6 tips for successfully selling your car
Whether you’ve outgrown your car or need a new one to accommodate your family, selling your car can be a daunting task without preparation.
And if you’re a first-time car seller, it can be quite a novel experience.
You’ll be in both an offensive and defensive position because every move needs to be strategic to get the best deal possible for your car.
There are many ways for you to sell your car. You can either sell it to a dealership or go the private car sale route. Most car sellers usually know the traditional way of selling a car, which is putting a “for sale” sign with contact details on their rear windscreen. Nowadays that can be a time-consuming process to sell your car. If you’re going that route, you’ll have to deal with endless phone calls, dodgy meetings, time-wasters and so many other complications.
Here are a few tips to successfully sell your car and get the best deal for your vehicle.
Get the paperwork done
Whether you like it or not, you’ll have paperwork to go through. You should have the car’s licence and other important documents with you. Your buyer won’t really have a lot of paperwork to supply because it’s a used car and not a new one. But you still have to make sure you have all your paperwork in order and ready. It’ll reassure the potential buyer and also prevent delays and disagreements. Make sure that the buyer signs the offer to buy your car at the negotiated price. It’s also a way to show that the buyer agreed to the condition of the car. And both you and the buyer should have a copy of the agreement.
Is the car still roadworthy?
Whether new or used, every car should pass a roadworthy test before being licensed. When you hear about roadworthy, you’re likely to think about trucks, busses and mini taxis. However, your car should also undergo a roadworthy test. You’ll receive a roadworthy certificate at the end, which must be handed over to the potential buyer. Make sure your car doesn’t have any outstanding fines. If it has, and you didn’t pay attention to them, it might become a problem later. Every car in South Africa should be in a roadworthy condition. It’s a legal requirement. So whether you buy a used Nissan or a brand new BMW, make sure it has a roadworthy licence.
Prepare your car
Don’t leave the car preparation part to the last minute. Prepare the car as early as possible. Declutter and get rid of any unnecessary things in the car. Your car should be as clean as the first time you bought it. Well, it doesn’t have to be spotless but it should at least be thoroughly cleaned as it’ll be new to someone else. So take everything out and only leave the owner’s manual and registration papers inside. Take a look at all the switches and lights to ensure they’re all in working order. Then, check the oil and water and fill them up if needed. The car should be washed, inside and outside, and waxed.
Meet up with the buyer
It might not seem important to meet up with the potential buyer, but it has to be done. And don’t just meet with the buyer on the handing-over day. A few times before the actual day is good. That way you’ll ensure they’re a trusted buyer. It’s important that you meet in a public area to show the car. Meet outside a police station or in an area with surveillance cameras, like the parking at a shopping mall. Take a friend or family member with you for extra security. And don’t let the potential buyer test drive the car alone. Rather be safe than sorry.
Be as honest as possible
It’s always best to be honest with a potential buyer. Don’t lie about anything because it might cause bigger problems. You should reveal the full condition of the car. Did you maintain it regularly? When last did it have a service? Or when was it last waxed? What’s the accident history of the car? All this should be discussed and you should be as honest as possible.
What are your payment options?
There are many payment options you could opt for, choose the one that works best for you. However, you should avoid receiving payment by cheque as it’s easy to forge and could bounce. Receiving a large amount of cash is also not a good idea unless you hand over the money at a bank where it can be deposited into your account right away. An EFT is a good payment method. But make sure the money clears in your bank account and the buyer should send you proof of payment.
Selling your car isn’t as complicated as it seems. It’s quite an easy process if you follow the rules and stick to these six tips.