Selling Your Car First

Trading in a vehicle at the dealership is often the easiest way to handle things. Who wants to go through the process of listing vehicles online or in the newspaper, showing it to complete strangers, etc.?

Those who want to save an extra $1000-$3000 or more are the people who go through that trouble.

The concept is simple. If a vehicle is worth $10,000 during a retail transaction, it stands to reason that a dealership is going to want to buy it for less. Whether they are buying it outright or taking it in as a trade-in, they are still "purchasing" the vehicle for some amount and they intend to make money off the sale of that vehicle.

An individual who really wants to get the best deal possible on their next vehicle buying trip should plan ahead and sell theirs first. It is risky, as the true way to do it is to park a vehicle somewhere where it won't be driven and can easily be sold and either borrow/share/rent another vehicle or get rides everywhere. Is it a pain? Probably. Is it worth it? Most likely.

For those willing, here's what to do. First, get it cleaned and parked somewhere with a sign in it. Get it listed on Craigslist at the least and on one of the paid automotive classified sites (autotrader, cars, etc). The newspaper helps, but isn't necessary.

Be ready to buy a car quickly. If it's new, this is easy. If you plan on buying used, be prepared to absorb the rental fees or be a bother to someone else who is loaning you a vehicle or driving you around. There is no point in rushing into a used car deal if it isn't the right one for you, so don't get trapped into needing a used car immediately.

Websites like Bertera Auto Group and Car Dealers give excellent resources on how to sell a car.

Sell it for more than the dealer will give you but less than they would sell it for. Whatever they were going to give you, add $1,000 to $3,000 to that total, depending on the overall value. That is how much you need to sell it for. As you can see, you come out on top if you have cash down instead of a trade-in.

Car Buying Guide

Gas is High: Time to Buy an SUV

Gas prices are leveling across the country. Sounds good, but in reality, it's a bad sign for the future. Gas trends pointed to higher prices this summer. So far, they have been hovering around the same level. It means we're in for harder times and higher prices this fall and winter.

It also means that now is the best time to buy an SUV, truck, big car, or anything known as a gas guzzler. Sounds crazy, right? It's not.

1) As gas prices rise, standard SUV prices fall. This trend doesn't seem to effect the luxury SUV line, as this MSNBC article shows. Small SUVs don't get hurt either. But if you're looking at an Explorer, Pilot, or other mid-sized or larger SUV, the prices are at their lowest and probably will be for a little while.

2) When winter approaches, consumers in many areas where snow and ice are possible will take their chances with the gas and take on the safety of a 4-wheel- or all-wheel-drive. Prices will go back up a bit then.

3) They don't get 9 miles per gallon, as many people think. An average 15K miles per year, 55% highway miles driver can expect to pay about $10 less per month for every average mile per gallon they improve. So, the difference between a Nissan Pathfinder and a Volkswagen Passat is about $600 per year in gas. It sounds like a lot, but so many people pay $2500 or more extra to get into a hybrid.

This post by no means indicates that I support purchasing an SUV. They are not "environmentally responsible" for someone without a need. But for those nice, big families in snowy states, it's okay to make the switch, and now is the time. They can go to those who brought this article to you, Washington DC Honda, Auto Loan Shreveport, and Minneapolis Used Toyota.

If you're not in that area, any old car dealer will have to do.

Car Buying Tips