car isn’t spick-and-span, that’s okay too. as long as you value it accordingly.
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Clean it Up and Ensure That it is in Perfect Condition
Ensure that your car has “curb appeal”. When you take your car to a dealership, as soon as the salesman looks at it, he has already made a decision on whether he wants to buy it or not. If you made your car so attractive that his interest is piqued, you have a good chance of getting a fair deal. If it doesn’t catch his eye, you have an uphill task convincing him to buy it, and this puts a dent in your negotiating power. Whatever valuation you had in mind goes out the window immediately after.
What you want to avoid is having a couple thousands shaved off your car’s valuation because of a fault you could have fixed for $80. Fix any faults, mechanical or cosmetic, but don’t go overboard. You may spend a couple bucks to fix, say, an oil leak, but don’t go all out and repaint the car. If the fault is expensive to fix, reduce your valuation accordingly.
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Be Patient and Take Your Time
Never go to a used car dealer on a day when you have other pressing appointments and engagements. Clear your schedule. Used car dealers love sellers who seem to be in haste; any sign of anxiety, and they pounce. To get the best deal out of them, you have to be patient.
Make them realise that you have all the time in the world, but as soon as you see that they are taking your patience for granted, remind them that you can leave as you wish.
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Negotiate Strongly
Negotiation is an art, and cannot be mastered by reading one post, but as long as you are confident and you show it, you are off to a great start.
The first time you take a car to any dealer, you have the most leverage. The reason is this: you haven’t shown the car around, and there is a chance that you can get a better deal elsewhere. You have the advantage at this point; act like it. Since you’ve done your due diligence before coming to what you perceive is a fair value for the car, do not change your stance unless the dealer gives you a good reason to.
It is likely that on inspection, a used car dealer will blow little faults out of proportion, they’re just testing you, checking how quickly you get rattled. Hold your ground; remind them of all the reasons why your car is a good deal at the price you’re asking for.
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The Salesman is Not Your Friend
When you get to a used car dealership, all sorts of tricks will be played on you. In everything, remember that the dealer is not your friend, and all he/she is doing is to get you to accept an offer less than your valuation.
Always remember this too, even if you get a fair offer from a dealer, he has made some extra cash off you one way or the other. As long as you get close to your car’s value, this shouldn’t bother you.
