Selling a used car is never really that much fun. The typical car owner's strategy is to slap a sign in the car's window, run a few classifieds and cross their fingers. However, with all of the options available to car sellers today, this is a really a poor approach, and it becomes less likely you will sell your car, at least for the price you want to sell it for, if you do not employ the resources available to you. Today there are several strategies that you can take that will help increase the odds that your car will sell quickly and you will receive the best price possible. The following are some do's and don'ts on how to sell your car-

• Don't trade your car in at the dealership. With the incumbent stress of trying to sell your car many people will simply give up and trade their car in at a dealership. Doing so is high on the convenience scale, although it is important to understand that this can come at a steep cost. Statistics show that consumers will typically walk away from $500 to $1,500 (depending on the model) by trading the car in. Even if it takes a month longer to sell the car, that time can be well worth the increase in what you will get for the car. Dealers will turn around and sell your car for and make a profit, why not do some of that work, and enjoy some of the reward. If you have to get a new car right away, and feel you have no other option, consider discounting the price on your car for a week or so and see if you get any takers. Sometimes if you meet in the middle of what you want for the car, and what the dealership will give you, you can sell more quickly, and still make out better than you would by trading it in.
• Do move your listing online. This can improve the odds of selling your car considerably when compared to doing it alone. The internet is a resource and tool that should never be ignored, especially when there are plenty of ways to advertise for free online, and reach far more potential buyers than you can in any other method. When you move your listing online you are allowing the millions of potential buyers who are trolling auto web sites looking for a used car to see your car. Studies show that up to 61% of people who are buying used cars and trucks surf the web during the shopping process. If you want to sell your car quickly and for a good price this may be the best way to do it. Most online sites will post your listing free or for a small fee increasing the visibility of your car dramatically. This may mean that for free you get an ad, but for a fee of like $15 you can get a color photo, etc. So, look at the options available to you, and determine where to spend money and where not to. Post on as many free sites as you can, and pay to increase your listing visibility on the site that are most likely to get you a buyer, meaning those with the highest traffic, or those that appeal to locals. If you are in California, and someone in New York can see your car, that is great, but there is a higher chance of someone from California buying it, so spend your money wisely, but do not be afraid to spend a little.

• Do clean up your car. Even if you are selling your car online the same rules apply. If your car seats are covered with stains you have a burned out headlight and some minor nicks and dents fix them up before selling your car. Car buying is fairly emotional. Once someone gets beyond the specific qualifications they need in car, such as the number of seats, the rest is an emotional purchase based on features like color, cup holders, and window tinting. If you want someone to pick your car over another car, you need to make yours as emotionally appealing as possible. The cleaner it looks, the newer it looks, and the better it smells, the more likely it is to sell. So, clean it out on your own, and get any minor repairs taken care of. Once that is done, take a more serious approach, and take the time to get your car cleaned, fixed and detailed by a professional. The better it looks, the better price you can get, and the more attention the car will get, generating a buyer for you faster.
• Be upfront about the car. People want to know what is wrong with a car. If you are going to sell your car online, it is essential that you are totally honest about the condition of your car. Keep in mind that filthy and broken down are features that will not command top dollar. However, telling someone the car is like new, and then having them come out for a test drive only to find it reeks of cigarette smoke, and the "check engine" light is on, will make them not only disinterested, but upset. So, be honest about the car, that way if they come and test drive it, and take it to a mechanic friend, and he or she finds something wrong with it, they won't feel like you tried to sell them a lemon, rather they will feel far more comfortable with the purchase because they will see you were upfront with them about the problem, which means it probably does not have other problems.

•     Do gather up your service records.  You will want to have your paperwork handy that details oil changes, tune-ups and repairs.  In addition you may want to run a vehicle history report from an online service so you can be prepared to hand the information over to your potential buyer.  Failure to have this information on hand can result in your potential buyer moving on to someone who does. However, having it on hand gives the potential buyer a feeling of security when purchasing your vehicle because they can see at a glance how well it was taken care of or not, and what things have been repaired on it. A smart consumer is going to want to know this stuff, and if you make it easy for them, they will be more likely to consider your car for purchase.
  
      Don't neglect, or walk away from the traditional methods of selling a car.  While there is great potential for selling your car online it never hurts to place a sign in the window of your car and run some classified ads.  Selling your car is a numbers game-the more people who know you are trying to sell your car increases the possibility that you find someone who is looking for a car exactly like yours. Telling friends, family and neighbors to help spread the word can also help find the person you want to sell your car to.  So, spend the dollar it takes to buy a for sale sign for the window of your car, and make sure you write your phone number, and pertinent information large enough for people driving behind you, or past the car to read. If they can't make out the numbers on the car sign, they will move on. There are other cars for sale, and your car won't warrant too much extra effort. So, make it as effortless as possible to get the information they want to see.
  
      Don't become overly emotional about your car.  While you may have fond memories of where your car has taken you or perhaps this is your first car it is important to keep in mind that someone else won't feel the same way.  While you may feel that your beloved car commands top dollar it is important to be realistic.  Doing online research at car buying sites can help you set a realistic price that makes it much easier to sell your car.  Be aware of who your potential target market is.  Knowing your vehicle and who would be the most likely to buy such a car is imperative to the successful sale of your vehicle. Take the time to do the research. This way you can go for the right market, but in addition you can know what concerns people have about specific makes and models, and be prepared with answers for their questions. For example, if a Dodge Grand Caravan has a history of needing transmission replacement at 84,000 miles, and your van has 86,000, you can let potential buyers know that you had the transmission flushed, and checked out and it is just fine. Of course you will want to provide proof of this, but anyway you can dispel potential buyer's fears, the better.