5 tips to help sell your used car for a better price

The end of the year is the time when many people want to change their cars to "upgrade", leading to the used car market being more vibrant than ever. According to some people with experience in buying and selling used cars, no matter how "delicious" your beloved car is, you should still follow some of the following tips to increase the value of the car.

1. Price your car correctly

Before deciding to sell, find out how much cars of the same year, mileage and condition are selling for? Usually, the most popular way to find out the price is to consult websites and forums specializing in buying and selling used cars or ask used car dealers for help.

Many used car websites have car valuation tools.

From the information you find out, based on factors such as years of use, fuel economy, interior and exterior, engine and accompanying equipment, ... it will be easier for you to price your car. Finally, you should establish a minimum price that you will accept to sell your car.

2. Clean the car before selling

Appearance is very important when selling a used car. You should not sell the car when it is too scratched, even dented on the outside. When the appearance does not seem right, you should spend a little more money to take it to the garage to repaint and polish it to make the car as shiny as possible.

The car needs to be cleaned before being put up for sale. (Photo: Hoang Hiep)

Surely the buyer will be impressed with a clean car inside and out because it gives the feeling that the car has been well taken care of. Therefore, before selling the car, no matter how rushed you are, you should spend a day to clean the interior parts such as: steering wheel, dashboard, gear lever, seats, trunk and other "nooks and crannies" of the car.

Also don't forget to clean the engine compartment and the trunk of the car because buyers will definitely look through these places.

3. Fix minor bugs

When buying a car, the buyer will test drive it and if the car has minor errors during the move, it will be easily detected. Some common errors are the "goldfish" light - Check Engine, problems with the lighting system (headlights, turn signals, fog lights or ceiling lights are lost), the car makes noises when going over bumps, or the rear camera is unstable,...

Experts say that, if possible, car owners should spend a little more time and money to find and fix small but easily detectable errors because these can become fatal minus points that buyers use to lower the price. Even picky customers will completely ignore your car.

In addition, if the tires are too old, do not "force it" but replace them with new tires. If the cost of replacing new tires is too expensive, car owners can also go to tire shops to replace a set of worn tires that are still good at a more affordable price.

Don’t waste time cleaning the engine compartment and trunk because buyers will definitely check these places too. (Photo: Hoang Hiep)

4. Take photos and write attractive sales copy

To attract readers of your ad - those who are interested in buying a car, you must have a lot of beautiful pictures. Take clear pictures, from many angles, and from the inside, outside, and details of the car that need to be highlighted. Note that before taking pictures, you should clean the car thoroughly.

In addition, the content of the advertisement must also be attractive, concise, and contain all the most necessary information such as car name, brand, year of manufacture, outstanding features, desired price, etc. Don't forget to highlight the advantages of the car you own compared to other cars of the same model.

Experts say that we should avoid overly flowery or general, clichéd advertisements such as "car used by women", "civil servants rarely use it", "spare tire not lowered", "seamless seams"... because sometimes this information becomes offensive when buying and selling cars.

Writing an attractive online ad does not mean you should misrepresent your car. On the contrary, be ready to provide necessary information about the car when the buyer calls to avoid wasting both of your time.

Try to take good photos, from many angles, both inside and outside the car. (Photo: Cars.com)

5. Always be honest and have goodwill when dealing with buyers.

The relationship between a used car seller and buyer is considered by those involved as "fate". Therefore, both parties need to show goodwill and respect for each other. Sometimes, it is not because the car is too good that makes the customer "pay" but also because of the attitude and affection for each other when interacting.

Experienced people say that sellers should be honest and willing to share any problems with the car so that the buyer feels "full" of information and is not deceived. At the same time, they should emphasize the strengths of their car compared to other cars on the market to convince customers to buy at the price they want.