The following is a detailed guide on selling used cars. It covers all the important information you may need when trying to sell your used car. From knowing which car you should sell and where you should sell it to the legal documentation you need and what you should do after selling your used car – this guide covers it all.
Why Can It Be Intimidating to Sell Your Used Car?
There is no denying that it can be quite intimidating to sell a used vehicle, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Selling a car can be a difficult situation to navigate if you are not aware of the complete selling process. There can be serious repercussions if you drop the ball anywhere and mess up the selling process – it can even mean not being able to sell your used vehicle. Knowing about this beforehand tends to make people hesitant when selling their cars. As a result, they are keen on studying several ‘selling used car’ guides before they make a decision.
Furthermore, there is a lot of paperwork involved when selling a used car to a private buyer or anyone else. Not to mention, the entire process is very time-consuming as well, which can frustrate sellers. Do not expect that you will be able to sell your used car in a couple of hours!
Things to Keep in Mind When Selling Your Vehicle
What kind of vehicle are you trying to sell? Is it a truck? Is it a motorcycle? Is it a commercial vehicle or for personal use? Is it a street-legal vehicle or for recreational use?
The kind of used vehicle can make a difference in the paperwork you will need when selling. For example, when you sell your motorcycle, the paperwork involved may be different compared to when you’re selling your used truck. Similarly, you may need a different set of documents when you sell a used car.
The second important thing to know is how old is the vehicle you want to sell.
Bear in mind that vehicles older than 25 years are not required to have a title, and some of the states in the country require the vehicle to be 20 years or older in order for it to be sold.
Different Documents Needed to Sell Your Used Vehicle
You might be wondering, “what documents do I need to sell my vehicle?” If so, here are the legal documents you need to sell a car.
Certificate of Title
A used car’s or any other vehicle’s certificate of title is a legal form, that establishes a business or an individual as the legal operator of that particular vehicle.
Vehicle history report
These reports provide information about a car’s ownership, mileage, title status, accident history, and more.
Maintenance records
Record your car’s important information like model, make, insurance information as well as other details such as oil changes, starting gas mileage of the car at purchase, and information of other fluid replacements.
Warranty documentation (if applicable)
Warranty documentation tends to be self-explanatory. If there any relevant warranties on the vehicle, the seller should provide the buyer with applicable paperwork and documents.
Odometer disclosure
This document declares your car’s mileage as shown by its odometer, and whether the reading is accurate or not.
Bill of sale
A car’s bill of sale is a legal document providing confirmation of the title transfer and sale of the vehicle.
What If Car Seller Does Not Have a Title?
Sometimes, car owners want to sell a used car but do not have a title. What to do when you want to sell a car without a title?
It is important to bear in mind that selling a car without the title is illegal. Car owners will need to contact their DMV about getting a replacement title. It is also vital that you know there is often a fee involved, and it can take a month or more to receive the replacement title in the mail.
However, if you do not feel like waiting and want to sell your car without the title quickly, you can sell the car for scrap to a junkyard to get quick cash.
When is it Best to Sell Your Used Car?
When looking to sell your car, it is important to keep the type of vehicle and time of year in mind. For example, people are not looking for convertibles or sunroofs in the middle of the winter season.
Furthermore, certain car models are also better to get rid of sooner than later. It is simply best to sell them off as soon as possible and get a more reliable vehicle. You should also sell cars that begin to have problems after a certain mileage.
So when is the best time to sell a car? Usually, the best time to sell a used car is between March and August. That is because, during this time, people are looking for fun, cruising cars or just regular commuter cars and just got their tax refund.
Where to Sell Used Car?
Another important thing that people should consider is where they want to sell their used car. Most people often wonder where to sell a used car. If they want to sell locally, Craigslist is a good option but is often rife with spam, scams, and is essentially a part-time job. Hence, you need to be careful!
Craigslist is usually best for cars under 10,000 dollars and clean titles. Commuter cars, older cars, clean titles have a tendency to be Craigslist’s niche. It is important that you know exactly how to sell your car on craigslist before you engage their services.
Junkyard: The Next Best Option!
If you have a vehicle that is beyond repair or do not have the vehicle’s title, a junkyard is the next best option for you to sell your used car.
If you own a salvage title vehicle, junkyards will be more agreeable when purchasing a salvage title car. Moreover, if you do not have your car title, car junkyards can buy a car for scrap metal if you are able to prove ownership with registration or other official documentation. You can read more about junkyards here!
What About Dealerships?
Engaging with car dealerships that buy cars is another option you can use to sell your car. You can trade-in your car for a down payment on a new one, or sell it for cash.
However, salesmen at dealerships are trained to get the most profit on the cars they sell. They are well trained to talk down customers on their trade-ins and will attempt to give the least amount of money possible for your used car.
There is no doubt that dealerships can be a convenient means to sell your vehicle (you can trade any vehicle in any condition, etc.), but it will be a frustrating experience, and you might get the least cash for your car. Hence, it is not really an ideal option for you! You can read more about selling your car to a dealership for cash here!
What Should You Do After You Sell Your Used Car?
You cannot just sit back after you sell your used car. So what should we do after selling a car? Regardless of where you sell your car, there happen to be certain steps you should take after your car has been sold. These steps are as follows:
- File release-of-liability form to your state DMV
- Make sure that the bill of sale is signed, completed, and ready to be filed with DMV
- Take the license plates off your vehicle
- Be sure to remove all personal items from the car and ensure you do not leave anything behind that you may need later
- Hand over both sets of car keys, and any applicable warranty papers to the buyer
- Finally, cancel the insurance on the car
Sell Your Used Car to Us!
Do you want to sell your car instantly without any hassle? Well, we have got you covered there! The ways listed above in this article are generally time-consuming, and some can even prove to be quite expensive for you. If you want to sell a used car quickly at a good price and without any trouble, rest assured that the fastest way to sell your car is to sell it to us!
By engaging our professional services, vehicle owners can sell their vehicles instantly by getting a free-of-cost, instant online quote, speaking to an offer specialist, and scheduling their car pickup, all in 24 hours or less. How convenient is that?
Do not make the mistake of waiting around for serious offers, or spend countless hours on classified advertisements. You will just be wasting your time. Reach out to us today and sell your car for a great price!
