Archive for the ‘How to Sell Your Car’ Category

Selling your Car Privately? Be Careful!

May 1st, 2008 by Buddy Evans

So you’re interested in selling your car privately. After all, you can probably make more money selling privately than you would by simply trading the car in on your next new car. But before you list your car for sale in local newspapers, on local car sites, or on an auction site like eBay, there are safety issues to consider. After all, you’ll be meeting with potential buyers who are also complete strangers.
Follow these tips to ensure your safety when attempting to sell your car privately. Before you go through all the trouble, bring your used car in for a fast and free quote from a reputable used car buyer like my team at Big Bucks Auto™. You may find that you can skip all the hassle associated with selling privately, because we pay top dollar for used cars!
If you’re interested in selling your leased car, read our article on “Getting Out of a Leased Car“.
If you would still rather sell privately, follow these simple precautions – and be safe!

Find out how much you can sell your car for

To learn about how to accurately value your car and pick an asking price, check out our article “Why Kelly Blue Book Values Can be Misleading”.

Ask to see the car buyer’s license

This may sound like a no-brainer, but most car sellers don’t practice this when meeting with potential buyers. Ask to see a valid driver’s license! If you ask to see a license and then make copies of the license, you’ll be able to cover yourself should a car accident occur. You’ll also be assured that a legal – and hopefully skilled driver – is test driving your car.

Meet in a safe public place

Rather than asking the car buyer to come to your residence, meet in a public place. It is best to not let total strangers know where you live. Also, don’t give out too much of your private information. The car buyer does not need to know your address or any private info at this stage.

Be careful about allowing test drives

Chances are a serious potential car buyer will want to test drive your car before making a decision. But be careful about who you hand over the car keys to. Young drivers who may not yet be especially skilled at driving may not be the best people to let behind the wheel of your car. In this case, ask the buyer to bring an adult or parent to test the car.
Also, if your car has a manual transmission, make sure you trust that the buyer who will be test driving your car is fully skilled at driving a manual. The last thing you want to do is cringe at the smell of your burning clutch as your potential buyer destroys it.

Watch out for “tire kickers” and “test pilots”

Some people love test driving cars just for the heck of it, while having no real intention of purchasing your car. Keep an eye out for “car buyers” who fit this profile. If your car happens to be a sports car, be especially wary. Sporty cars tend to attract a ton of “test pilots” who are simply interested in a free thrill ride.

Keep an eye out for scam attempts

When you post your car for sale privately – especially online – you’re asking for attention from potential scammers. Many of these attempts will be all too obvious, but some scammers have come up with some pretty unique ways to rob individuals of their cars or money.

Watch out for certified check scams and bogus Escrow Services

Scammers today, both near and abroad, have come up with some very genuine looking counterfeit checks – and even phony escrow services – that look like the real thing. To ensure you’re receiving a ‘real’ payment, always physically cash a check or any other form of payment before handing over the keys.

Selling Your Car on an Auction Site

If selling your car on an auction site like eBay, be sure to carefully research the potential buyer and bidding history before completing the transaction. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the most frequently reported internet fraud occurs on auction sites. Car sellers are often most targeted by scammers, as cars are generally such high-dollar items; leaving scammers with potential for big rewards.

Selling Your Car to International Car Buyers

Last but not least, watch out for international buyers, especially those who offer to pay your full asking price, plus more, to ‘cover shipping charges’. These buyers, who offer to send a generous certified check in exchange for you sending the car, are extremely common today. Try to stick to selling within your own country if possible, and remember the old saying; “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.

Don’t Go it Alone

If possible, bring a friend along whenever you meet with a potential buyer. A friend can help provide good judgment and also provide a bit of protection in case you end up meeting with a shady individual.

If you follow these steps and use your better judgment, you’ll be a whole lot better off when you’re attempting to sell your car privately. If you would rather skip all the trouble and sell your car fast – and likely for as much or more than you could privately, visit us at Big Bucks Auto™, one of the largest and most reputable used car buyers in the Tri-State area!

