Ready to Sell Your Car?

Time Commitment

First, think about how much time you want to dedicate to selling your car. TrueCar lets you get a True Cash Offer for your car in minutes. Answer a few questions to get an offer on the spot. From there, you can take your offer to a Certified Dealer to cash out. Just looking for an estimate? Entering your car’s make and model will generate a price range, so you know what to expect when you decide to sell.

Determining Value

The condition of your vehicle, plus specific information about trim and modifications, will help you determine its value.

First, let’s assess your car’s condition.

• Does it have dents and scrapes?
• Is the interior worn?
• Are the tires and brakes in good condition?
• Has it been in an accident?
• Is there any rust?

This list is not exhaustive, but it should give you an idea of the types of items you’ll want to look at to assess the condition properly. Next, let’s get into some of your car’s specifics.

• What is the trim?
• Does it have a sunroof or touch screen infotainment system?
• Did you make after-factory modifications?

Improving Value

Wondering how you can get more money for your vehicle? Try improving your car’s appearance. Not only is the car’s exterior appearance the first thing potential buyers will see, it also sets the tone for how well you’ve taken care of your vehicle overall, implying that the vehicle’s maintenance will also be up to date. On the inside, make sure you treat the leather/interior to help it look new, and fix scratches and cracks.

While regular service checks may not boost the value of your vehicle, they will help prevent your car from accelerated depreciation. You can buy a service plan through your dealer when you purchase a vehicle, and in some cases, you can spread out these costs over the life of your loan. If this helps motivate you to get your car in for service, it can be a good investment.

Dealership versus Private Sale

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to sell your car to a dealer or a private party:

Ownership - Do you own your car outright? If not, what do you owe? Are you leasing? If you owe, you’ll likely need to pay off the balance before selling it to a private party. If you sell it to a dealership, you can let them handle the paperwork instead.

Time - Selling to a private party will invariably take more time. You’ll have to spruce up your ride, take some pictures, find places to post ads, and then go through the process of meeting buyers. Selling your car to a dealership typically means much less hassle.

Price - If your car has good trade-in value (a model that’s in demand, has low mileage, or is in good condition) and you have the time and patience to handle buyers, selling to a private party might be the way to go. If you have a car of lesser value and don’t want the hassle, you may want to simply sell it to a dealer and be done with it.

Gather the Paperwork

Again, if you’re selling to a private party, make sure you have the right paperwork. Here are some items you may need:

• Vehicle Registration
• Warranty information
• Bill of sale

To understand which forms you’ll need to complete a car sale in your state, check with your nearest DMV, or contact AAA if you’re a member. Also, it’s a good idea to have your maintenance records on hand, in case you need to refer to them.

How to Sell a Car?

Did you know you can sell your vehicle from the comfort of your own home? Did you know TrueCar has a Nationwide network of dealers ready to purchase your vehicle?

How easy is it?

1. Provide us your vehicle details
2. Complete a self-guided at home inspection (using your cell phone)
3. Wait for validation of your offer
4. Complete transfer of ownership documents remotely (using your cell phone)
5. Tell us what day to pick your vehicle up
6. Get paid!

How long does it take?

In most cases, 3 business days start to finish.

What do I do next?

Tell your friends and family how easy TrueCar made the selling process.