How should you prepare your car before selling it?
How should you prepare your car before selling it?
There may come a time when you’ll need to sell your car. For some people, the reason could be that they need to upgrade to a newer make or model, and for others, they may no longer need a car altogether. Whatever the reason may be, you’ll want to prepare your car before putting it up for sale to increase your chances of getting the most for it.
What documents do you need to sell your car?
Having all the necessary documents available means that you can get to sell your car faster. You’ll need to ensure that you have your car’s
V5C logbook to prove that the car is in your name and you have the right to sell it
Service history so potential buyers can know beforehand any issues the car has had in the past
A valid MOT certificate can ensure that your car will better as it means that a buyer can take it on the road immediately, it’s also reassuring as it shows that the car is roadworthy and safe to drive
Any receipts showing repairs, insurance and warranty
What can you do to improve your car’s chances of selling?
Sometimes it’s not just enough to list your vehicle. There is a lot of competition in the used car market you’ll want to ensure that your car is in its best possible condition for a buyer to choose your car over someone else’s.
Get it serviced
Opting to get your car serviced means that you’ll have the chance to repair any components that are highlighted by a technician.
It can increase your car’s value if there is little to nothing wrong with it, and for buyers it means that they won’t have to worry about any underlying issues down the line.
Thoroughly clean it/have it valeted
Appearance matters and buyers will make an initial decision on your car as soon as they see it, whether that’s in person or online.
Deep cleaning your car can restore it back to that like-new feeling, which can be more attractive to buyers who want a used car that doesn’t feel like it has been driven by someone else.
Book it for an MOT
This might seem obvious, but you’ll want to get a recent valid MOT certificate for your car as soon as possible.
Doing so means that it won’t be something that the buyer will have to do once the sale has gone through, and they can also be confident knowing the car is safe to drive.
How can you sell your car?
Depending on your preference, you can choose to sell your car privately, at an auction, to a dealership or as part of a part exchange deal.
Each of these car-selling methods varies in how much you’ll need to be involved in the process to ensure that your car sells.
Selling privately
This selling method puts you in the driver's seat from start to finish. You’ll be responsible for photographing and listing your vehicle, you can advertise it on a variety of car-selling websites to increase your chances of a sale.
It can be daunting to sell privately if it’s your first time, and it can also be time-consuming with having to deal with potential timewasters.
Selling at auction
An auction can be a great way to sell your car quickly, however, it’s not always a guaranteed sale. If you choose to have a reserve price, then your car won’t be sold unless the minimum bid meets it.
However, choosing not to have a reserve price does mean that you’ll risk selling your car for far less than you want. It can also be pricey with entry and commission fees.
Selling to a dealership
Used car dealerships like LG Car Sales are good options for when you want to sell your car. Dealerships will have experience with the used car market and will be able to offer you a fair and accurate valuation for your vehicle.
It is also for some dealerships to offer part exchange deals as well, which means that you can sell your car with them and purchase another in a single transaction making it a simple and convenient selling process.
Why should you sell your car to LG Car Sales?
We’ve specialised in Cambridgeshire used car sales since 1991, that’s over 30 years of experience in the motor industry. Our knowledge of used cars, popular makes and models means that we have expert car-buying advice and experience.
It’s simple to sell your car with us
To start things off, you just need to enter your car’s reg number online as well as a few other details about your car to receive your free car valuation.
Then if you decide to continue the process with us, we’ll be in touch to agree on a price and take care of the paperwork for you so you don’t have to worry about whether the forms have been correctly completed.
After that, we’ll pay your money into the bank account of your choice once everything is in order then you’re free to browse our stock if you’re looking for a car to part exchange or finance.