How to Sell a Car at a Dealership

If you’re ready to part with your old car, learning how to sell a car at a dealership is a great option. Not only can you gain some cash in the process, but you can also use that money toward a brand new car if you choose. Answer the question, “How does selling your car to a dealership work?” with Serra Mazda, and begin the process at Akron today!

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work? 

While you can just bring your car directly to the dealership to sell, a little prep work can go a long way toward maximizing your returns. Here are some of the steps we recommend you take before driving up from North Canton or Canton:

• Clean Up Your Car: Whether you get a full detail or just a DIY car wash, a good scrub can make your car shine at the dealership. Replacing any small parts like floor mats or wipers can also help. 
• Write Down the Benefits Of Your Car: Do you have a detailed history of the maintenance record of your vehicle? Does your car have any special features or accessories? These extras can increase the value of your vehicle and make it more appealing to dealerships. 
• Have Your Car’s Title on Hand: A car title is necessary to complete your sale, so it’s a good idea to have it on hand when you drop by. This will speed up the process tremendously. 
• Research Your Car’s Value: Get a free estimate of your car’s value to use during the negotiation process. You can try tools from Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, or our value your trade resource.
• Pick Your Dealership Wisely: Newer, gently used vehicles are easy to sell in Hudson. But if you have an older model, you might try a used car dealership since they specialize in these vehicles.

What Can You Expect During Appraisal?

You know how to prepare your car, now find out how to sell a car at a dealership:

• Make an Appointment: You can walk into the dealership when the mood strikes, but for the best results, we recommend making an appointment to ensure that all the paperwork is ready to go.
• Used Car Manager: You’ll meet with either a Used Car Manager or a salesperson to handle the sale. They will gather basic information and complete a vehicle history report on your car. 
• Inspection: Either the Used Car Manager or service center technicians will go through the inspection process to assess the quality and mechanical condition. 
• Consider the Offer: At this point, you’ll get a firm offer that you can accept or reject. You can also use your research at this point to negotiate.

What are the Benefits of Selling Your Car?

You can sell your car on the private market or sell to a dealership, but there are many unique advantages of choosing a dealership. Here are just a few:

• Save Time & Avoid Hassles: When you sell on the private market, you have to take all the responsibilities: posting ads, meeting customers, scheduling test drives, and dealing with no-shows. When you choose a dealership instead, you can avoid all of that hassle.
• Lower Your New Car Price: If you’re trying to upgrade to a new car, trading in your car at the dealership allows you to immediately place those funds toward your next vehicle. This helps to reduce the price of your purchase and bring down monthly payments.
• Save on Your Taxes: When you upgrade your car, you’ll only pay the sales tax on the difference between the trade-in value and the cost of your new car. This means you can save even more.

Start the Trade-In Process at Serra Mazda

Whether you want to sell or trade-in your current vehicle, Serra Mazda is happy to help in Akron. Contact us with any questions and stop by our dealership to get the ball rolling.