Dealerships Who Buy Cars:  What You Need to Know

Are you currently thinking about selling your car? Have you thought about how you want to go about selling it? For example, have you considered dealerships that buy cars? 

 

If you haven’t you should . . . And we’re going to tell you why!

 

In fact, there are myriad benefits to selling your car to a dealership, especially if you plan to purchase a new or different car from that same dealership. 

 

In addition, dealerships that buy cars often make the entire process fast and easy. Doesn’t that sound good? After all, once you’ve made the decision to actually get rid of your vehicle, do you really want the task to be drawn out and tedious. 

 

What if, financially, you need to sell your car sooner rather than later? A dealership is the way to go! 

 

Specifically, going through a car dealership is the quickest route to selling your car. Forget days, weeks, or months—dealerships make the sale happen now! 

 

Dealerships will also handle all of the boring paperwork for you. You won’t have to worry about going to the DMV (which, let’s face it, no one likes to do). But, even better, you won’t have to worry about getting ripped off when selling your car to a dealership. 

 

Consider this scenario: You sell your car to yourself, to a stranger, and the check you accept for payment never clears. You don’t have to worry about anything like that happening when you choose to work with a dealership. You will get paid for your car, and you will get paid immediately. 

 

Finally, selling your car to a dealership can actually allow you to save on your taxes. How? Well, if you are going to buy a new car with your trade-in (which is what your old car technically will be now), many states will allow you to deduct the trade-in amount from the price of the new car when it comes time to calculate the sales tax. 

 

So, there you have it: Dealerships who buy cars can save you energy, time, and if you’re trading in the old car for a new one, even money on your taxes. 

 

Now that you are at least thinking about selling your car to a dealership, you need to know how to sell your car to a dealership. Good news: You’ve come to the right place! We are going to assist you with the entire process. 

 

Below, we have put together a list of tips and information on how to properly do the task we stated above: sell your car to a dealership. 

 

Following these tips can make the chore of selling your car feel less consuming and confusing. Take a look! 

 

5 Tips to Help You Sell Your Car to a Dealership 

 

1. Have a Realistic Mindset/Attitude 

Here’s the deal: Many people want to think their car is worth more than it actually is. This is perfectly all right, even normal. However, in order to avoid setting yourself up for disappointment, you will want to work on having a realistic mindset/attitude when it comes time to sell your car. 

 

No one wants to believe their property (i.e. their car) is, for lack of a better word, junk. Most people take pride in their vehicles, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, it is very important—a necessity, really—to leave your ego at the door before you enter the car dealership. 

 

Further, be realistic and understand ahead of time that you’re not going to get top dollar for a used car. That’s the way owning a vehicle works, right? You are bound to lose money on it at some point—oftentimes, as soon as you drive it off the lot. 

 

Specifically, though, having a realistic mindset/attitude will help ensure that you don’t get disappointed early on in the selling process.

• Know What Your Car Is Worth

 

Now, we just told you to be realistic when it comes to selling your car to a dealership; however, you don't want to get ripped off or taken advantage of. The only way to avoid getting ripped off or taken advantage of is by doing your homework and knowing what your car is worth.

 

It goes without saying that even if your car is worth x amount of dollars, you may not get that full amount—depending on where, how, and when you decide to sell it. 

 

However, if you know what your car is worth (and even have the appropriate paperwork to prove it), you stand a better chance of actually getting a better and fairer price for the car in question. In fact, knowing your car’s worth will show the car salesman who you are working with that you have knowledge regarding what you’re doing. Therefore, you won’t be taken advantage of. 

 

However, tips one and two do go hand-in-hand. To simplify: Know your car’s worth so you get a price in the ballpark of that figure, but don’t always expect to get that full figure (i.e. be realistic). 

• Learn the Ins and Outs of Your Car 

 

Do you think you know everything there is to know about your car? Think again! You may believe that your car is in tip-top shape. But is it really? It may be time to contact the professionals—professional auto mechanics, that is.

 

Before you go about the process of selling your car to a dealership, it’s important to get it fully looked at, or learn the ins and outs of it. 

 

Yes, this tip is similar to the one listed above, concerning knowing what your car is actually worth. Yet, it goes a little deeper than that. 

 

Specifically, before you attempt to sell your car to a dealership, you want to know if your car has any issues. Of course, these “issues” could range from bad brakes, a faulty radiator, a frayed belt, etc.  

