If you’re thinking of buying a new car you’ll need to decide what to do with your old one. If it’s still in good condition you’ll have a number of options.
A private sale is the best way to get the market value for your car. But you’ll have to pay for advertising and you still might have no takers. There’s also the hassle of showing people around your car, them not showing up after an appointment has been made and them knocking the price down anyway.
A trade-in can work well if you are buying a new car. You won’t have the hassle of worrying about what to do with the car – the garage or dealer will take it off your hands. Trade-in prices are however usually lower than private valuations.
There are now online dealers who will make you an offer for your vehicle. They’ll take things such as the vehicle’s age and mileage into consideration and make you a sensible offer. This can be a hassle-free way of selling a car and works particularly well if you are not trading in or purchasing a different vehicle.
If you are thinking of trading in your car or selling it online at some point in the future there are a few things you should do to get the best quote.
Cars that have low mileage will always attract better premiums than those which have above average miles on the clock.
Does the car have a valid MOT and how long is it valid? Likewise, when was the vehicle last serviced and is there a full-service history with the vehicle? If the car has a long MOT and a full dealer service history it will hold a better resale value. It’s worth thinking about this when you ignore your annual service reminder.
If you keep the car in good condition you’ll always get more money for it if you trade it in at a later date. This means cleaning it regularly and fixing any problems before they escalate. If you’ve got any small dents have them fixed right away. If the tyres are reaching the end of their life, replace them with a quality brand.
Make sure you tell the dealer or online purchaser if the vehicle has any extras which weren’t part of its standard specification. Does it have parking sensors? Have the alloy wheels been upgraded? Has it got metallic paint? All these things can affect the price you will be paid at trade-in.
Most dealers will want to look at the vehicle before they agree to a price. However, this can be played to your advantage. Before you get a visual valuation make sure the car is spotlessly clean inside and out. If it looks clean it’s an indication that it has been well-cared for and it’ll always boost the price a little.
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