Sell Your Used Car on Auto Trader

Auto Trader has always been a popular venue for selling used cars. In the past, Auto Trader's magazines were distributed all over the nation, often available for free at restaurants and supermarkets.

Now, with the internet, your used car classifieds ad can be found on the web at Auto Trader's website. But as many discover with the web, simply building it (your used car ad) won't automatically make them come (your buyers).

So how do you sell your used car on Auto Trader.com?

Know Your Used Car's Worth

This can get tricky, because if you go to a valuation site such as Kelley Blue Book, and you get a basic valuation estimate, that estimate will be what you can expect to receive from an individual buyer if your car is in "Excellent Condition."

According to Kelly Blue Book, a vehicle is in excellent condition when it has had absolutely no paint or body work done, and is free from blemishes and scratches. It is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. The vehicle must have a clean title history, pass smog certification, and the engine compartment must be clean with no fluid leaks or visible wear/defects.

On top of all that, the vehicle must have complete and verifiable service records. Therefore, less than 5% of vehicles fall into this category. Yet most vehicle sellers immediately assume that the suggested retail price for their vehicle is the bare minimum they should request when selling their auto.

So be sure to be realistic and not ask too much for your used car.

Create a Compelling Ad

You don't have to be a marketing genius to create a compelling ad. Just make sure you have all your car's basic information: year, make, model, mileage, VIN # if possible, and a list of standard and optional equipment.

Describe the best selling points for your vehicle and keep in mind that your potential buyers are reading hundreds of ads - what will make yours different and stand out? Photos are definitely a must, but also describe what it's like to own and drive the car. Is it low maintenance? Does it handle like it loves the road as much as you do?

Read the ads for similar cars and work to make yours better. Selling your car is like selling anything else.

Don't Forget Your Credit Card

Unfortunately, the downside of selling your used car to a private party are the costs involved in advertising the car and facilitating the sale. Getting an ad on Auto Trader will cost you $39 for a 3 week run. In addition, you may have to run credit checks on potential buyers, order Vehicle History Reports on your car, and handle smog certifications and other maintenance matters.

What if My Car Doesn't Sell in Three Weeks?

Or what if you need cash for your car sooner? Today's climate is so fast-paced and so hectic, few of us have the time to adequately sell our used cars. Instead, we toil for weeks or months with broken appointments, hagglers, lack of serious interest, and scam artists.

In the end, too many of us end up settling for a far lower price than we originally intended, all to just get the fiasco over with.

Auto Trader vs. an Auto Buying Service

The alternative to struggling with Auto Trader or any other advertising service is to sell your used car, truck or SUV to an auto buying service. They'll appraise your vehicle at your earliest convenience, and give you a cash offer within 30 minutes.

An auto buying service is an excellent alternative to selling to private parties because it has buying power, which means the company can buy virtually any used vehicle - that means no haggling and no half-interested individuals. It also means cash in hand immediately. Same day even!

In addition, an auto buying service doesn't have much overhead. Such companies are not dealerships with expensive lots, sales representatives with high commissions, and vehicle maintenance and service staff to be paid. Therefore, there's no need to undercut you with a low purchase price to ensure a decent profit margin. As soon as your auto is purchased, there is often an offer for your exact make and model, reducing risk for the company and ensuring you a fair price. 

In our case, 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. That way, you get that extra 5%-15% over dealer trade-in value without paying out of pocket for advertising, smog check, etc.

Sounds like something worth looking into, doesn't it? Find out, right now, exactly how much money you can get for your vehicle and get that cash in your hand today. Just click here, fill out a brief form, and one of our trusted valuation experts will phone you shortly.