If you have a used car that you no longer need, consider selling it. Selling it to a private individual can be quite a hassle though. You have to post it as being for sale, field all of the calls and emails that you get, and then meet with people to test drive the vehicle. If you have a busy life, this may not be an option. You can, however, sell your used car to a dealership to make the process quick and easy. The following guide walks you what to expect when you sell your used car to a dealership. 

The Look of the Car Matters

You want to be sure to take the time to clean the car from top to bottom, inside and out to ensure that it looks as great as it possibly can. The mechanics at the dealership will look over the car with a fine toothed comb to ensure that the interior and exterior have as little damage to them as possible. The better condition the car is in cosmetically, the more the dealership will offer you for it.

Ensure Everything Is Working Well

If there are minor issues with the car, such as a headlight being out or the windshield wipers needing to be replaced, wrong with the car, consider fixing them before taking the car in to be sold. If there are major issues, such as the air conditioning not working, do not spend money to have those issues repaired because the dealership will repair them on their own and they would more than likely cost more to fix than it would be worth in the end. The dealership will offer you less for the car if there are repairs that need to be made, but you do not want to go through the cost or effort required to make major repairs to the car, if it is only going to bump the value of the car up by a few hundred dollars.

You Need to Own the Car to Sell It

You need to own the car free and clear if you are going to sell it to the dealership. You will need to have the title for the car in your hands when you go to the dealership. If you were trading the car in and buying a new car, you would not need to own the car to trade it in because your old loan amount could be tacked onto the new car purchase.

When you sell your car to the dealership, it is a final sale. You cannot change your mind and go back to get the car a few days later. Be sure that you really want to sell the car before you take it to the dealership. They will give you an offer on the vehicle that you can choose to accept or deny, but if you accept it, you will not be able to change your mind later on down the road.