Preparing Your Car for Sale: A Step-by-Step Checklist

People usually talk about the complexity of buying a used car and what you should be looking out for. However, there are a lot of things to consider when you are selling your vehicle as well. Let’s go through the need to know about preparing your car for sale. We'll cover the steps required, and additional things you might need to take care of. 

Step-by-step Process of Selling a Used Car

1. Conducting Market Research on Existing Models on Sale

Conducting market research is a good starting point to figure out what your car may be worth. Explore online classifieds, used car marketplaces, social media, and other sources like local dealerships to get an idea of the ideal price for your car. 

Factors like the model year, kilometres clocked, accidental history and fuel type can govern the cost of your vehicle. Once you do the research, you can decide on a price that you would like to quote for your car.

2. Preparing Your Car for the Sale

A great way to make your car have more appeal to a buyer is to have it in top notch shape for the sale. This includes thorough cleaning if the car has not been used for sometime . It also includes a basic service to ensure that all fluids inside the car are at optimal levels and there are no faulty parts. In case you notice a broken or missing part like a wheel cover, mirror or wiper, you should replace it. It might cost you a little to get it in good shape but it will help increase the value of the car while negotiating with the buyer.

3. Ensuring all Essential Documents are in Place

An extension of preparing your car is ensuring that all the paperwork is in place. This means checking on things like your vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC), insurance and fitness certificate (PUC). If you own an electric vehicle, the last one is not required. In case you find out that the insurance or PUC has expired, you must get them renewed before initiating the transaction. A car with proper documentation tends to attract more potential buyers and can increase the change of a sale.

Documents Required for Selling a Second-hand Car:

4. Connecting with  Buyers Through Different Channels

Once your vehicle is fully prepped, it is time to spread the word about it being available for sale.. There are many ways in which you can reach out to people. You can start with the good old approach of getting contacts through word of mouth. This can be a slower approach and depends on how large your network is. This method is also only effective if someone happens to be in need of a pre-owned car. An advantage of this approach is that you may be able to fetch a higher price since you will eliminate the need for a middleman. Social media is a great tool to spread the word about your vehicle and grab more eyes. You can even create an online classified ad and list your vehicle details and price for leads. The other route is getting in touch with a local dealer to put your car in the used car market. While the dealer might have a wider network and would assist you with the transaction, you might get a lower selling price compared to a direct deal. You can also list your vehicle on online marketplaces like CARS24 to get wider visibility. It also simplifies a lot of the processes and offers a hassle free experience. .

5. Comparing Prices from Different Offers

Once your car gains visibility in the market, you will start receiving offers from various platforms/mediums that you leverage. Compare the different offers you get, keeping in mind additional costs that might have to be incurred, such as ownership transfer costs. Offers that seem too good to be true might come from fraudulent people or scammers, so being vigilant is a must. Such people may try to arrange for a test drive at a secluded location, and use the high offer price to lure you there. Do not fall victim to such people, and always meet in a public place.

A great pain when selling your car to someone is ensuring that the RC is transferred. You can eliminate this hurdle, plus make your overall selling journey hassle-free, by choosing CARS24 to sell your car. CARS24 will ensure that the ownership transfer occurs, and will also assist you with other documentation related processes.

6. Meeting the buyer

People who are interested in buying your car will want to see and experience it in person. This will require you to drive your car to multiple people and let them examine it. It also entails letting the test drive the car to get a feel for it. This step will also involve you answering any questions that the prospects may have about the car, and negotiations on the price as well.

Finalising the Sale

Once you have the final offers from a few people. It is time to decide who the new owner of your car will be. This decision goes just beyond price, and will involve factors such as the residence of the new owner. If the buyer is from the same city, it will be easier to keep track of the RC transfer, and the new owner can be reached easily in case the process is not carried out. On the other hand, if the buyer is from out of town, it will become much more difficult to ensure the RC transfer takes place.

Apart from this, the necessary forms and documents must be prepared, both at the seller and the buyer’s end. This is an essential step and must be carried out with caution, as any misses can lead to delays in the transfer process at the respective RTOs. Some buyers may be reluctant to provide personal details. Details such as buyer’s attested residence and identity proof must be collected, along with the sale note, to ensure all documents are in place. This will help you avert any legal proceedings in case the car is involved in a serious accident, or any illegal activity.

How can CARS24 help?

With data from over 6 lakh + transactions since our inception, and consistent development with customer feedback, CARS24 has streamlined the car selling journey. Now, you can sell your used car from the comfort of your home, with car evaluation, to payment transfer, all conducted within the same day. Our AI pricing engine takes into account real time market data, along with other parameters of your vehicle, such as mileage, age, make and model, to offer the best possible price.

Additionally, when you sell your used car to CARS24, you eliminate the hassles of documentation and paperwork as well. Our team of experts will take care of all RTO related paperwork on your behalf, so you can rest assured your car will be transferred to the new owner for sure.

Conclusion

Selling your used car may seem like a hassle, but by following the right steps, and taking the necessary precautions, it can be quite straightforward. From preparing your vehicle for sale, through activities such as cleaning, and servicing, you may be able to get a great price for your car. It is always a good idea to be vigilant when selling your car, and only arrange for meets in public and well lit areas.

To eliminate the hassles involved with selling a used car, consider selling your car to CARS24, where you can get a great price, doorstep services, instant payments, and RC transfer services.