What You Need to Know Before Selling Your Car

There is a reason why KITT from Night Rider is at the top of the coolest gadgets known to man; it’s a talking car! This amazing specimen, gracing Hollywood’s geekery with witty remarks and show-stopping, self-driving stunts, has enough software to not only save the day, but also have a personality complete with jokes and emotion. We then all walk out to our beloved cars in the driveway and kick the rubber tire hoping it will respond back with a “would you mind?”.

Sadly, we know it won’t, but we are secretly envious that our cars cannot truly communicate with us. Therefore, since we can’t interpret auto lingo, when we sell or buy a new vehicle, we have to trust salesmen to translate “car-talk” for us.

Unfortunately, most of us feel these dealerships are not giving us the voiced truth about our automobiles; however, it’s not too late to get to know your cars! Follow these tricks and tips when it comes to making the most of selling your car, and your four-wheeled friend will be thanking you in no time!

1. The SMOG Doctor is in

Before we transition into a new stage in our lives, it’s suggested that we get a checkup from our doctors, and it’s the same for our cars!

You can’t sell a sick car, so take it to the local repair shop to not only fix those major door dings, but also to get a SMOG check. Even if the car was recently inspected, take it in anyway. Despite popular belief, a SMOG check is only good for 90 days after the test, and not the 2-years that most dealers and DMVs suggest. It is also NOT the responsibility of the new owner to provide “shots and Band-Aids” for the car, but rather it’s the seller’s obligation. Presenting the best product forward will make you a much more trustworthy source in the future, so take you car in for a checkup.

2. Get Your Paperwork in Ink

Any deal ever made is not official until it is written on paper and signed in ink, so have the paperwork handy and up to date for your car.

First, check registration tags. If someone buys a car with expired tags, it can cost up to $300 for the new owner, and it looks suspicious on the seller’s behalf. In many cases, if tags are out of date, the buyer simply will return the car or press charges for faulty advertising. Don’t know your tags expiration or price? Check it out here!

Also, make sure you have your title. The title, also known as your pink slip, is the most important document when it comes to owning a car; if you don’t have a pink slip, you don’t own the car, and therefore, you don’t have the right to sell it. So, make sure this paperwork is in your possession and up to date. Only the registered owner can sell the car, so if you want a family member of friend to sell it instead, you will need a power of attorney signed for the third party. If you happened to have misplaced your pink slip, check out your DMV to get a REG 227 or duplicate/paperless title online.

Here is a checklist of important paperwork to have:

1. Title (signed on the front to release ownership before the sale if final).
2. Bill of sale (can also be downloaded online or found on the back of your title) It has a spot for both the buyer and sellers contact information and the purchase price of the car.
3. REG 138 Notice of transfer and Release of liability (its usually attached to the title if you cannot find this paperwork online. Mail it to the DMV after you have sold your car). This informs the DMV who the new owner of the car is.
4. SMOG

***If you are missing any of these, contact your DMV and/or dealership***

3. Top Places to Sell Your Vehicle

There are a variety of places to buy and sell cars now and it’s not just through the dealership (although that is still an option).

Here are the most popular places to get your info out and sell:

1. Craigslist
2. Facebook Buy/Sell Groups
3. Public Auto Auction
4. Consignment at a Local Dealership

When making a post to sell your car at any one of these locations, make sure you have:

1. All your paperwork (as listed above)
2. A picture (not too professional or amateur). The picture can make or break a buyer’s interest depending on the quality. Too professional could give off the vibe that you’re a scam artist while too poor of a job could instill doubts of worth in the car.
3. A CLEAN car when personally presenting it.
4. HONESTY: remember the golden rule and sell your car as if you were the one buying it.

4. Don’t Forget about the Price Tag

Oh Right! We can’t forget that selling a car comes at a price. Calculating the perfect payout is tricky because you don’t want to sell yourself short or equally scam the buyer.

To check listing prices in your area, Kelley Blue Book the value of your vehicle so you can spot a steady price, and get aCarFax to see what other people are paying for the same local models too. When it comes to receiving payment for your car BE CAUTIOUS! Accept only cash or cashiers checks in order to avoid shady steals and loopholes.

Just because we don’t have a talking car doesn’t mean we can’t fully communicate with it to see its value. By following just a few simple guidelines, any one of us can become the auto whisperer and find the ins and outs of buying or selling a car. If you have any further questions or comments about parting with your four-wheeled friend, or if you need maintenance before selling, contact British 4×4 or call (949) 364-4496.