Selling your car

Whether you just had a baby, are entering school or looking to buy a new car, the time may come for you to sell your car. There are many avenues one can take such as selling to a dealer, selling privately through the internet or through good old fashioned word of mouth. The first thing to determine is how much the car is worth.

The Kelley Blue Book website will help calculate a baseline sales price. There you will be able to find out the price expected when buying from a private party, taking into consideration the condition of the car and the mileage. As a rule, aftermarket add-ons are difficult to justify in the sale price unless they add significant value. However, high end tires or performance features may merit a boost in price. Even then, do not expect to recoup the amount invested. It also does not hurt to have the car detailed before you put it to market. Nothing will drop the price faster than bird droppings or crumbs in the interior.

Web sites like ebay are a novel way to sell a car where the highest bidder prevails. This may take a bit more work on the seller's part. Car brokerage companies will take care of this hassle for a fee but make sure to work with a reputable company.

If you are selling privately, providing a history of maintenance for the car is a strong selling point. Web sites such as carfax can provide such a report by entering in the VIN number for the car.

Unlike selling a sofa, there are some legal considerations that must be made when selling a car. Your state may have requirements such as smog certification, valid title transfer or a certified odometer reading. Knowing what you need beforehand can help you avoid hassles down the road.