So, you've decided that it's time to let old bessy out to pasture'. Or maybe more like take her out and shoot her', but for whatever the reason you've decided you need to let go of your current car for a different model. Under most circumstances you typically have to options: Trade in at a dealership or sell the car yourself. There are many advantages of going either route or strong opinions on which way to handle it.

Many tout the strongest advantage of selling to a private owner is the money you'll get over trading in. This can certainly be a strong and understandable motivator to sell rather than trade. At the same time, there are various pit-falls involved in selling your car and it's best to know what they are and what to avoid. Selling a car is not the best option for everyone. The goal of this article is to help people to decide which course of action is right for them.

There are many car magazines, enthusiasts, car web sites and maybe even your neighbor who are not only of the opinion that selling you car to a dealership is foolishness equal to the Titanic disaster; that anyone considering to do so should be hung in effigy or labeled the village idiot. Don't let these people influence you on if you should sell or trade. This is your deal; you make the decision.

The most important thing in selling a car is personal safety. Selling your own car isn't quite to the level of working with sub-atomic particles, but there are risks involved. Consider yourself and your personality. If you're 6' 3" weight 210 pounds and built like a tank personal safety shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand, if you're female and in your 20's (No, I'm not a sexist. You can even ask my mom!) Be sure to have someone be involved.

But in addition to safety, take honest assessment of your personality. Do others easily persuade you? If someone pushes you hard into taking less for your car, then you won't be benefiting from selling privately. Also if you feel intimidated by the idea, then don't do so. There is no need to prove yourself to anyone. Seriously if anyone going to care about how you sold your car years from now when you very likely will still own the car?

Beyond all of this: if you simply feel that all this trouble is not an interest to you, then don't do it. It's your car and deal, not anyone else's.

Time, they say, is money, and selling a car to a private owner is going to take a fair amount of your personal time. Finding out the value of the

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