Auto Trader Magazine: What Private Sellers Need to Know
Auto Trader magazine is an excellent resource for anyone looking to purchase a used car. You can find the magazine everywhere: at the local convenience store or restaurant, and now even online.
But is it a great resource for those of us trying to sell our used vehicles? At a glance, it seems like the perfect opportunity to sell your car. It has great circulation, and if it has a ton of listings in your area, then other private sellers in your area must be successful placing their used car ads in it, right?
Wrong. Unfortunately, most of the ads you see in Auto Trader magazine are for vehicles sold by car dealerships. You would hope this wouldn't affect you, but dealerships have large budgets. And that means they can afford high advertising fees. And that means they get featured placement over your classified ad.
In the case of Auto Trader's website, over 80% of the listings on the first 10 pages of results for various makes and models are ads placed by car dealerships. You can't even find an ad from a private seller until the second or third page of listings - and you know how few Internet surfers ever look past the first page...
That means if you're a little guy - just a private individual trying to sell a single used car, truck, or SUV - you're getting minimal exposure compared to the larger car dealerships. So not only will it take longer to sell your car on Auto Trader, but you'll have to pay $39 for every three weeks it remains unsold.
One solution would be to buy Auto Trader's Deluxe Ad Service. This buys you an ad in both the Auto Trader magazine for your area and on the website. It also gets you featured listing alongside the big guys. This will cost you $79. And you'll only have to pay the fee once. The ad will remain live on the website until the car sells.
Should be worth it if you'll get your car sold faster, right? Too bad every car dealer's ad is a featured listing as well. You probably still won't show up on the first page of results for your vehicle unless it's a unique make and model.
Auto Trader magazine is still an incredible resource. We're not denying that. But the reality is you still may not get enough exposure to sell your car quickly. This isn't really an issue if you have the time to wait.
But what if you need cash quickly? What if you need to sell the car by a certain date because you're moving or traveling? What if you need to liquidate to pay off a loan or debt? Those of us selling used cars often need the money in a reasonable amount of time. In some cases, we need it immediately.
If this is your case, then we can recommend an alternative to listing with Auto Trader magazine that won't cost you a cent and will guarantee your car sold within hours of reading this article.
How to Sell Your Car Today
Click here to fill out a brief form. Within minutes or hours, one of our valuation experts will phone you to schedule a meeting to appraise your vehicle. Within 30 minutes of viewing your vehicle, he or she will provide you with a purchase offer. We guarantee to offer more for your vehicle than any dealer will, and more importantly we handle all DMV paperwork, smog certification, and transportation of the vehicle. No stress, no haggling, no wasted time or money. Plus you get that extra 5-15% over dealer trade-in value without paying out of pocket for advertising, smog check, etc.
Want to learn more about selling your car to an auto buying service? Click here for an in-depth explanation of exactly what to expect.
Ready to get a quote for your vehicle right away? Want cash in hand by the end of today? Just click here, fill out a brief form, and one of our trusted valuation experts will phone you shortly.
