Getting
the Most for Your Used Car
Once you have an idea of the general price range for your kind
of vehicle, you can zero in on a price by honestly evaluating your
vehicle.
Make a list of the optional equipment ordered on your vehicle,
such as automatic transmission, air conditioning and any accessories
you’ve added, such as running boards on a truck or a sunroof.
Desirable extras add value to your vehicle. (Go to Options: Vehicles
Made to Order to see how much particular upgrades add to your car’s
resale value.)
Honestly evaluate your vehicle’s condition. Is it in poor,
fair, good or excellent condition? Obviously, the better the vehicle
condition, the faster it will sell and for the highest price. Kelley
Blue Book provides the following definitions of conditions that
are generally used in the industry:
The vehicle looks great, is in excellent mechanical condition and
needs no reconditioning.
See full definition
Good
The vehicle is free of any major defects. The paint, body and interior
have only minor blemishes, and there are no major mechanical problems.
It will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail. The majority
of recent consumer-owned cars fall into this category.
See full definition
Fair
The vehicle has some mechanical or cosmetic defects but is still
in safe running condition. The interior or exterior needs work by
a professional in order to be sold.
See full definition
Poor
The vehicle has severe mechanical and/or cosmetic defects and may
be in questionable running condition. Problems cannot be readily
fixed, and the title may not be clean.
See full definition
In addition to the vehicle’s condition, other mitigating factors
may affect the price of your vehicle.
The time of year you sell your vehicle has an impact. Used-car
sales are seasonal depending on where you live. In the northern
and western parts of the United States, fewer used vehicles are
sold in the winter months of December through March than during
spring or summer. In fall and spring, used vehicles are at their
highest levels at dealerships. You might do well if you try to sell
your vehicle during the off-season when you have less competition.
Of course, the trade-off in the north is that there may be fewer
buyers in winter, and used cars show more poorly in the cold and
slush of winter.
On occasion, you will notice a glut of a particular kind of vehicle.
For instance, a few years ago when Ford and Honda were in a December
race for the title of best-selling car in America for the Taurus
and Accord, respectively, some very attractive lease deals were
offered. A couple years later when those vehicles went off lease,
there was a glut, which depressed prices. You will easily recognize
such a glut if you drive around town and check out the lots of new-
and used-car dealerships, or by perusing newspaper advertisements.
At StoneAge your vehicle profile is stored
securely
and conveniently on your personal Auto Seller's home page.
Free to update, revise or edit your profile whenever you wish.
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