When it comes to online car selling and online car trade-in deals there are several things that sellers need to do and be aware of to get the best possible price. Selling your car online can be a great way to achieve a fast and easy car trade-in. It also enables you to communicate with customers remotely, rather than having to be at a certain place at a certain time to show them the vehicle. This also adds an element of safety to the whole transaction.
Here are some more top tips to help make your online car selling and online car trade-in experience positive, easy and profitable.
Price your car to sell
If you want to sell your car quickly, work out the lowest price you can let it go for and still make a profit, or have enough to buy the replacement vehicle you want. Don’t go too low, or you will miss out on securing a good deal. Pricing a car too highly, however, can put people off and result in no enquiries. Be prepared to haggle with interested customers. Look up similarly aged cars that are the same make and model as yours. Look for vehicle that are also roughly in the same condition and see how much they have sold for. This will give you a good idea of how much you could expect from an online car trade-in or sale.
Best foot forward
People will want to see a photo or video of your vehicle so make sure it is looking at its best before pressing the shutter or play button on your camera. Clean it thoroughly, inside and out, getting rids of any clutter inside that you don’t want customers to see. Repair or repaint any minor scratches or faults in the bodywork. Arrange for any minor technical or mechanical faults to be fixed too, as this can also help increase the price for relatively little cost and effort.
When taking photos or a video wait for a sunny day to show the vehicle off at its best. Move around the vehicle with your camera to capture it from all angles. Include close-ups (e.g. of the dashboard and milometer) and wider angles that take in the whole vehicle. Turn on the engine so potential buyers can see the dashboard lights. You could also take a photo at night to better show the working headlights, indicators etc.
Admin and advertising
Check that the vehicle’s paperwork is present and correct. Arrange a new MOT, particularly if the current one fewer than three months left to run. Pay off any outstanding finance, as you are not allowed to sell a vehicle that you do not fully own. Make sure that you have read and understand any terms and conditions around listing your car or commercial vehicle online. This includes how much you need to pay, how long the vehicle will be listed and its position on the website. You might have to pay more to have it placed in a prominent spot.
If you need to provide wording for the vehicle to be listed online, check that you have included all the main features. Think about what would make you want to take a closer look at the car if you read the accompanying advert. Don’t go too overboard with descriptions, and always tell the truth. Include details on service history and overall condition in order to justify your purchase price or to help you achieve the desired trade-in value online.
Sealing the deal
If you can afford to wait for as good a deal as possible, you don’t need to take the first offer that is made. Remain open and willing to negotiate, however, as people making initial low offers could come back later with a higher price if you can hold your nerve. Avoid cheques or banker’s drafts as payment methods, as these can leave you open to being scammed.
Certainly never take an IOU and do not hand over the keys until the payment has been received and the funds cleared. BACS, bank transfer and cash are all good options for a secure online car trade payment. Be ready to provide a receipt and the vehicle’s service book a, V5 and other paperwork once the deal has been finalised. A buyer may feel justified in lowering the price offered without these essential documents.
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