How to Safely Sell Your Car
We like to think of Canada as a polite nation. In fact, many of us relish the fact that our national reputation involves having good manners. Sadly, that doesn't mean Canada is free of scammers, thieves, and folks with other bad intentions. Something as simple as selling your car may feel uncomfortable when you start thinking about interacting with strangers in the process. Will you let them test drive your car alone, or is it better to be behind the wheel with them? What about insurance? Where do you meet? Given the risks of private sales, working with a dealership will always be the safest way to sell your car.
There are pros and cons to every method of selling a car. Whether you park it on your lawn with "For Sale" soaped on the windows, post it on a selection of carefully vetted websites, or sell it to a dealership, you have to balance time and effort in addition to analyzing cost versus profit. No one wants to be lowballed, but it's even more important to not get scammed while trying to sell your car. If safety is your number one priority, working with a dealership like LA Mazda is always a good idea. Still, there are many things to consider when selling your car. Here are some tips to keep you safe and sane as you sell your used car.
Tip #1: Know What You're Working With
Some folks argue that a dealership is going to lowball its offer, leaving the seller with the short end of the proverbial stick. It's true that a dealership is going to make an offer on how much they believe they can eventually profit off selling your vehicle––that's simply how the used car business works. However, a reputable dealer like LA Mazda will make a fair offer for your car.
You can be best prepared for any selling situation by researching your vehicle's value before you decide to sell. Third-party sites such as Kelley Blue Book and CARFAX Canada can be great places to start when attempting to value your vehicle. For your convenience, we have an online tool of our own that will let you quickly estimate how much you can get for your car.
You'll also want to determine what documents you need to sell your car. The legal requirements for selling a vehicle in Canada can vary from province to province, so make sure to determine exactly what is needed for your location. Here in Alberta, we have it easy, as the only documents you need are your car registration and an official bill of sale. If you sell your car to us, we can handle all the paperwork for you, making things even more straightforward.
Tip #2: Determine What You're Willing to Do
Bear in mind that the condition your vehicle is in will have a direct impact on its value. As the saying goes, you can ask whatever you want for it, but you'll never get more than anyone will pay. When you're reviewing value estimates, consider whether the figures displayed on the screen are accurate for the condition your car is actually in. If you have some wear and tear or maybe an odd noise you've never bothered to fix, that will lower the value of your vehicle.
Getting your car ready for sale may involve making some tough decisions. While you don't need to have the vehicle fully detailed and repaired before you sell it, there are some instances in which you can spend a little to increase your profit margin significantly.
Consistent maintenance is the key to keeping your car's value high. The best way to have a vehicle in good condition is to keep it in good condition, after all. Of course, things will happen over time, from minor accidents to normal wear and tear. You might need to decide if replacing the brake pads or having the interior professionally detailed before you attempt to sell your vehicle is worth the investment. In many cases, you'll want to do the math before you get in too deep fixing up your car before selling it, but some general tidying up is almost always a good idea.
Tip #3: How Are You Going to Sell Your Car?
Most importantly, you'll need to consider the best method for selling your car. If you'd like to pursue a private sale, you will need to research the best websites or social media pages for selling a vehicle. Pages can be specific to a certain make and model or inclusive of all motorized vehicles. They can cater to a niche group of drivers or broadcast your sale to the entire world.
If you choose to conduct a private sale, you'll want to consider how to coordinate with these prospective buyers. How will they contact you? Where will you meet them? What will you ask them to provide before taking a test drive? Will you have someone else join you for safety? How will you negotiate with them? What is your lowest possible price? You'll also have to decide which sites to use, take pictures, write a description, and answer questions about your car.
When you choose to work with a dealership to sell or trade-in your vehicle, you remove a lot of these questions from the equation. A dealership like LA Mazda will combine their knowledge about your specific make and model with a thorough inspection of your vehicle. That way, you have the opportunity to understand and discuss any areas in which your car might be less than spectacular.
Keep in mind that selling your vehicle outright to a car dealership is different than trading it in for a new car. When you trade in a vehicle, we deduct its appraised value from the cost of the new vehicle you are buying. In some cases, the trade-in value can be greater than the sale value since we may have more flexibility on both sides of the equation. When you sell a vehicle to us, we simply write you a check for its market value, and you walk away with money and no more worries about that car.
Is Selling a Car Unsafe?
Not every private buyer is trying to scam the folks who sell cars. Many people are honestly interested in buying cars from private sellers. You can also take steps to protect yourself by not sharing your home address and arranging to meet in open, public areas. It's a good idea to take a friend along for safety and let other individuals know where you'll be.
However, if you want to eliminate the risks of a private sale entirely, consider working with a dealership to sell your vehicle. At our Mazda dealership in Alberta, you can even start the process online from the comfort of your own home. By sharing your vehicle details via our website, you can get an estimated trade-in value and connect with a team member to schedule a time for your car to be inspected.
You'll still have to do some paperwork, but at least you won't have to find exactly 188 characters to describe your car while hoping you don't accidentally upload the wrong photos to an online sales group. Furthermore, you get the peace of mind of knowing you're in a safe location with a team you can trust when you sell your used vehicle.
