Selling Your Car

At some point everybody has to say goodbye to that used car. Whether it's because you want to purchase a newer model or wish to create a little extra cash, your top priority in selling a used car is to get as much as possible. But how do you go about doing that? Here we provide a few tips to ensure you get as much bang out of your San Diego used car buck.

• Establish your price

  This is not as easy as it appears. Many people point to the Kelley Blue Book as the Bible of used car prices, and while it is very helpful guide in determining private value versus trade-in value, it is still only an approximation. Ultimately something is only worth what another person is willing to pay for it.

  That's why it's good to consult sites like Edmonds.com and cars.com, in addition to Kbb.com. They can give you a real 'market price' for your San Diego used car, and help you find out what you can realistically expect to get for your car. Also it's important to be very honest about the condition your vehicle. If you've got food stains on the upholstery and rust on the body then of course this will affect the overall value of the car, and how much you can expect to receive.

• Selling your Used Car to a Private Party

  The biggest decision someone selling a used car in San Diego has is whether to sell it through private channels or take it to a dealership. Both have pros and cons and depend on what you value as the most important parts of the transaction.

  Selling your used car to a private party will usually net you slightly more money than selling to a dealership. This is because dealerships have to turn around and sell that vehicle and require some wiggle room for markup over cost. But selling with a private party can be troublesome and time-consuming. Not only do you have to advertise and do all the legwork but many times you will find yourself making appointments with people that never show up.

  Still if you plan to go the private route it's important to get your used car as much exposure as possible. Some of the best online used car classifieds include carsdirect, auto trader, and even craigslist San Diego. There you can post your vehicle, for little or no money, and begin to field the numerous queries for your car.

  Another helpful tip is to get a vehicle history report from carfax for your car. This is a great way to entice skeptical people buying a used car that your automobile contains no hidden problems that may crop up later.

• Selling your used car to a dealership

  Many people warn against the perils of selling a used car to a dealership but this is not entirely true. It just simply depends on what you're looking for. Do you wish to have a hassle free experience selling a used car? Well there could be nothing more hassle-free than leaving the keys at a dealership and letting them take care of the whole thing.

  Or do you wish to purchase a new car? Well then you?ll probably want to forgo selling your used car entirely and offer it as a trade-in. The dealership can give you much more in value for your used car if it is used as a trade-in because they are assured of getting business on the other end. The trade-in value can vary from dealer to dealer but this price is mostly negotiable and up to you to get the most that you possibly can.

  If you do intend to purchase a new vehicle using your used car as partial payment then it?s important that you set up your financing beforehand. There are many companies that offer auto loan financing online, but some of the best are bankrate,?car loan, and capital one auto loan. Best of all you can use their offer of loan terms as leverage to see if the dealership can do better.