Price Your Car With Your Head, Not Your Heart

Maybe you want something sleek, powerful and fast. An upgrade you think, but the thought simultaneously causes the lead feeling in your heart. You have to sell your baby, your four-wheeled friend. It has gotten you to school, to work, even home for the weekend. Right away you see six figures as compensation for losing a part of you. Unfortunately, few others feel the same.
To find a fair estimated value, refer to a consumer guide. While it won't help to know the spelling of your car's name, you will need to know some basics. The make, model, year, style and trim are a good start. Along with that you should check your car's mileage. The expected mileage is about 15,000 per year. Anything over that falls into the high mileage category and may cause depreciation in value. Also, know the options of your car. Those little extras, like a sunroof and automatic transmission, change the price.
Once you input that information you'll be given the value for a clean trade in and a clean retail. A clean trade in is a good idea of what a dealership should offer you. The clean retail price tells you what you should ask if you choose to sell yourself. The high and low retail prices give the range of the asking price. Assess your car and any dents, scratches, rips or tears and decide on a fair price within the range. You should also consider the local market. Different cars will sell better in various areas throughout the nation.
Do some work on your car, even a good cleaning will help get a better price. Take care of any minor repairs and maintenance. This includes an oil change, replacing cracked windows and a clean engine. People will look under the hood. It's worth it to have a clean and presentable car in every aspect.
Find your title, grab a rag and get started. Look through the N.A.D.A. Guide book or online at www.nada.com

Learn more about this author, Breanna Hall.
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