• Tips for selling your used car will help you avoid common pitfalls.car dealership 1 image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
  
  To avoid receiving a lower trade-in cost from the car dealer, many Americans opt to sell their used cars privately. While you will likely end up making more selling privately than you would in trade-in value, selling a used car on your own requires an investment of time, energy and marketing skills. Avoid classic sales pitfalls when selling your used car.
  
  

Research

• Prior to listing your car on Craigslist or in an advertisement in the newspaper, utilize an automobile resource like Kelley Blue Book to accurately assess the value of your used vehicle. You do not want to price too high or too low, so the Blue Book will help you determine its worth based on year, make and model, overall mileage, car condition and features and amenities within the car. By pricing the car according to research, your window of potential buyers widens.
  
  

Marketing

• Determine how and where you plan to list your vehicle for sale. Advertising and marketing costs can quickly add up, so assess which avenues will be the best fit for your selling needs. Free listing services, such as Craigslist, are popular among car buyers and sellers.
  
  Consider taking an advertisement in the auto section of a local newspaper. Choose days of the week that have the highest circulation rates as this will impact how many potential buyers view your ad.
  
  

Negotiating

• The art of negotiation, or lack thereof, is one of the main reasons car sellers opt to trade their vehicles into the dealership. Negotiating the sale can be uncomfortable, but if you are honest and up front about the vehicle's history, past or current problems and overall usage, you should have no problem.
  
  It is imperative you obtain a Bill of Sale when you finalize negotiations. This contract will protect both you and the buyer in the event that something falls through.