There is a lot that goes into selling a used car. Frankly, it can be difficult to keep track of it all, which is why I have prepared this overview of all the steps you are going to need to take from prepping your used car to marketing it to the best practices for selling a used car. Let me slip into my late-night infomercial announcer voice and say, “NOT FOLLOWING THIS ADVICE COULD COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.”

Sounds like a lot of hype, but it’s not. Consider this, the difference in price between a used car in excellent condition and one in poor condition is 50% Would you rather put $10,000 towards your next car or $5000?

Prep Your Used Car for Sale

Do I have you sufficiently scared yet? Sorry about that, but I really want to see you get the most you can for used car. Follow the links below for practical advice. You’ll be glad you did – and unlike an infomercial announcer, I’ll never say, “Be the next caller” or “Act now and I’ll throw in the Vegematic 2000. You just pay shipping and handling.”

Get Your Used Car’s Interior Sparkling
A clean car has never turned off a potential buyer. These simple tips can add a lot of value to your used car for little or no cost.

Cleaning a Used Car's Exterior
Know how you brush your teeth right before a date? Make your car sparkle with a bit of water right before a buyer shows up.

Spruce Up a Used Car’s Engine
Advice ripped right from the pages of a used car dealer's playbook - a clean engine makes potential buyers a lot more comfortable and irrationally makes them think the car runs better!

Great Pictures of Your Used Car
A picture really is worth a 1000 words - and could be worth thousands of dollars, too. You don't have to be a pro to get good results, either.

Market Your Used Car for Sale

Of course, having a great looking used car doesn’t help you sell it. (It will make you feel better about yourself, but that doesn’t put cash in your pocket.) What you need to do is get the word out about your used car.

There is a marvelous mix of the modern and traditional that sells used cars. There is no denying the value of the Internet, but don’t underestimate the value of telling a neighbor your car is for sale.

Simply put, there is no one best way to market a used car. There are actually five ways. You’ll probably find success using three of the five methods.

Specialty Forums
Where do you find people who want to buy a used Mazda Miata? A specialty forum devoted to Miatas is a great place to start.

Craigslist
This online phenomenon is a great way to get your used car advertised for free and it tailors to your locale. Did I mention it's free?

Newspaper Classified
Some people view newspaper classifieds as dinosaurs, but they still have some life in them when done right. Follow a couple simple tips and make old fashion ink work for you.

Sign in the Window
Your car in the flesh is still the best way to sell it. Passersby always check your car out when it has a for sale sign in the window.

Word of Mouth
Your friends and co-workers are an excellent source for sales leads for your used car.

Best Practices for Selling a Used Car

OK, so now it’s happened. Your used car is sparkling. The word is out. The phone is ringing. Now what? Well, there are certain things you want to make sure you do to get the best results for selling your used car.

Of course, there is one conundrum you need to consider at this point. Is it really best to sell your used car or do you want to trade it in? Don’t worry. Nothing you have done to this point will have diminished the value of your trade-in. In some cases it may have actually enhanced it.

Cash Is Best
Learn the best ways to handle cash in a used car transaction without making yourself a nervous wreck or getting ripped off.

Letting Others Drive Your Car
There is nothing more nerve wracking than handing over the keys to a complete stranger but there's a right way and wrong way to do it. Here's how to remain calm and not scare off your potential buyer.

Selling Online
There are some good sites and bad sites for selling your used car. Let us narrow down the sites so you make the right choices.

Sell Or Trade In?
Let me help you answer this question. There is no one answer for every situation but there are lots of questions.

Defining Your Used Car's Condition
A mistake here could cost you thousands of dollars. Overlook valuable items and the money flies out the window.

Setting a Private Party Price
Price your used car wrong and it's going to be ignored. The only response you'll get is from savvy buyers wanting to rip you off.