What to Do Before I Sell My Car Online?

If you have Googled “sell my car online”, the search engine probably showed several places where you can sell your car online directly to the buyer or through a dealership. Whether you want answers on, “how to sell my car online” or “what to do to get the best price when I sell my car online”, the most important thing to do before contacting an online facility to place an ad for direct sales or a dealership facility such as RFS Auto, is preparation of your vehicle for the selling process. Below are a few tips on “how to sell my car online” to get you started.

Pay Attention to The Vehicle’s Condition and Take Pictures

First, if you thought, “I will sell my car online without pictures”, you are wrong. Pictures are the only visual clues for the online buyer. As such, you need to ensure that the vehicle is neat, clean, and in good condition. Then take several pictures to make it as easy as possible for the buyer to see whether the car is in good condition or not.

Clean Sells

Regardless of whether you want to sell your car online directly to the buyer or to RFS Auto, the car must be clean. A dirty vehicle creates a slapdash impression. A vehicle owner that does not care is one that also neglects maintenance on the car. Start by clearing out the interior of the vehicle. Take the car in for a full valet and engine cleaning. Apply dashboard protection and if there are stains on the carpets, have them removed. If you think, “I do not have the time for this before I sell my car online” you will probably get a lower price for the vehicle. If you do not have the time to take the vehicle for a full valet, at the very least clean it at home to the best of your ability.

Get All the Information on The Car’s History

Gather all the receipts for service and maintenance and put them in a file, with the service record. This will make it easier to answer questions. The buyer will want to know how old the vehicle is and whether you are the first owner. Other questions you can expect include:

  • Do you have the service record of the vehicle?
  • Has the car been in any accidents?
  • What is the mileage?
  • What are the service intervals?

Get Licencing Up to Date

If the license is near its expiry date, have it renewed. What is better? Stating, “my car’s licence will expire in two weeks” or “my car’s licence will expire next year?” Buyers want the assurance that the car’s license will still be valid for at least 30 days. If the license already expired, pay the extra fee for late payment and renew it.

Seller Documents Must Be Ready

Paperwork should be in order before you market your car online. It is a selling point. If you have not yet paid off your vehicle, but want to sell your car to pay off the balance, you will appreciate our fast and efficient service. We will handle the paperwork, get the settlement amount from the bank, buy the car, obtain the car’s registration and ownership papers from the bank, pay the bank, do the ownership change, pay the balance to you, and take the vehicle off your name. It is a hassle-free process for you. If you have paid off the vehicle, make sure you have the registration papers, a copy of your ID, and proof of residence.

Repair All Mechanical, Structural, and Electrical Faults

Repair minor dents and scratches, fix any mechanical and electrical problems, and repair chipped windows. Replace worn wiper blades and tyres. Make sure all lights are working. You can bring your vehicle to our service centre for a full service. A vehicle that is in good condition all round will sell at a higher price.

Final Tip

Though you may still think it is easier if “I sell my car online through the classifieds”, the truth is that there are many pitfalls to avoid with direct selling in classifieds. Rather sell your car to RFS Auto and let us handle the paperwork and selling process. In this way, you have the money in your pocket, can go on with your daily business, and buy another vehicle without having to deal with various potential buyers.