No matter how attached you might be to your current car, there comes a time in every car owner’s life when an upgrade is required. Regardless of which method you use to sell your vehicle (i.e. private sale, selling online, through a dealership, etc), there are some simple steps you should take to help ensure you get the best possible price for your old car.

Ensure the car is clean and tidy

At the bare minimum, you should at least remove any rubbish from your car – however, you should also thoroughly clean the seats, floors, handles, gauges, etc. It’s a good idea too to give the exterior a full clean and possibly look at using wax or polishservices. Little touches can make all the difference and, ideally, you’ll want prospective buyers to experience that same feeling you got when buying the car new. Air fresheners are also a good idea - as is taking time to clean muck and grime from components under the hood.

Keep an eye on all-important numbers

Sometimes selling a car is an essential requirement (e.g., if your family conditions change), but often car owners will sit for a while deliberating whether or not to sell. While this normally doesn’t prove to be a major problem, delaying can sometimes have a major effect on the price you can achieve for your car. For example, if your vehicle is nearing 100k miles, you should offload it as soon as possible. It may just be psychological, but crossing from 99k to over 100k could put a significant barrier in the minds of potential buyers and might see you losing out financially.

Think about smaller upgrades

You’re selling, so you should obviously avoid investing in expensive upgrades - but small details can add value and give you a higher Return on Investment (ROI). Even small things like adding a phone holder can make your car feel better equipped.

For more ideas, check online and look for model-specific upgrades that don’t break the bank. For example, if you’re selling a Toyota SUV, these lights for your 4runner could make all the difference when you come to selling and add extra functions to a car.

Repair dents, scratches, bumps, etc

In line with the point above, ultimately, you’re selling the car, so there’s little point in spending loads of money on repairs. However, that said, some repair work will add value to a car’s end value, so you should think about having smaller jobs done. For example, small dents or scratches never look good and will detract from the overall look of your car - plus will be seen by a potential owner as something they’ll need to pay to have fixed.

A worn, unkempt or damaged car can also give a signal to a buyer that the vehicle hasn’t been looked after well - another warning sign that will ultimately lead them to reduce their offer. Take a look around your car at any problem areas and get a quote to evaluate if the work required is likely to positively impact the chances of selling at a good price.