Is Selling Your Car to a Dealership the Right Move?

Your vehicle is old and falling apart, you just hate the way it drives, or maybe you saw some exciting feature in a new car you have to have. Either way, it is time for you to sell your current vehicle and trade up for something better. If you’re searching online for how to “sell my car,” you’ll find that you have some options when it comes to how to go about selling it successfully. Here at Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat, we know how important it is to receive top dollar for your vehicle while enjoying an experience that’s easy and safe. You may be teetering on the edge of selling it yourself or going through a dealership, wondering what the best way to go about the sale is, and we have some tips for helping you decide. Learn about everything you need to know before you sell your car to a dealership to see if it’s the right choice for you.

Selling to a Dealership vs Selling on Your Own

Some drivers believe that handling the sale of their vehicle on their own may be simpler and less stressful; however, you may be in for a rude awakening when choosing to go this route. For starters, you’re on your own completely, which means that you’re in charge of marketing your vehicle, finding the right buyer, fetching the best price, and completing all of the documentation that’s needed to fulfill the sale. When you work with a dealership, all of this is handled for you. All you need to do is drive your car to the lot, and we take care of the rest.

When you sell your car on your own, it may take a while to find a buyer who is going to offer you what you want for your vehicle, often meaning that you’re stuck making payments on it for far longer than you may have hoped. By partnering with a dealership, you get the money for your vehicle right away, not having to wait until the car sells. We also complete all of the necessary items required by the DMV so that you won’t have to worry whether or not this is being done correctly. If you’re unsure what type of documentation is required, it makes selling your vehicle much more stressful when you go about it on your own because mistakes can happen. From transferring the title to completing the bill of sale, the dealership handles everything, so you don’t have to, making the overall process completely streamlined.

Imagine having to sift through all of the interested buyers, only to find that maybe one or two were actually serious about buying your car. You’ll have to haggle over the price until you finally reach an agreement, and oftentimes, it’s you who’s disappointed. Partnering with a dealership not only eliminates all of the guesswork, it’s quicker, easier, and less stressful, making it one of the best ways to sell your car.

How to Sell Your Car to a Dealership

Before you sell your car to a dealership, it’s a good idea to research the value of your vehicle so that you’re more informed when it comes to what it’s worth. Kelley Blue Book and NADA guides are among the best places to get an accurate value for your vehicle. You’ll also want to perform a quick inspection of your car. Are any repairs needed or is there wear and tear present? Knowing the condition of your vehicle is highly recommended, as this affects its price.

When you arrive at the dealership, a friendly sales professional will help you get started with the process. They will collect all of the information and data about the vehicle, as well as arrange an inspection of the car so that they’re able to offer a fair price for it. With the ever-growing popularity of used vehicles, dealerships prefer to keep their lots stocked, so if your car is in good condition with favorable mileage, chances are, you’ll receive an offer for it. If you still owe on the vehicle, of course, you’ll want to get at least what you owe, more if you can, to cover the cost of the pay-off amount. If you have paid the vehicle off in full, you’ll be able to make a profit, and being sure to know what it’s worth is important so that you can maximize your profit.

Proper documentation will need to be provided to show that you indeed own the vehicle in question, and once you come to an agreement on price, you’ll be able to complete the paperwork and walk away. That’s the beauty of choosing to sell your vehicle to a dealership because there’s no waiting period and no gray area. It’s fast, simple, and hassle-free. Essentially, all you need to do is show up with your vehicle, and we do the rest.

Paperwork & Documentation

We mentioned documents a few times now, so what does that entail? When you choose to sell your car to a dealership, the team will help you collect the various paperwork to make the process go by smoothly. It’s a good idea to call ahead and ask what you’ll need to bring so that you can get in and out quickly, without taking too much time out of your busy day. Common paperwork you’ll need to bring with you includes the title if you own the vehicle (unless it’s an electronic title) or the loan pay-off amount from your lender if you’re still making payments. In some instances, a bill of sale is handy to have, which will include a description of the vehicle, as well as the purchase price, odometer reading, and other pertinent information, although this isn’t required.

Other important documents that can be included are maintenance records and warranty information, as well as a vehicle history report. The dealership will most likely run their own vehicle history report on your vehicle, but coming prepared with one can help speed up the process. An odometer disclosure will also need to be completed at the time of the sale for vehicles that are ten years old and newer. This ensures that the mileage displayed on the odometer is accurate and hasn’t been tampered with in any way.

Key Points to Keep in Mind

Selling your car to a dealership is one of the easiest things you’ll ever do, and keeping some other important information in mind will help maximize your success with the process. Getting prepared ahead of time is essential, and like we mentioned above, gathering up the necessary paperwork and getting an idea of what your car is currently worth will help exponentially. You’ll want to also take a glance at the dealership’s inventory of used vehicles to see the makes and models that they’re selling at the moment. Here at Orange Coast CJDRF, we welcome all types of vehicles, from trucks and SUVs to sedans and performance cars, and they don’t have to be Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, or Fiat models. Don’t think that just because you’re selling a Toyota, we won’t be interested in it.

In the end, your experience will depend drastically on the dealership you choose to partner with for your sale. You want a dealership that works with you, offering you a fair price for your vehicle, as well as a knowledgeable and professional staff to help guide you through the process with ease. At Orange Coast CJDRF, our used lot is one of the best around, and if you’re looking to sell your car and get top value for it, you’ll want to stop by and get started with our team. So, is it the right move to sell your car to a dealership? We think so, and with all of the benefits listed above, we think you will too.