If you are hesitant about selling your car and wondering, can I still sell my car, it's never too late, and there is always a recipe that could help you sell your car fast and for the most money. Here's what you need to do:
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- Prepare your vehicle for sale
- List your car in different places
- Be prepared for a vehicle inspection
- Prepare the documentation
- Decide on the payment method
- Send a mail of the notice of sale
You might be looking to sell your car for many reasons. For example, some people might prefer public transportation while others prefer to upgrade their vehicles to more convenient ones that fit their needs.
Many people think it's too late to sell their cars just because the vehicles got old or the timing might not be appropriate. However, there is no wrong time for one you should sell your car, and it's always a great idea to sell any old vehicle you don't use and upgrade to another.
This article walks you through a step-by-step process to help you answer the question, can I still sell my car? In addition, it provides details about what to consider and what to keep in mind during the car-selling process.
Can I still sell my car?
Selling your car is not complicated; even if you don't feel ready, you should get started because the more you wait, the more you lose from your vehicle value, and the more you miss great opportunities.
If you're still wondering you can still sell my car, here's what you need to do:
1. Prepare your vehicle for sale
Although you might not have some food leftovers from yesterday or any unnecessary paperwork from a couple of days ago, it doesn't matter now once you're ready to sell your vehicle.
Therefore, the 1st and most critical step when selling any vehicle is to get the vehicle ready. Preparing your car includes many things you can do and depends heavily on your vehicle type and its problems.
In general, most automotive experts recommend doing the followings when preparing your car for sale:
- Take out any trash or food leftovers
- Take your vehicle to a car wash or a detailed car wash
- Consider fixing any minor scratches
- Do not leave any personal belongings
- Take high-quality photos of your vehicle
- Take care of minor repairs.
As you might see, preparing your car might take some time, and depending on your situation, it is up to you to decide how much effort you can spend on preparing your vehicle. For example, if your car has minor problems, it might be worth your investment to fix the burnt light or add fluid to the windshield reservoir.
However, if the car has major problems like those associated with the engine or transmission, it might not be worth your investment unless you're mechanic supports and so just that you should do so.
2. List your car in different places
Once your vehicle is ready, the next step is to decide on the selling method. There are many available platforms that you can utilize to sell your vehicle. You must have high-quality photos taken already during the daytime when the light is good and where the vehicle is the best shot.
Once you have those ready, decide which platform to post your vehicle. It's important when posting your car that you put a catchy title and describe all the details about the vehicle, including the good and bad stuff.
For example, you might want to consider the following platforms for selling your car:
- Offer up
- Autotrader
- Facebook Marketplace
- Local publications
There are plenty of available platforms that you can try, but we highly encourage you to check the pros and cons of each one of them before making a final decision. However, once you look at these websites, you'll see that it's very straightforward and might not take much time or effort to post your vehicle.
3. Be prepared for a vehicle inspection
After pulling your vehicle on these platforms, you'll receive messages from potential buyers regarding some inquiries. When reviewing the increase from the different buyers, you will know which wire is serious about buying your vehicle and which is not.
For example, the first thing you would expect when selling a car in any area around the US is a request for a vehicle inspection. The buyer will come and meet with you and perform a test drive or potentially bring his mechanic to check on the vehicle. It could be a huge red flag if the buyer did not want to do a test drive.
You must scan the buyers carefully and never immediately go with the highest offer without understanding the details. Depending on which platform you're looking into, it might involve many risks and scams.
4. Prepare the documentation
While waiting for the buyers to reach out to you, putting the paperwork together is a good idea. Depending on where you live and your state, there are some requirements you need to follow in terms of paperwork.
For example, in the state of Illinois, the Illinois Secretary of State requires the following documentation when selling any vehicle:
The vehicle title
You will need the vehicle title to sign it and transfer ownership. The title should be signed and dated depending on when the car-selling process happened. Remember that not everybody has a title, and if you lost your title for whatever reason, you could always obtain a title replacement from your local DMV office.
You will most likely need to complete an application for vehicle transactions or VSD 190. Typically, a fee will be associated with replacing the title; in Illinois, it's $50.
The notice of sale form
If you look at the vehicle title, there is a notice of sale form at the bottom of the title, which you need to fill out and send to the Illinois Secretary of State or your state, depending on your state requirements.
A bill of sale
In addition to the previously mentioned documents, you need a specific bill of sale that helps document the process and hand it to the potential buyer. Again, there are many available online forms that you can download, and you need to review your state regulations to confirm whether they have a specific bill of sale form that you must choose and download.
Remember that going through this paperwork differs depending on who you're selling the car to. For example, if you sell it to a dealership, they can handle much of the paperwork, making your job easy. However, if you're choosing a private buyer, the process can be tricky, especially if the buyer doesn't know how the process is done.
Odometer disclosure statement for title transfers
Some states might require printing a specific copy of the odometer disclosure statement for title transfer. As the name suggests, it's a way to document the last auto meter reading when the vehicle was sold.
5. Decide on the payment method
After preparing all the documentation, the next step is to decide on the payment method. Most automotive experts recommend getting paid in cash which is the safest car payment method, but it's not always available and depends heavily on your potential buyer.
Once you decide on the payment method and get paid, you can hand over the title to your buyer after signing and dating it for and in preparation for the ownership transfer.
You must collect the buyer's information, including his name and address, along with some contact information to contact him if something happens.
After finalizing the deal, you need to send the odometer disclosure form to the proper location, depending on where you live and depending on the requirements.
Finally, depending on your state, you might need to take out the license plates and keep them with you. However, some states might require keeping these license plates with the vehicle.
6. Send a mail of the notice of sale
Once you are done with the sale, you must inform your DMV about the seal and ensure that you are not legally responsible for this vehicle and that whatever happens to the car is not your responsibility.
Don't forget to cancel the insurance policy because the last thing you want to do is continue paying for a vehicle you don't own. The insurance company we'll appreciate that.
In addition to communicating with the State and secretary of State, your buyer must send the title and tax information to the state within 20 days. After that, the whole Carling process is completed, and with that, you should have a better idea about your question of whether I can still sell your car.
Final thoughts
If you're asking yourself, can I still sell my car? It's never too late to sell a vehicle; there's always a nice recipe for selling your car fast and for the most money.
This article walked you through a step-by-step process and helped you how slow your vehicle fast and for the most money. It walked you through recommendations about how to prepare the car, how to prepare the documentation, and more.
If you want a faster and more convenient vehicle-selling process, I can always consult a cash card buyer at 773-791-4363.