How to Sell a Car at a Dealership

There are many dealerships in San Jose that will purchase your current vehicle through a buyback program, or when you trade in your current car to buy a new vehicle. Why should you consider selling your car? Well, selling your vehicle allows you to save money on your next automobile purchase, or to pocket the payout without buying another vehicle. If you’re wondering, “how does selling your car to a dealership work?” the finance experts at Capitol Acura are here to help! Keep reading to learn how to sell a car at a dealership.

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work?

While selling your car to a San Jose or Santa Clara dealership may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually quite a simple process. Here’s how you can prepare your car for appraisal:

• Clean Up Your Vehicle: Taking the time to wash your car, have it detailed, and replace small parts like windshield wipers or floor mats is a great way to increase your vehicle’s value. 
• Make Note of Your Car’s Benefits: Be sure to have a detailed history of your car’s maintenance record, a list of its most desirable features, and a list of its accessories like extra key fobs or bike mounts. Not only will this help increase the value of your vehicle, but it will also make it more appealing to dealers.
• Bring the Vehicle’s Title: Having your vehicle’s title on hand when it’s time to sell it will save time on the dealership’s end and get you your offer faster.
• Find Out How Much the Car is Worth: Use tools from Cars.com or Kelley Blue Book to find the trade-in value of your car. Knowing this number can help if you’d like to negotiate your price or get an approximate value for what the dealer is willing to pay for your car.
• Find a Dealership to Work With: If your vehicle is newer and gently used, most Milpitas dealerships will purchase it regardless of their inventory or of the car’s initial condition. On the other hand, if you drive an older vehicle, you may have an easier time selling it at a used car dealership instead.

What to Expect When Selling Your Car at a Dealership

Once your car is ready for sale, the process will go as follows:

• Schedule an Appointment: It’s best to make an appointment so the dealership knows to expect you and can have the proper paperwork ready. 
• Meet With Used Car Manager: Most dealerships will have you speak with a Used Car Manager or a salesperson to handle the sale. They will collect all of your information, then run a vehicle history report on your car.
• An Inspection Will be Conducted: The Used Car Manager may inspect your car, or they’ll take it to their service center for an inspection of its overall condition.
• Accept or Negotiate the Offer: When you receive the offer, you can accept it or negotiate for a better price.

Can I Sell My Car Without the Title In-Hand?

If you’ve misplaced your vehicle’s title, you’re likely wondering, “Do you need a title to sell a car?” In short, yes you need the title in order to sell a vehicle because, in most states, it’s illegal to do otherwise. However, there are different ways to obtain a new title that include:

• Visiting your local DMV to inquire about title replacement fees.
• Writing up a bill of sale since some states no longer issue titles. Instead, the bill of sale will act as your proof of ownership.
• Notarizing the bill of sale so that a state official witness can verify the transaction.

What Are the Benefits of Selling Your Car at a Dealership vs. Selling it Privately?

Now that you know how to sell a car at a dealership, why should you? If you’ve been debating whether to work with a car dealership vs. a private owner when selling your vehicle, collaborating with a dealership is much more time-efficient and streamlined. When you try to sell your car privately, you’re the one responsible for meeting with potential buyers, dealing with hagglers, handling all of the necessary paperwork, and it can take quite a long time to finalize the purchase.

Here are some of the benefits that you can enjoy when selling your vehicle to a dealership rather than selling it privately:

• Less Time Consuming: When you sell with a dealership vs. private owner, the dealer handles all of the paperwork and details so you don’t have to.
• Decreases the Price of Your New Car: Trading in your old car allows you to put its value towards the new car and offset the cost.
• Saves on Your Taxes: When you trade in your current car and purchase another vehicle from Capitol Acura, you only pay sales tax on the difference between the trade-in value and the cost of your new car. 

Capitol Acura Wants to Buy Your Car Today!

As you can see, trading in or selling your car to a San Jose-area dealer is a great way to save on your next vehicle purchase or take home some extra cash. Contact us at (855) 738-4868 if you’re interested in selling us your car. Then, be sure to browse more of our car buying tips to gain even more knowledge about the buying process!