How can your sell your used car for a profit? The Kelly blue book value will help you determine the value of your used vehicle and then set the price. Most everyone knows that a car never gains value, it only loses value. Even though a car loses value, you can sell it for a profit. In order to know how to sell your car for a profit, you need to understand the value of cars.

One way to find out how much a car is worth is to access the Kelly blue book value. This can be found on the Kelly blue book web site, kbb.com. You can also find out the price of your used car by driving around looking at used cars that are for sale. The classified ads are another great place to find out the average asking price of your used car. Once you have the average price of the vehicle, you can set your price. Most individuals will set the price at about $1000 less than the Kelly blue book value. Always assume that you will sell your car for the wholesale price or the "loan value".

As any car ages, it loses value and eventually reaches a point where it will require repairs and other work. It is always a good idea to get rid of your car before it reaches that point because it still has some value left in it. One way to determine when it is a good time to sell your car is when you take it in for a check-up. Ask your mechanic to inspect it for major repairs and if they recommend replacing a few things in the near future, put the car up for sale. Your mechanic will inform you of what shape your car is in and you need to mention any changes you have noticed to your car, like noises, or decreasing gas mileage. It is also difficult to sell a car that is over 100,000 miles, so if your car is getting closer to that point, you should consider selling it. Once a car reaches 100,000 miles, they are prone to expensive repairs like cadillac convertors, transmission, and fuel-injection systems.

Selling Your Car
If you expect to sell the car, you need to clean it. Not only do you need to wash it, you need to vacuum it, scrub it, and wax it. Do anything you can to the car to make it look presentable. If it is missing a hubcap, pick up a set from Wal-Mart. Cheap hubcaps can be purchased for $25.00 and they make the wheels look nicer than just the black metal and rubber. If you are a smoker, take the car into a professional cleaner and have them try to remove the smoke smell. Do not smoke in your car again, as the smell will stick to the fabric of the car. Most people are looking for a smoke-free car, so try to keep it smelling fresh.

After you have found the average asking price for your used car, take it to an auto mechanic and have it tuned-up. The auto mechanic can inspect the car and let you know of any problems or repairs that need to be made. Having a mechanic inspect the car will help you when you are negotiating the price with prospective buyers. For example, if the buyer tries to claim that the car needs significant work, due to its age or model, you can inform them that you recently took it into the mechanic and had everything thoroughly checked and the car doesn't need repair work. Even though you will probably drop the price a little, it is important not to let the buyer think they have the upper hand.

Once the car is ready to be sold and you have the price set, you need to advertise it. EbayMotors.com, AutoTrader.com, and other web sites are great places to advertise your used car. Place an ad in your local newspaper and on community bulletin boards. Remember to place a sign in the car that lists the asking price and some of the features of the car. Take the car to high-traffic areas or wherever you can get the word out. Drive the car to the grocery store, the doctor's office, and everywhere you plan to go. The more the car is out; the easier it is for people to notice it.

If you have someone contact you about the car, you will need to have a list of the features of the vehicle, as well as the vehicle history report. Carfax.com is a great web site to purchase the vehicle history report and it will help when you are negotiating the price with prospective buyers.

When you are selling your car, take a look at the season. Find out when your particular car will be in demand. For example, all-wheel vehicles tend to sell better in the fall and winter months while convertibles sell better in the spring and summer months. Selling your car during the holiday season can also be profitable if people are looking to purchase a used car as a present.

Before you sell your car, you must make sure you have the vehicle title in your possession. If you still owe money on the car, the bank will hold the title and you will need to give the bank the rest of the loan money in order to transfer the title. A car cannot be sold if you have outstanding tickets. It is important to have up-to-date emissions and registration and you will need a bill of sale or transfer form as well as the release of liability form. Before you allow anyone to test drive your car, ask to see their driver's license to make sure it is current. Always go in the car with the potential buyer for a test drive. Most people will ask to take the car to their mechanic to have it inspected. If you recently had a mechanic inspect the car, you can show them the receipt and the work order from the mechanic.

Once you agree on the price of the car, you need to obtain a certified check. Never accept personal checks when you are selling a car. One way to make certain you receive the money is to sign the bill of sale at your bank and have a teller transfer the money into your account before you hand over the title and keys. The bill of sale needs to be signed by both the buyer and the seller and you will each need a copy of it. The title must also be signed and the release of liability form needs to be filled out. You can obtain the release of liability form from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Once you hand over the title and keys, contact your insurance provider and drop that car from your insurance coverage.

Selling Your Car to a Dealer
Some people do not like the hassle of selling their car on their own and instead trade it into a dealer or sell it to a used car dealer. If you want to purchase a new vehicle, it is often easier to trade-in your used car and pay the difference in price for the new car. Trade-ins are beneficial because you typically only have to pay the taxes on the amount of the difference instead of on the asking price. The large disadvantage to a vehicle trade-in is that the dealer will offer you less than what you could make selling the car on your own. Dealers make a good living off vehicle trade-ins. Selling your car to a dealer is a quick way to get rid of your used car. You can offer your used car to different dealers and used car lots and see which place will offer you the most money for the car. Used car lots tend to pick up older cars, put some work into them, and sell them for a good profit. They generally are interested in buying used cars, where dealers only like to purchase used cars for a trade-in.

Leasing a Car or Selling a Car with a Loan
If you have leased your car and you need to get out of the lease early, you may be able to if you can find another person that is willing to take over the lease. Swapalease.com is a great web site where you can advertise your leased car and find someone to take it over.

A lot of people sell their used cars and they still are paying on the original car loan. If you need to sell your car and you have a loan on that car, you will need to contact your lender to make arrangements for the sale. The lender will hold the title of the car and you cannot sell the car until that title has been cleared by the bank. The bank needs to receive the remainder of the balance of the loan before they will release the title.