 

Your car could also suffer from a cosmetic issue, like a broken taillight, dents and/or scratches, or a broken window. Obviously, though, you will recognize a cosmetic issue much easier and faster than an issue hiding under the hood.

 

These issues—regardless of what they are—can and will affect the amount of money you will be offered for the car. Now, you want to know about these issues ahead of time so that you won’t be blindsided and feel as if you’re being ripped off from the offer you receive.

 

Further, if you know about an issue before you try to sell the car, you may discover that you can fix it on the cheap side. Or, you will likely be able to fix the issue much cheaper than what the car dealership plans to deduct for it.

 

The tricky part is this: You do want to know what is wrong with your car—if there is something wrong with it—but you don’t want to spend a lot of money learning this information. Why? Because you’re going to be selling the car rather shortly. 

 

Use your best judgment here, and if you happen to have a relative or friend who is an auto mechanic or knows a lot about cars, now may be a great time to call in a favor.

• You Better Shop Around 

 

If you're reading this article, then there is a pretty big chance that you've previously bought an automobile in the past. Therefore, you know the importance of shopping around. 

 

You likely shopped around before you bought your current vehicle, and you should also shop around before you sell that same vehicle. Shopping around your car to different dealerships can help ensure that you get the most money for your car. And, don’t you want the most money you can possibly get for your used car? Of course, you do! 

 

Now, there is one small downside to this tip: It can be very time-consuming. Not only will it be necessary to research various car dealerships, but you will then have to drive to each dealership to allow their auto mechanic the opportunity to check out your car—which can also eat up a lot of time. 

 

If you have an unlimited amount of time on your hands to do all of this research, driving and waiting, then there is no issue. However, if time is a problem for you, more so, you don't have a lot of free time to spare, then you may want to work with a dealership network. 

 

In laymen's terms, a dealership network does the work for you: you make one appointment with their representative, they assess your car, then they shop it around to multiple dealerships. The downside here, of course, is that they don't do this service for free. So, you will be out some money—even if your car doesn't sell. 

 

You have to make the decision which is more important to you: time or money. Yes, it's a hard one, so take your time and do what is best for you and your needs. There are no right or wrong options to choose from, just whichever you feel more comfortable with.

• Patience Is Key

 

Finally, the last tip to help you sell your car to a dealership—and perhaps the most important one on the list—is patience. As you already know or have heard time and time again, patience is a virtue. Now, not everyone has this virtue, but if you do, it could help you get more money for your car. 

 

Here’s how that works: If you’re not in a rush to sell your car, then you might be able to wait for a better offer. On the flip side, if you do need the money for your car sooner rather than later, then you are more likely to take the first offer given to you—even if it’s not exactly fair or your car is worth more. 

 

Though this may require more work on your end, as you will have to spend time, energy, and possibly resources on traveling to various car dealerships to get the offers for your car, it could result in a bigger offer. 

 

Again, this is your prerogative, whatever you feel comfortable doing. But, in general, if you go into the process of selling your car to a dealership with a certain level of patience, the entire procedure could prove to be much more rewarding.   

 

How to Choose Dealerships Who Buy Cars

 

In case it wasn’t clear from the information provided above, you do not have to take your car to any specific dealership when it comes to selling it. 

 

Specifically, the car doesn’t have to be taken to the same dealership it came from. Also, though trading in the old car for a new car could be more beneficial at tax time, it’s not a necessity. You can simply be selling your car for the cash, and the cash only.

 

Basically, just know that you can take your car to any dealership with the intent or purpose of selling it—there are no rules, laws, or conditions. 

 

When it comes to actually choosing the dealership you take your car to, remember the tips listed above and find a dealership you are comfortable working with.

 

While selling your car to a dealership may seem like a daunting, difficult task, it doesn’t have to be. As long as you’re prepared for the process and have an idea of what to expect, you will be fine. 

 

Lastly, don’t forget that it is perfectly all right to ask questions. If something doesn’t seem or feel right, then consider your options before making a decision. 

 

Further, do not rush into a decision or make a decision if you feel as if something isn't fully right. Essentially, you are in control here. Remember, this is the car that you're selling; you make the rules. Do what you want to do, and don’t get pressured into any sort of situation. 

 

As long as you are prepared, knowledgeable, well informed, and patient, the process of working with dealerships who buy cars should be a rewarding, beneficial experience.