Ready to Sell? Here’s How to Get the Best Price for Your Vehicle

We’ve got good news and even better news, which do you want first? The good news is that you can stop your search for the “best dealership to sell my car” now that you’ve found DePaula Ford. So, what’s the great news? The DePaula Buys Cars program means that you can sell us your car even if you don’t buy a car, truck, or SUV with us!

The DePaula Buys Cars program is the only one of its kind in the area and is designed with our customers in mind. Just bring your car, truck, or SUV by the dealership, and we’ll give you a complimentary offer in writing that’s good for five days or 500 miles. Once you accept the offer, we’ll write you a check without any pressure to buy your next vehicle from us.

Does it sound too good to be true? We promise there aren’t any strings attached. We want to give our customers the best buying and selling experience possible. That’s the inspiration behind our exclusive DePaula Buys Cars program, and it’s also why we’re here with a quick guide to help you get the best offer for your vehicle. Here’s what you can do to get your vehicle ready for the team here at DePaula Ford.

#1 Clean, Clean, and Clean Some More

What you’ll need:

• An appointment with a reputable car detailer, or
• Car-specific cleaning products like Armor All and tire shine, a vacuum cleaner, glass cleaner, and other tools to clean the vehicle yourself.

Vehicles see a lot of wear and tear as we use them day in and day out to navigate our lives. This type of wear and tear is expected in any pre-owned vehicle, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to clean your car, truck, or SUV or have it professionally detailed. Cleaning the vehicle yourself can save money but keep in mind that professional detailers can restore the interior to as close to its original condition as possible. Detailers also know what products to use to leave the glass and other surfaces spotless and like-new, both of which make your vehicle all the more attractive and easier to sell.

#2 Consider Minor Upgrades and Repairs

What you’ll need:

• Plan a day to fix minor cosmetic issues by venturing over to your local automotive store to replace broken lights, find seat covers, and more.

Once you’ve cleaned your vehicle, you will have a better idea of any cosmetic issues. These can include issues like stains in the carpet, thread-bare floor mats, and broken tail lights, all of which are minor fixes. Floor mats are fairly inexpensive and can make a significant difference in your vehicle’s appearance. The same is true for broken tail lights, which take only minutes to repair. If you notice stains or cracks in the seats or steering wheel, you may also want to consider adding new seat covers or a steering wheel cover.

#3 Remove Personal Data and Items

What you’ll need:

• A box or bag to gather your personal items from the vehicle.
• Owner’s manual to learn how to unpair your smartphone from the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Decades ago, removing your personal items from a vehicle meant grabbing your garage door remote, sunglasses, CDs or cassettes, and any extra change that found its way into your cup holders or center console. Today, removing your personal items takes a little more time and extends beyond just your physical belongings. Before you bring your vehicle into DePaula Ford, it’s a good idea to remove your personal data from the vehicle. In other words, you’ll want to unpair your phone from the vehicle’s infotainment system or reset it to factory settings to erase any personal data from your car, truck, or SUV.

#4 Check Original Equipment

What you’ll need:

• Owner’s manual, keys, key fobs, headphones for the entertainment system, floor mats, spare tire equipment, and other handbooks and equipment specific to your vehicle.

Most vehicles come with an owner’s manual that tells you everything you need to know about the vehicle, from how to check the windshield wiper fluid to the layout of the engine. Just as you’ve likely used the manual for reference, the next owner will need it for the same reason. Make sure the manual and any other handbooks or vehicle-specific equipment and accessories like headphones for a rear-seat entertainment system are with the vehicle before you bring it to the dealership to sell.

#5 Do Your Homework

What you’ll need:

• Your model’s vehicle identification number and access to the internet.

While we take great pride in our transparency and our honest business practices, we encourage all our customers to do their homework before they buy or sell a vehicle. This homework starts with your VIN or vehicle identification number. The VIN is your vehicle’s birth certificate, social security number, and fingerprint rolled into one.

Once you have the VIN, you can use sites like Kelley Blue Book to learn more about the vehicle’s fair market value. This is what your vehicle is currently worth based on its condition (age, mileage, etc.) and the demand for that specific model in the area. Keep in mind that demand fluctuates, which means that your vehicle may fetch a higher price at a different time of year. For example, soaring fuel prices often diminish the demand for gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks, while four-wheel drive vehicles are in higher demand during winter months. The same is true for your location and climate. Convertibles are often worth more in coastal areas and moderate climates as opposed to northern states with heavy winters and mild summers where a convertible is less than ideal.

#6 Gather Important Paperwork

What you’ll need:

• Title or lender information, loan pay-off (if applicable), warranty documentation, mileage, and maintenance history.

You need to take one more important step before you head over to DePaula Ford with your vehicle. Since you intend to sell your vehicle, you’ll need to gather all the relevant paperwork and information to facilitate the process. For example, if you own the vehicle, you’ll need to bring in the title, registration, and insurance. On the other hand, if you’re still making payments to a lender, you’ll want to know the balance of the loan and your lender’s information (not to worry, though, we can always help find some of these for you). This information is necessary to finalize the paperwork, and knowing it beforehand makes the process smoother and much more efficient. Plus, if you still owe on the vehicle, you know exactly how much you need to get for the vehicle to cover the outstanding debt.

It’s Time to Sell!

Are you ready to sell your vehicle? We hope you’ll choose to sell with DePaula Ford. We’re here to help you get top-dollar for your vehicle whether or not you choose to buy your next car, truck, or SUV from us. Our goal is to make the car-buying and car-owning experience truly enjoyable, and that means no pressure and no strings attached.

If you’re ready to sell your vehicle, then it’s time to take the next steps to prepare your vehicle for sale. Just like you go the extra mile to make a positive first impression, you want the same for your vehicle, and that means taking the time to clean it so that it looks its best when you bring it to the dealership. Gather all the pertinent items and documentation and do your homework on its fair market value so that you know what to expect from the process. Once you’re here, we’ll handle the rest.