To sell your car fast for the best price possible call Big Bucks Auto™, a company that is authorized to buy used cars directly from their owners. This is the easiest, fastest, safest and most reliable way to sell your car at the price you want.

Learn more about why choose us to buy your car and call us today at 1-888-44-BUCKS or 1-888-44-8257

Tags: sell car fast, sell car privtely, sell your car, sell your car privately
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Getting Out of a Leased Car

April 2nd, 2008 by Buddy Evans

Maybe you’re moving to the big city and you’ve decided you won’t need your car anymore. Maybe you’re simply tired of driving your current car. Whatever the reason, you want to get out of your current car lease. Only problem is, your lease hasn’t expired yet and you don’t want to wait any longer to get out and move on.

How Can You Get Out of Your Car Lease?

Fortunately, there are options available to the individual who wants to get out of a leased car. But unfortunately, there’s no ‘magic pill’ to take when it comes to getting out of a lease. This article will review all the options. Chances are, one of the possible solutions outlined in this article is best for you – but it all depends on your current situation. Read on and learn how you can get out of your car lease with:

Lease trading websites
A Buyout
Returning the leased car early
Allowing a car buyer to negotiate the terms on your behalf and then buy the car from you

Leased Car Trading Websites

In lawyer speak this is called “lease assumption”. These sites are — you guessed it — places where current lease holders can list their cars, lease details and contact information. Lease seekers then browse these websites in search of cars and opportunities that match what they were looking for.

But before you go and annul your current car marriage via one of these lease trading sites, there are some major issues to consider.

Does your car leasing company allow transferring the lease?

First and foremost, some car leasing companies prohibit the transferring of car leases altogether! That may or may not apply to you; so you’ll have to do some homework to find out if trading your leased car is even a viable option.

Finding a lease trade partner can take time

Remember that it could take some time before the right person – who is hopefully local enough to do a deal – finds your car and contacts you about a potential lease trade. If time is an issue, lease trading isn’t the answer.

And what if the individual you trade your lease with defaults?

This is a big one that many in the lease trading world don’t want you to know about. If the person who you trade your lease with defaults on the lease at some point, you’re still responsible! In other words, you carry a great deal of risk even after you’ve traded your lease. If your lease partner quits making those lease payments, even several months or years down the road (depending on the lease), you’ll wind up in some very hot water.

So say lease trading isn’t for you. Say you’re looking for an instant exit. Fear not, as there are still other escape routes to explore. Like, for instance, the buyout option.

Buyouts

By buying out your leased car, and then selling it yourself, you can effectively avoid things like wear and tear charges and early termination fees. These features all make the buyout option look pretty darn appealing. But remember; in many scenarios, the red tape, hefty buyout price offered, and sales taxes can be enough to make this option look quite unappealing too.

If you’re interested in buying your car out and then selling it, be sure you know whether or not the buyout price offered is a good deal. A reputable car buyer like Big Bucks Auto™ can tell you exactly how much your car is worth with a free car appraisal. This way, you’ll know if the buyout option really is a good deal, and you’ll have an idea of how much you may be able to then sell the car for.

Turning in the leased car early

With the loads of early termination fees and possible legal ramifications depending on your lease, this may not be much of an ‘option’ to getting out of your leased car. There will almost certainly be a huge cost involved if you try to turn in your leased car early. In many cases you will still be obligated to pay the remaining balance on the car lease, or some combination of these payments, along with other penalties, like charges for wear and tear or mileage over the allotted limit.
For most individuals, turning in the car early is simply not an option.

There has to be an easier way!

You could sell your leased car to a used car buyer. But why?

If you choose an honest and professional car buyer experienced in these types of transactions, this may very well offer the best “bang for the buck”. And speaking of bucks, Big Bucks Auto™, one of the largest car buyers in the tri-state area, can easily handle these tricky lease scenarios.

If you happen to be in the tri-state, NY, NJ area, you’re in luck as you’re close enough to do business with Big Bucks Auto™. We’ll help you get out of your current car lease, and then we’ll give you the best price possible. Get a free quote – FAST, by simply filling out a short information form.

