How to Prepare My Used Car for Sale

If you’re planning to sell a car yourself, you’ll get more responses to your ad and make more money by presenting your vehicle in its best light. As with most things in life, you won’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so you’ll want to do everything you can to compel shoppers to respond to your ad and make an appointment to go on a test drive.

Mechanical Matters

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You may have stopped noticing thumps, squeaks, and other signs of protest from your vehicle. But a prospective buyer will surely call you out on these tell-tale symptoms of age or mechanical issues, so be prepared to explain them.

You have to be the expert on the car you’re selling. You could cost yourself the deal by acting surprised to hear the noise or to see the engine light come on.

Enlist the help of a friend if you need to, but objectively assess your vehicle’s imperfections, including dents, dings, and noises. Then plan how you’ll respond to questions about them.

At the bare minimum:

If you’re looking to get top dollar, take the time and bear the expense of visiting a mechanic for an assessment. Find out if there are any severe defects, and decide whether you want to have them repaired or to sell the car “as-is.” You may be able to avoid having a buyer talk you down in price if you fix minor issues before you put your vehicle on the market.

Ensure all major systems and components are in good working condition or prepare to disclose issues to prospective buyers fully.
Replace burned-out lights and fuses.
Top off all fluids.

To get an idea of the cost of a given repair in your area, visit RepairPal.com.

Cleanliness Counts

A quick washing before you show your car won’t do. It will be compared to many similar vehicles, so you want to be sure it looks squeaky clean and well-maintained, inside and out.

There are a few different approaches you can take to the cleaning, but however you go about it, don’t skip this step. If you prefer, take your car to a professional detailer and have it thoroughly detailed. Be prepared to spend up to a couple of hundred dollars, or roll up your sleeves and prepare for a couple of hours of TLC and elbow grease.

How to clean your car:

Start with your tires since they are the dirtiest part of your car. Wash and scrub the sidewalls using a dedicated car wash soap or a tire cleaning solution. Once clean, allow your tires to dry before applying tire dressing to the sidewalls (never to the tread).
Remove debris from the interior — toys, cups, French fries, crayons, backpacks, sporting equipment, and the like all must go. Empty the ashtrays and vacuum them out if needed.
Thoroughly vacuum the seats and the floors, both front and rear. Vacuum under and around floor mats if you have them. And if your floor mats look grungy, try washing them with carpet shampoo, or get new ones. You can find replacement floor mats inexpensively at auto parts outlets, department stores, and online, and they are well worth the investment.
Wash the windows all around until they shine, inside and out. Use newsprint to wipe off the cleaning solution to minimize streaking.
Remove any bugs and tar (there is a product made especially for this purpose available wherever you buy car-care supplies).
Thoroughly wash and dry the car.
Polish trim and apply protectant.
Polish and wax the vehicle’s painted surfaces.

If you haven’t detailed your car lately, you may be pleasantly surprised at how nicely it cleans up. But more importantly, you’ll favorably impress prospective buyers with your spruced-up machine.

Get more tips on detailing your vehicle

Picture This

Once your vehicle is ready for prime time, capture a good set of images. Take them immediately after the detailing is complete to capture your car at its finest.

Take multiple shots of the exterior. Get several angles of the front, back, and sides—photograph under the hood, inside the trunk or cargo compartment, and the wheels.

Don’t neglect the interior, either. Capture the dashboard, the front row of seats, the second row, and the third row (if equipped). A closeup of the odometer, showing your car’s current mileage, is a must. Include photos of any special features you believe will increase interest in your vehicle, like an upgraded audio system or any rare accessories.

Imagine all the views a buyer would want and show them.

Keep it clean:

If you continue to drive the car while trying to sell it, keep it garaged if possible. It’s not likely you’ll keep it in picture-perfect condition, but keeping it out of the elements as much as possible will help keep it looking sharp.

Get more tips on detailing your vehicle