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How to Get Your Used Car Ready for Sale
Want top dollar for your old set of wheels We ve got tips
To get the best price when selling your used car, you'll want to take a few simple steps before starting the process. Adrian Sherratt/Alamy Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Know your numbers
If you’re considering getting rid of a car, and it’s approaching 100,000 miles, it may be time to act, suggests Jennifer Bartusiak from CarMax, which appraises and buys thousands of used cars a month. Even if you’re selling on the private market, that number is a psychological barrier for potential buyers, and that has financial implications, she explains: “After 100,000 miles the value can drastically decrease.” Likewise, cars more than a decade old are more difficult to sell. Bartusiak says, “The cutoff between 10-year-old and 11-year-old vehicles can be substantial in affecting the offer you’ll receive.” Clean matters
Remember the joy of getting behind the wheel of a clean, brand-new car? You want to re-create that experience for your buyer. If you can afford it, consider getting the car professionally detailed. At minimum, tidy things up. Not only does that require clearing out fast-food wrappers, but also vacuuming, washing and waxing. Make sure to polish windows and mirrors, and invest in a spray bottle of Armor All to spruce up your dashboard. Also, look under the hood. While you don’t want to power wash the engine bay, which can damage components, you should remove debris and wipe away grime. Some repairs are worth doing
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Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For New Cars Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For Used Cars Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > Beyond that, other repairs can make sense. Body shops can often remove minor dings at a reasonable cost. Missing or damaged hubcaps also can be replaced inexpensively online, and using carefully matched touch-up paint on minor scrapes can do wonders. Above all, be honest with your potential buyer about the car’s condition. While private sales are typically “as is,” the last thing you want is to have an unhappy buyer claiming you misled them. In most states you are at least obligated to tell the buyer if the car has been salvaged, rebuilt or damaged in a flood. (Keep in mind that a buyer can learn much of your car’s background by purchasing a car history report online.) Consider small upgrades
A few minor upgrades — most under $20 — can make a big difference, says J.R. Duren, a personal finance expert at HighYa.com. Dirty or worn-out car mats are inexpensive to replace. Likewise, invest in new seat or steering wheel covers if yours are stained, faded or cracked. “You'd be surprised how many little things you can get done when $20 is the max spend on each upgrade,” Duren says. Keep your paperwork handy
Vehicle condition aside, a car's sale price may depend on your record-keeping. Most important, have the title in hand. If you financed and paid off the car, have the lien release available as well. Also, read the title carefully before you sign it over to the buyer. Every state’s procedures are slightly different, and if you make a mistake, it may require additional forms to correct it. If you have them, bring receipts and detailed records of all oil changes and maintenance work, which can put a buyer’s fears to rest — and boost your selling price. And if you’ve been in any accidents, or have had extensive work done on the vehicle, have those records available too. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS