Not all online car-selling sites are the same, differing in the services they provide and the way they conduct their business. Selling your car online can be very easy — provided you know where to look and what to look out for. Here are some tips on how to get the best deals and service when shopping online for a quote.
Why Sell Online?
Even though most industries were quick to make the transition from brick and mortar to digital, many drivers still prefer face to face interactions when making vehicle transactions. Though meeting in person may still feel more organic when picking out and negotiating your next ride, the convenience and safety of selling your used car online is unparalleled.
When you bring a car in to a dealership to trade it in, as many drivers are accustomed to doing, the dealership can only do two things with the car they buy from you. If it’s in great shape and relatively new, they can put it on their used model lot for sale.
Most of the time, though, it gets sold at auction and doesn’t make the dealership very much money. For this reason, you’ll never be able to get your car’s fair market value when you trade in at a dealership.
If your car isn’t in great shape, getting quotes from local junkyards is also an option. If you choose to do this the traditional route, you can call your local junkyards and request a quote for your car.
A reputable salvage buyer will be able to give you a quote over the phone or via email provided answers to a few simple questions about your car and its history. Never bring your car in for a quote, or for an inspection prior to a quote — these may be scams!
How to Sell Your Car Online
The first thing you should consider when choosing where to sell your car is how much effort you’re interested in making. There are a variety of websites that offer no more than a platform to host your listing. That means it’s up to you to manage every aspect of your listing and sale, which can include:
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Refreshing or re-posting your listing periodically to ensure it stays high in search results
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Preparing your car to be sold - detailing, making minor repairs, taking photographs, etc.
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Obtaining mechanic’s records so you can answer questions about the vehicle’s maintenance and damage history.
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Researching your car’s fair market value and how much similar cars for sale in your area in order to set your price point
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Negotiating with potential buyers
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Organizing test drives
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Negotiating who pays for towing and title transfer
That can be a lot of work! If your car is newer and in good working order, selling this way can be straightforward if you’re capable of and interested in taking on the responsibility. However, the cost of preparing your car for sale combined with the effort proves to be overwhelming for busy drivers who need a new car now.
Why You Should Sell To CarBrain
Fortunately, there are options available that take care of all of that hard work for you. Specifically, there’s CarBrain. CarBrain is a website that specializes in less than perfect cars, meaning your car’s accident history or mechanical woes are no worry for us.
Bonus: because we specialize in less than perfect cars, we know better than anyone just how much they’re worth. You’ll never be undersold or stuck waiting for months for a buyer with CarBrain.
Selling with us is easy. First, take a few pictures of your car and write down it’s VIN. Next, make sure you’ve got your title ready. Then, head over to CarBrain.com on your smartphone or computer to get a free quote. When you upload your pictures and Vehicle Identification Number, you’ll get a quote in only 90 seconds! That quote will be guaranteed and good for a full week.
After you’ve accepted your quote, just schedule your free pickup. If you’ve got any questions, you can contact your buyer via phone, text, email, or the on-site messaging system. Towing and title transfer are always on us, and we work around your busy schedule. A tow truck can arrive at your location for pickup in as little as 24-48 hours!
When the driver arrives, you’ll hand over your keys and sign over your title. Then, you’ll get your cash and wave your clunker goodbye. Sell your less than perfect car with CarBrain today!
