Selling Your Car To A Dealer VS Private Sales NSW – Full Guide
If you’re stuck with an old car and looking to upgrade to a newer model, you may be considering selling or trading it in to a dealer. In this guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of selling to a dealer and tips you can use to maximise to value of your car.
Pros and Cons of Selling to a Dealer
Pros:
- Convenience
- Can use trade-in value towards an upgrade to a new car
- Quick sale
Cons:
- Lower selling price
- More difficult to sell old, damaged or high mileage vehicles
- Potentially unreputable dealers
- Upselling attempts to convince you to purchase a new car
Pros and Cons of Private Sales
Pros:
- Potentially higher selling price
- No intermediaries between you and the buyer, meaning less selling fees
Cons:
- Selling privately can be time-consuming, involving advertising, arranging viewings, and negotiating with individual buyers.
- Dealing with non-serious and lowball offers
- There may also be additional costs eg: advertising and sales platform fees
What To Do Before Selling Your Car To A Dealer
You can get a better deal for your car by ensuring that it’s presented in top notch condition:
Wash Your Car: This basic maintenance task is low cost and leaves your car looking newer with minimal effort.
Repair Your Car: Fixing minor damage such as dings, scratches, windshield cracks, lights, and engine issues can help you to get a better deal and give the car dealer fewer reasons to mark down your car.
Alternatively, our cash for cars service requires no preparation as we buy used cars as is, paying top cash.
Tips For Selling Your Car To A Car Dealer
- Make sure to get quotes from multiple car dealers and cash for car companies, to ensure that you’re not missing out on better deals. This can also help you when negotiating on price.
- Use online valuation tools such as Value My Car to give you a general idea of what your car is worth before negotiating
- Don’t take the first offer that comes your way. If an offer doesn’t meet your expectations, don’t be afraid to decline. The dealer may make a better offer or you could get a better price elsewhere.
A Better Way to Sell Your Car
Consider selling to a reputable cash for car service buyer such as Cash For Car Buyer for guaranteed sale, especially for older cars. We buy cars in any condition, specialising in old and wrecked vehicles, no need to worry about repairs. Unlike car dealers, we won’t try to upsell you with trade-in options and will simply pay you cash for your car.
To sell your car today call us at 0487 000 600 or fill out our online form by clicking ‘Get a quote’.
A car we recently bought for cash
FAQ
What’s the process of selling your car to a dealer?
Here’s a general outline for selling your car to a dealer (steps might differ depending on the dealer):
- Initiate contact either by phone or through the dealer’s website, sharing details about your car’s make, model and condition.
- The dealer will evaluate your car’s worth and offer you a quote.
- If you’re not satisfied with the quote, you can negotiate or opt for a trade in deal.
- Once an agreement is reached, you’ll receive a written offer from the dealer.
- Upon acceptance, payment will be arranged through your preferred method.
- In most cases, you’ll have to arrange for your car to be taken to the dealer but in some cases, the dealer can also remove your car.
What’s the process of selling your car privately?
When selling privately, the exact steps will depend on the method used, but as a general guide:
- Choose the method of private sale, you may decide to use an online marketplace or sell offline.
- Once you’ve chosen the method of sale, create an ad with a detailed description highlighting its features, condition, and notable details. If you’re advertising online, taking high-quality photos of your car from various angles will help to improve your listing.
- Once your advertisement is out ensure that you’re ready to respond to interested buyers
- Schedule test drives with interested buyers in a safe and public location. Accompany them during the test drive and ensure they have a valid driver’s license and insurance.
- Be prepared to negotiate the price with potential buyers. Once you and the buyer agree on a price, complete payment either in cash or through a secure method such as a bank transfer.
- Submit the necessary paperwork to transfer ownership of the car to the buyer according to NSW regulations.
What if my car fails the Road worthy certificate (RWC) inspection?
This can negatively affect your car’s selling value at a dealer and may require expensive repairs . Alternatively, you can sell to Cash For Car Buyer without needing an RWC.
Is it worth selling my older model car to a dealer?
It is possible to sell your older car to a dealer, but be prepared to get a lower price. Selling to a wrecker guarantees you fair compensation for older cars.
What documents do I need to sell my car?
You can improve your car’s value by having the necessary paperwork ready:
- Registration documents
- Roadworthy certificate (RWC)
- Spare keys
- Servicing and repair history
- Owner’s manual (Log book)
- Finance payout letter (if applicable)
What factors affect my car’s value?
Your car’s value is based on a number of factors including the number of past owners, market factors, mileage, accident history and overall condition. For example a less reputable and cheaper car such as an MG will sell for less than a more reputable model.