How to Prepare Your Car for Sale

If you are ready to sell your car, either to a dealer or as a private seller, you want to maximize your profits. The best way to do this is spend a little time, money and elbow grease to get your car looking the best it can for its next owner.

Exterior Wash

You don't need to do a complete detail, but cleaning up your car is the very first thing you need to do. Simply washing your car is a good start.

This means doing a really good cleaning, including getting the disc brake dust off your alloy wheels. Use a degreaser in places that need it and a tar-remover spray to get highway junk off from your grill or hood.

Waxing is always a nice touch, and adds that extra shine to the car. If you do have a little money to spend, consider taking it to your local shop or detailer for extra special attention. A clean car not only looks better, but it also leads the buyer to believe that you have taken good care of your vehicle, including regular maintenance. This will boost your selling price considerably.

Interior Cleaning

The exterior offers up a first impression, but the interior makes the sale. Buyers get behind the wheel to see if they can picture themselves as owners of your car.

Remove all the trash from inside, clean the ashtrays and double check spots like cup holders and door pockets. Complete a thorough vacuuming, including removing the floor mats. (If your floor mats are in bad shape, you can pick new ones up for $20 at your local retailer, adding hundreds of dollars in value).

Wipe down surfaces that get a lot of use like cup holders, steering wheel, and dash. Clean the windows with vinegar or a commercial product-no one likes seeing fingerprints or grime on the car they are about to purchase.

If you have an odor in your car-like smoke or spilled milk -get a pound of fresh coffee and leave it in an open container in your car for 5-7 days. The coffee will absorb the odor without the obnoxious residual smell of air fresheners.

Lastly, clean out your trunk and glove compartment of all your personal belongings. Just transfer everything into a box for your next vehicle. If you get a sudden offer, you want to be ready to hand over the keys immediately!

Body Work

While there is nothing wrong with minor scratches and door dings, you should consider getting major work done if needed. There are great paintless dent repair vendors who can do wonders for a small price. Another investment you should make is repairing any chips or cracks in the windshield.

Engine Fluids

Check all the fluids and top off if necessary, including oil, transmission fluid, radiator coolant, brake fluid, and the windshield-washer fluid. If you aren't sure how to check or replace these fluids, take your car to the nearest auto shop or oil change retailer.