Preparing a Used Car for Sale
Get the most for your trade-in or used car sale

Selling checklist
The first thing you need to decide is how much your car is worth and how much you wish to sell it for. Check out the current market value of your car at online used Car Guides, such as: Edmunds.com, or Kelly’s Blue Book, (kbb.com).

Appearance and condition
Looks are always important and normally it’s the first thing a buyer will notice. Give your car a good cleaning, both inside and out. You may even want to give the engine a good clean with a degreaser too. Replace the oil, all other fluids, and check the tire pressure.

Records
Gather all maintenance records, the owner's manual, registration and title documents together. What if my car is not paid off yet? You can still sell it, but you'll need to talk to your lender first to see what your options are.

Buyer and seller agreement
Once you have concluded a deal with the buyer, be firm about only accepting cash or a certified check. You should write an agreement for both yourself and the buyer, remember to include vehicle make, model and year, names, addresses and phone numbers of buyer and seller, the vehicle's selling price that was agreed to, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and also include a statement that the vehicle is being sold as is. Finally, have both parties sign the agreement.