At Big Buck$ Auto we’ll contact your lender or lease company to obtain the lowest possible payoff amount on your account.
And even better, we can negotiate to get you the best deal possible. In most cases, Big Bucks Auto™ will provide the bulk of the money required to pay off the lease. For most, this is the easiest ‘way out’ considering all the alternatives.

Read Why Choose Us to Buy Your Car for a better understanding of what you can expect when dealing with a used car buyer like Big Bucks Auto™.

Learn more about how our free used car appraisal works – call us today at 1-888-44-BUCKS or 1-888-44-8257

Tags: get cash for car, how to sell my car fast, sell car fast, sell my car NYC, sell your car
Posted in Costs of Owning a Car, How to Sell Your Car | No Comments »

How to Sell Your Car Fast

February 1st, 2008 by Buddy Evans

There are times when one needs to reconcile their financial obligations. One of the quickest and surest ways to obtain money in a timely fashion is by selling your car. There are many ways to sell your used car:

online
through classified ads
putting a sign on your car’s back seat window
going to a used car dealer
selling your car to an authorized car buyer

By doing just a little bit of homework, you can be sure you’re getting the best deal possible – whether selling on your own, or selling your car to a used car buyer like Big Bucks Auto™. The goal is to get the most for your money.

Big Bucks Auto™ is an industry leading car buyer that can give you the most for your money and remove all the hassles and challenges of selling your used car.

Used Car Values – Evaluating Your Car Before Selling It

Research the market for the car you want to sell. If it’s a popular make and model, you could sell your car quickly. If your car is not all that in demand, you might need to do a little extra research to find the best markets for your particular car.
Know the popularity and desirability of the make and model of the car you want to sell.
Take the time to research the going rate for your car.
Read used car reviews online.
Look up used car ratings and find out if your car is a top seller.

Only then will you know how much you can sell your car for and the most reliable place where to sell your car.

For up to date information car buyers like Big Bucks Auto™ can provide you with a free car appraisal that will let you know your used car’s value perfectly.

Know the Asking Price for Your Car

Knowledge and research are the keys to deciding your asking price. Your asking price will always be higher than your selling price.

Visiting a professional car buyer like Big Bucks Auto™ for a free sales price appraisal will tell you exactly what is fair for a selling price.

To research asking prices:

Read classified ads for comparable vehicles or search for sites online that include phrases such as sell your car, used cars, used car dealers, used car reviews and used car ratings.
Keep in mind using the Kelley Blue Book for pricing your car can be misleading. Sales prices will always be lower.
You can also use Edmonds.com and other car appraisal sites to figure out your car’s value for asking prices.

Once you find out the basic price range for your car, you will also need to consider:

Mileage – check and log your odometer reading
Condition – fix those pings and dents
Improvements – did you buy new set of high-end tires? Was your transmission recently changed? When was the most recent tune-up? Any enhancements to your car can increase its value. And, be sure you have the paperwork and receipts to show the buyer.

Once you have decided on the price you want to sell your car for, remember that a fair sales price will be slightly lower.

Big Bucks will confirm that fair sales price.

Prepare Your Car for Sale

Clean the car thoroughly.
Detail your car if you have to, and replace small worn out parts if need be.
Clean out the trunk, ashtrays and glove compartment.
Vacuum the interior and wash and wax the body. You want to make the car shine!

Starting to sound like a LOT of work? Well, it can be.

Call Big Bucks Auto™, and sell your car for what it’s worth – fast!

Necessary Paperwork for Selling Your Car

Contact your state’s DMV and find out the requirements for title transfer and license plate removal once you sell your car.
Contact your auto insurance company and let them know that you sold your car – you surely don’t want to pay insurance on a car you don’t own
If you bought the car with a bank loan, contact your bank or loan officer before you sell your car.

Decide Where to Sell Your Car

There are a host of methods for selling a used car.

You could put a “Car for Sale” sign on your car window and hope you get legitimate response – however, chances are you wont.
An ad in your local paper or community bulletin board might bring a lot of strange people to your home, with only a few potential real buyers.
You could try to sell your car online and end up dealing with people hundreds of miles away.
Selling your car to a broker usually works, however, you do have to pay a brokers fee.