Tips for a smooth sales transaction and getting a good price when you sell a used car.

For most people, buying a new vehicle means selling one but many of us don’t know how to sell a car. Here are tips to help make the sales process go smoothly and get a good price for your old ride.

Get the vehicle’s paperwork in order

The primary document you need to sell your car is the title. Without a title, there’s no way to legally transfer ownership to a buyer. If you’ve lost the title, contact the Michigan Secretary of State for a replacement.
Other records that are useful to have include:

• Service records to show potential buyers the vehicle has been well-maintained. If you don’t have receipts, contact the mechanic or dealer that services your car and ask for a summary of services.
• Purchase paperwork that shows the vehicle’s trim level and optional features that enhance value.
• Vehicle history report. Savvy buyers will purchase a report to learn if the car has an accident history. You want to know what they’ll see and be prepared to answer questions that will likely come up.
• Loan paperwork if you’re still paying off a loan on the vehicle. As part of the sale, you’ll need to coordinate payoff to your lender.

Clean your car

Imagine a buyer considering two identical cars. One is covered in dirt and filled with dog hair while the other shines inside and out and smells fresh. Which car do you think the buyer will choose—and be willing to pay more for?
Cleaning and detailing your car can result in getting hundreds more for your used car.

Decide how to sell the car

Vehicle sellers have three primary ways to find a buyer. Each has its pros and cons.

• Sell directly to an individual. This method typically gets sellers the best price, but it can be a hassle to advertise, arrange test drives and haggle. If you choose this method, take safety precautions like meeting prospective buyers in a public location and letting someone know where you are.
• Sell to a dealer. One of the most convenient ways to sell a car is to trade it in with dealer and apply the proceeds to the purchase of a new vehicle. However, the ease of a dealer trade-in may result in getting less money for your car. If you plan on using this method, negotiate the purchase price of the car you’re buying first, then discuss the trade-in value of your current car.
• Sell to an online instant-cash buyer. Used car dealers like Carvana and CarMax make instant cash offers. The offer may be less than you’d get selling the car to an individual, but the process is super simple. Enter information like the VIN online, get the offer, either drop the car off or have the service pick it up and then you get paid instantly.

Set a price for your used car

Determining the market value of your car is fairly simple with free online tools like those from Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book.
Also, even if you don’t intend to sell to an instant-cash buyer, request an offer from one or more of these services to get a more complete view of your vehicle’s value.

When you’re ready to buy a car

If you plan to finance your next car, turn to Consumers for your auto loan. We provide competitive rates for new and used vehicles.
All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and may vary based on credit worthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions. Federally insured by NCUA