How to Sell Your Vehicle to a Dealership
The Benefits of Selling Your Car to Auto House
By Scott Bray, Auto Consultant
Auto House Tempe
If you want to sell your vehicle, selling to a dealership can save you a lot of time. Of course, not all dealerships are created equal, so doing your homework is important, especially if you want to get the best sale price possible. Some people will opt to sell privately in hopes of maximizing the price, but there’s a lot more work and risk involved in the transaction. So if you’re thinking of selling your vehicle, skip the hassles and come straight to Auto House, or we can arrange for one of our experienced buyers to come to you.
The benefits of selling your car to Auto House are simple: we go the extra mile to make everything fast, easy, and convenient. Whether you’re planning to buy a new vehicle from us or simply interested in selling your car outright, our goal is to get you the best possible price for your vehicle. Here are a few of the most common questions we hear from our customers:
How Can I Get the Maximum Value Selling My Car to Auto House?
To get the most value out of your vehicle, we DO recommend getting it serviced before you bring it in to sell, especially if your car is due for any scheduled maintenance or any dashboard warning lights are signaling something within the vehicle that needs attention. That way you are more likely to get top dollar for it. Make sure the tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread. In some cases, putting new tires on the vehicle before selling can increase the sale value. You can also wash the car so it looks its best, but it’s really not necessary. We can tell how well a car has been maintained and cared for by the general look and feel inside and out.
Pro Tip: If there are chips or cracks in the windshield, be sure to check if you have insurance for windshield replacement, and if you do, have it replaced. Today’s windshields are higher-tech and more connected to your car’s safety systems, so chips and cracks will put a big dent in the value.
You can also choose to sell us your vehicle as-is. Auto House buys cars in all types of situations and conditions. We’ve even had cars towed to the dealership to buy. Even cars in poor condition still retain some value, so if you need to sell your vehicle, know that we can help you get the most for your car.
How Does Auto House Determine the Value of My Car?
There are a variety of different factors that go into determining the value of a car. Before selling your vehicle, you will want to know the approximate market value for its age and condition. Most people are familiar with Kelley Blue Book (KBB), which can provide a range for the particular make and model year of a vehicle for sale to a private party, for trade-in, or outright sale to a dealership in your area. Beginning with an Instant Kelley Blue Book quote online can help you get a general idea of the value before you sell your vehicle.
Our buyers will work with you to make sure they get you the best value so we can offer the fairest possible price when you sell your vehicle. In addition to the KBB value, Auto House looks at the market to see what a particular vehicle is selling for at auction, which is where most used car dealerships buy and sell inventory. Other factors that can affect the value of a vehicle include mileage, whether the car needs any maintenance or repairs, whether there are any dashboard warning lights on, damage to the interior and/or exterior, and so on.
What Do You Need When Selling Your Vehicle?
When you sell your vehicle to Auto House, you don’t need to do much outside of gathering your paperwork and bringing your Driver’s License or another form of ID so we can verify ownership. If you have a loan or lease, you’ll need to bring the paperwork or loan number with you. Bring any extended service contracts and maintenance records if you have them, as these can help you get a better price. If you own the vehicle outright, bring the vehicle title with you.
No matter what approach you choose, Auto House has buyers on-site at all times, or you can start with an Instant Cash Offer online. If you like our offer, we’ll cut you a check right on the spot, so you won’t have to wait days or weeks to get your money. Best of all, our offer is good for 7 days, so there’s no pressure. Bottom line—we want you to be happy with your deal, and we’ll do what it takes to make that happen. At Auto House, that’s how we roll!
Want to learn more about steps you should take before you sell your vehicle? See our blog with tips for preparing your car for sale.