We all know that when you trade in your vehicle at the dealership, you receive less than retail price for it. If you spend a little time and play it smart, you can sell your trade-in and save some money.

Before you go to sell your vehicle, you should research the value and see what kind of price you should be looking for. Check http://www.nadaguides.com and http://www.edmunds.com for retail or private party pricing. You should also research trade-in pricing, so you know what you would likely be offered if you traded in the car.

The next step is to evaluate your car’s condition. Getting a car detailed can add 100’s of dollars to the value and help sell it faster. Also make sure you have all service records in one place, so you can show the potential buyer. Even if you do not have all of the records, a written summary of the work you have put into the car helps.

Once you are happy with your car’s appearance, it’s time to advertise. Online advertising is a hit or miss proposition. Stay away from small sites, which get little traffic, it’s a waste of your time and money. A large site which I like Cars.com is the best place to advertise.

You can also advertise in local papers, and classified magazines. I have also found that a simple ad placed on a grocery store bulletin board works well for certain cars. If it’s under $5,000, it will attract interest at these bulletin boards.

Good Luck,

Kevin

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