How to sell your used car

(NC)—If you're looking to sell your vehicle, there are a variety of resources at your disposal. Finding the right places to post it depends on your location, your car, your asking price, and how quickly you want to sell it.

The first step is to decide if you want to trade it in, or conduct a private sale. How you handle this depends on how much time and effort you want to put into making the sale. If you take it to a dealership for a trade-in, they may offer you less than you feel the vehicle is worth, especially if they have to put money into the car in order to sell it and make a profit. The benefit of going through a dealer is that it's an easy sale and you'll get money for the vehicle right away.

If you decide to sell your vehicle privately, then it's your responsibility to store and market your car, comply with any provincial requirements, as well as meet and negotiate with buyers.

Here are some additional tips to help you navigate the used car selling process:

The value of your car depends on factors like age, mileage, wear and tear, how well it was cared for, mechanical issues, recent updates and how quickly you want to sell it. You can consult other selling sites and resources to see what people are charging for the same make and model.

The best place to list your vehicle will vary by geographical location. If you're in a big city where online listing sites are popular, then placing a classified ad in the newspaper or printed auto guide could be an expensive option without much promise. In a small town where there's only one newspaper or in a community where everyone relies on printed guides, these resources might be perfect.

Posting your vehicle online can also be done in conjunction with a print ad or independently. If you're looking to list for free, sites like Kijiji Autos and autotrader.ca are great options.

Let potential buyers know about the history of your car by purchasing a CarProof vehicle history report. Sharing all the important details of a vehicle's past is a great way to create trust between you and the buyer. You can post a link to the CarProof report on vehicle listing sites, email the URL to shoppers, post the report on the vehicle or show them a copy in person.

No matter where you list your vehicle, always provide a variety of clear, professional-looking photos to give the buyer a thorough look at the car.

Don't discredit the tried and true ways of selling a car. If your vehicle is parked in a high traffic area, post a “For Sale” sign in the window. Spread the word to friends and family that you've got a vehicle on the market, post a notice at work, mention it on social media – you never know who might be looking for a car.

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