Struggling To Sell Your Car?

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You’ve put up an advert online. Perhaps you’ve even approached a couple dealerships in an attempt to trade in your car. But no-one wants to buy your vehicle.

There could be several reasons for this. This post explores all those reasons and offers a few tips on how you can sell your car once and for all.  

Is the price too high?

Used car prices have become more competitive than ever. Consider whether you’re asking for too much for your vehicle – if it’s a basic model, over 15 years old and not in the greatest condition, you may not get much interest if you’re asking for more than $1000.

Classic cars and sports cars are likely to be worth a lot more, but you should still be careful of overpricing them. If you’re selling your car for $15,000 and other sellers have the same model priced at $13,000, you’re not going to get any buyers.

Of course, you don’t want to go too low just to get a quick sale. This is why it’s often worth doing some research to find the true value of your car. There are car valuation sites that can help you to do this. You can also compare similar cars that are up for sale online.

Are you marketing it in the right places?

You should also think about where you’re marketing your vehicle. If you’re marketing independently, don’t rely wholly on physical advertising – sites like Facebook and Gumtree are worth trying too and are likely to be where most customers are looking.

If you’re selling a niche vehicle, consider whether you’d be better putting ads in niche places. There are sites and dealerships catered to used classic cars, used performance cars and quirkier cars – these may help you when trying to find the right type of buyer.

Can you make any small fixes/improvements?

Small signs of visible damage could be enough to deter certain buyers. Consider whether you can make any small fixes such replacing missing hubcaps, fixing small dents or even buying a set of fresh tires.

Don’t splash out on large restoration work or improvements – you don’t want to pay more to fix up your vehicle than you charge for selling it (you may as well be paying to sell your vehicle).

It worth also noting that cleaning your car can go a long way. If you haven’t already done this, consider giving your car a thorough clean inside and outside. A dirty exterior and grubby interior will put off most buyers. Some people even pay to get their car professionally cleaned (although, as with repairs, you make sure that the money spent on this is worth it).

Could you take better photos?

A good photo is important for getting your ad noticed. Taking photographs of all angles can help to build the trust of buyers – a single photo from an unusual angle could suggest that you’re hiding something. Make sure that these photos aren’t blurry or distorted in any way. Similarly, try to avoid using artsy filters as they won’t give a true impression of your car.  

Should you scrap it for cash instead?

The last resort is often to scrap a vehicle. When it comes to very old and damaged vehicles, this is sometimes the best option. While you can pay to scrap your vehicle, there are some companies that will pay you to take your vehicle away. Try doing your local research to find out who buys junk cars near you. You may not get much money for your vehicle, but you’ll still earn something – which is much better than giving away money to scrap your car.

Is now a good time to sell?

It’s worth also considering timing when selling a car. Car sales can dry up in December and January, simply because fewer people have the money to put towards a car. Certain vehicles like convertibles may be particularly less popular during these months, while they can become popular in summer.

Generally speaking though, you can sell a car at any time of the year. Even in the midst of the current pandemic, car sales have slowed but are still happening. You may have to put more work into advertising your vehicle during these slower periods. If you don’t have the time or energy for this, consider whether delaying a sale is a better option – you could find that you attract a lot more buyers in a few months’ time.