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THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SELLING YOUR CAR YOURSELF
American Pride Automotive • Mar 18, 2016
No matter how well our vehicles serve us, there comes a time in every car’s life when it’s time to sell (or salvage). If the car is in sufficiently good condition to sell, vehicle owners have a number of options in front of them–some of which are better than others. Some choose to trade the car in at a dealership while others try to sell it privately with the help of websites like Craigslist and other local listing resources. Selling a car yourself may seem like the easier and more lucrative option, but you may want to think twice and consider other paths.
Private sale of a vehicle requires a lot of work up front on the part of the car owner, but most people assume that the end payoff will be worth it. The challenge is that there are a few extra costs associated with this method–and not all of them actually involve money.
TIME
Between cleaning and detailing the vehicle, taking quality photos, deciding on a reasonable sale price, listing it on multiple sites and classifieds, and taking time out of the week to meet with interested buyers, selling a car yourself is time consuming. You also aren’t guaranteed that all your hard work will pay off (not all buyers are particularly qualified).
REPAIR & MAINTENANCE COSTS
Older cars almost always need some maintenance and repair before they are ready to sell. This means extra investment on your part that may or may not pay for itself after the sale.
SAFETY
Did you know that nationally police stations are now offering “safe zones” for Craigslist-type transactions to take place in order to prevent incidents with dangerous, deceptive people? If you do choose to sell privately, consider bringing along at least one other person to all meetings and doing so in a public place.
So if you don’t want to sell your car yourself, what are your other options?
- Trade in: If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and your existing car is in sufficiently good condition, most dealerships are willing to work out a trade-in deal. One of the downsides to this method is that you are limited to the vehicle selection on the lot.
- Consignment: Perhaps the easiest and most lucrative way to sell your car, selling via consignment involves a dealership giving you cash for your car (no trade-in necessary) and them putting it on the market for you. In this case, once the dealership buys the car from you, you aren’t responsible for repairs or private financial transactions. You just get to walk out with cash.
If you want money for a vehicle in good condition, bring it to any of our three American Pride Automotive locations to request a valuation. Letting us sell your car will save you time, money and peace of mind. American Pride also offers trade-in options if that option is a better fit. You trust us to service your vehicle; we’ll make sure it goes to a good home, too. Learn more about how to sell us your car and get cash in your pocket here.
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You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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