How to sell your car from home? You just take it online. There’s just no other way.
We can only hope it’s that easy. Unfortunately, selling cars from home is not that easy. Aside from all the paperwork you have to prepare, you need to position your vehicle online in such a way that it can engage more potential buyers fast. Otherwise, nobody will take notice, and your car will just leave to rot, along with your listing.
To prevent that from happening, here are some expert tips on how to sell your car from home. Do these tips and possibly increase your chance of getting your car sold faster and smoother while sitting comfortably in your living room.
Why Take it Online?
We mean, there really is no other way, right?
Seriously, the internet is quickly becoming the go-to of the majority when buying things online, including vehicles. According to a post by eMarketer, eCommerce industry sales will rise up to 18% when 2020 ends, a 3.1% increase from last year.
The said increase is due to the number of people buying online during the start of the global pandemic. If people continue to pick up this trend, it may continue to rise. Most people resort to buying things online because they are adhering to the lockdown implementation.
It’s not just the teens and adults who are filling up their shopping carts. It is stated that the number of senior citizens (60 years old and above) is also increasing.
This only means that your chances of getting a potential buyer for your car online have also increased.
Aside from purchasing items on the internet, buyers also spend time to research on the Internet. Before making a purchase, an average buyer can spend hours online to do extensive research. They often read reviews and look for tips before even speaking to sales staff.
Car Dealership’s Paradigm Shift
Most car buyers nowadays spend time to look at vehicle condition reports that can be viewed online. They compare prices before deciding on which one to get.
This is why most used car dealers are adapting to the digital shift, where car buyers go before visiting any location. This change allows buyers to save more time from going to a physical car dealership location. They don’t need to check each vehicle they’re eyeing before making a buying decision.
Although online shopping has been around for years, it took some time for car dealerships to consider eCommerce. What took car dealerships so long? For the longest time, buying cars meant you needed to see it for yourself, especially if it is a used car. You needed to examine, try, and give it a spin around town before making up your mind. Now, since more customers want to just order virtually everything from the palm of their hands, car dealerships are left with no choice. They have to come up with a process to keep up in this digital world. Thus, more car dealerships are focusing on selling vehicles online. Most dealer websites have their inventories in it.
This fact shouldn’t discourage you from selling your car from home. Online car selling is relatively new, so you still have some momentum to get your target buyers. Use the online platform to sell your cars. It has better reach, more transaction-friendly features, and doesn’t cost as much as creating flyers or buying ad space in the newspaper.
How to Sell Your Car Online: The Guide
Many people ask if they need to create a website where they can sell their cars. Thankfully, all you need is social media accounts, a listing, and some images to start selling your car online. Below is the process – and some tips on how to start.
Recondition Your Car to Make it Picture Perfect and Market Ready
The first thing you have to prepare is the images of your car. First, you need to take your vehicle to a recon center to have it checked, assessed, and fixed if necessary. Nobody wants to buy a car that looks like nobody has taken care of it, so you need to bring it to the carwash and have it polished and clean.
After that, you’re now ready to take some snapshots of your car. Make sure to include the exterior, under the hood, tire details, and the car’s interior. Don’t scrimp yourself, take as many pictures as you want. As for the listing, you don’t have to write a lot. Most recon centers offer condition reports that have all the details you need for your listing. Check out Carketa’s Partnered and Certified Inspection Stations and find a location near you.
If you’re looking for a recon center where you can have your car checked, click here.
Keep Your Paperwork Close
You need these documents when you want to sell your car:
Pink Slip – No, it’s not the other pink slip. Your car’s title gives you the legal power to sell your vehicle. Leave it unsigned for now.
Lender’s Approval – This applies to those who have their cars under loan and want to sell them. Reach out to your lender and see if you still have remaining balance left. Lenders can also help you arrange the sale.
Check With Your DMV – Requirements to sell cars vary from state to state. To make sure you have all the right documents, visit your local DMV online and see what other papers you need in order to transfer ownership.
Vehicle History Report – This is essential, especially when you’re planning to sell your car from home and online. If you don’t know where to get one or what it is, click here.
Post it Online
Now that you have the images and the information, it’s time to put it out there! Make sure that all the information is correct, and the photos are not blurry or dark.
If you have a Facebook account, that is a good start. Join groups related to automotive sale and trade, and post it there. Other Internet platforms where you can join and post your car listing include Autotrader, eBay Motors, and Craigslist. Please take note that these platforms require a fee to allow you to post a listing, so get ready to spend a few bucks.
Prepare Your Price, Test Drive, and Close the Deal
When the listing is already online, prepare and give time to answer some queries coming your way. One of the most frequently asked questions is how much the car costs (assuming you didn’t include the price in your listing), so you need to have it estimated. Don’t worry; some vehicle condition reports come with a price guide, so you don’t have to come up or evaluate by yourself.
There will come a time that someone would want to give your car a try. Don’t refuse but be careful. Agree to meet in a safe place (a coffee shop with lots of crowds is a good option) and accompany the potential buyer when giving it a test drive. If possible, bring someone with you. A test drive shouldn’t take too long – a few minutes inside the city and a few minutes on the highway are enough.
After the test drive, it’s time to negotiate. Don’t be too sales pitch-y, mention your terms and listen to your buyer. They may have some terms and conditions as well. If you and the buyer can meet halfway, then congratulations, you just sold your car, and it all started from the comfort of your own home.
Can I Sell My Car to a Dealer?
Yes. In fact, taking it to a car dealer can be a much easier route than, say, selling your car from home. Today, many car dealers accept vehicles from private individuals, making the process more effortless and smooth as possible. They can even buy your car for cash and without the necessary steps when trading in and buying another vehicle.
If you don’t have time to be on the Internet to upload your car listing to look for a car buyer online, taking it to a dealer is the next best thing. However, there are some things you have to remember before presenting it to a dealership for sale.
How to Sell Your Car to a Used Car Dealership
More often than not, car dealerships don’t require you to book for an appointment. You can simply go there and inform the front salesperson that you are selling your car. Usually, the salesperson will accommodate you, while sometimes it’s the used car manager – this depends on the dealership.
Once settled, the person in charge will ask you questions and information about the automobile, so prepare your Carketa Current Condition Report to make the query process faster. They will also inspect your car physically to see if there are dents, scratches, and other minor or major issues. They will also pull up the vehicle’s history report from a database to check on its history, damage, accidents, etc.
When they finished checking, it’s time for them to ask you whether you want to sell as a trade-in for a new car. Car dealerships usually offer you “more cash” when you want to trade your vehicle in for a new car rather than sell it for cash, but the decision is still up to you. Once all the papers are processed, you can now get your money (or a new car) and close the deal.
That is how you sell your car from home. What about buying a car? We’ve come up with 8-step guide on how to buy a used car.
