Do you want to trade your vehicle in to get that sweet new vehicle? Maybe you want to sell your car instead of trading it in, but you do not know how to get the best appraisal for your car.
Well, you are not alone and auto dealerships even though they do not say it openly appraise the vehicle on how it looks. So the question comes to mind, how much more does a clean car sell for compared to a dirty one?
After researching this for hours and going into some local dealerships to ask them, this is what I found. Yes, the cleanliness of your vehicle does affect the appraisal amount.
A clean car will sell for 2% to 4% higher than a dirty car. Auto dealerships use a few different methods to come to their final appraisal of your vehicle. So let’s dig in deeper to this and see how you can maximize your estimate on your vehicle!
What source do auto dealerships use to quote vehicles?
Auto dealerships use multiple methods to come to their final appraisal decision. You need to know what they are looking at, so you have a competitive edge when getting your vehicle appraised.
I walked into three different dealerships in Virginia, and all of them told me this is the way they assess a vehicle. So let’s see how these dealerships are appraising cars so you can maximize your profits!
First, the dealership will look at your vehicle to see what condition it is in, both mechanically and in appearance. An automotive dealership will then use the Kelly Blue Book, the Kelly Black Book, and the NADA book to get an appraisal value.
After checking that the dealership will then check the local automotive market to see what that vehicle is selling for locally. After gathering all of these numbers, the dealership will then offer you a price for your vehicle. Do not think you will get a fair market value as if you were selling the vehicle yourself.
The dealership will offer you a price for your vehicle that they know they will make a substantial profit off of the sale. Did you know that an automotive dealership makes most of its profit off of it’s used vehicle stock over the new vehicle stock?
Due to the price of more modern vehicles, the dealership does not have much wiggle room on the price. But on a used car, the dealership can adjust the price upward to increase profits or downward to increase sale potential.
What should I do to increase the appraisal of my vehicle?
So you want to get the most you can from the car appraisal. Doing this is simple, but it will take a little of your time. A well maintained and clean vehicle is the right path to getting the highest appraisal possible.
Doing your research on your car is going to increase your appraisal amount as well. I say this because it is a business deal and the dealership is going to
low ball you at first. But if you know how much your vehicle is worth, then their lowball tactic is not going to work.
When I say a well-maintained vehicle, I mean that you do not have the engine light on and there are no maintenance issues with the vehicle. The auto dealership is looking to do the least amount of work possible so they can flip the car out of their inventory quickly to make a profit.
So to do this, they do not want to spend any time on the vehicle. So the cleaner the car and the better it runs, the better it is for you and your appraisal amount.
What are some ways to sell my vehicle if I do not want to trade or sell to a dealership?
There are multiple ways to sell your vehicle. Craigslist is always a favorite, but they have started to charge for postings to sell items. Let go and Offerup are two great options.
But the one in particular that I have seen success on and a wide array of choices is Facebook Marketplace. Facebook does not charge for any postings, and the audience is massive! It is still a good idea to do your homework before posting a sale.
Staying in the ballpark of a fair price will increase your chances of selling your item. Lastly, make sure you post great pictures and multiple pictures of your item. Interested buyers want to see the item and various angles of it.
In Conclusion
There are multiple ways how to sell a vehicle. The key is to know where you can put your car in front of an interested audience to increase the chance of you selling the car. I hope you enjoyed my article! Check out my Youtube channel and subscribe for more DIY Auto repair and flipping cars for profit videos! Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy my next piece!
