Sell My Car

Why Sell Your Car to a Dealership?

There are many ways to sell a used car. For example, you can simply sell it to the neighbor down the street. Some folks try to expand their horizons by sticking a For Sale sign in the window of their used cars. Others go a little further and put an ad on an online bulletin board.

While any of these methods could lead to you selling your car, all of them come with the same set of problems. First, you are going to have to deal with a stranger looking at your car. Many people don’t want to have the hassle of strangers calling them up, looking to get a deal on the car they are selling. The strangers may also come with a mechanic friend who will spend hours inspecting your car. The potential buyer may also make you have to pay for a vehicle history report from either CARFAX or AutoCheck, which will cost you some money. Also, there is always the chance that you could get ripped off. I’m sure you’ve heard about people selling a used car, only to have the check for the car bounce when they try to cash it at their bank. Or, if something goes wrong with the vehicle after the sale, the buyer may try to come after you for repair costs or a refund on the car.

Selling your car to a dealer like us will help you avoid all of these hassles. When you bring it here, we will have our technician inspect your car and give you a full written offer. You won’t have to worry about dealing with an annoying buyer haggling with you over the price. Also, you know that when you sell us your car, your check from DePaula Chevrolet will be cashed without any problem. That is because you have the full backing of our dealership behind that payment. Finally, once the sale is complete, it is finished. You don’t have to worry about us calling you a month later to complain about the car. Not only will you be able to sell us your used car, but you will get the peace of mind that comes from dealing with professionals you can trust instead of random strangers off the street or on the Internet.

What Do You Need to Do Before You Sell Your Car?

Whenever you go to sell something you own, you want to be able to present it in the best light possible. This is especially true if you are selling a used car. First, make sure you have all the paperwork on your car, including the title, original sales paperwork, owner’s manual, and service records. The person who is buying the car will need to make sure that you own the car, hold a clean title, and have been keeping it in good working order. A red flag for many buyers is a car that has not had routine maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations. Also, if you don’t have the original owner’s manual, the buyer might deduct the cost of buying a new one from the purchase price. These simple service measures can make a difference when it comes to a vehicle’s longevity.

The next thing you will need to do is make sure everything on your car is in good working order. For example, if your windshield wipers are streaking, then you might need to replace the wiper blades. This is an inexpensive and relatively easy fix for your car. Also, you should check to make sure there are sufficient fluids in your vehicle, including motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and even windshield wiper fluid. These are all things that a prospective buyer will check on your car, and failure to fix them could reduce the price you are offered for your used car.

Finally, you are going to want to make sure your car is clean. First, if you have a lot of personal items in your car, like magazines, CDs, smartphone cables, sunglasses, and jumper cables, you should remove them from the car. Next, throw out any junk you have accumulated over the years, like napkins, receipts, and gum wrappers. Finally, you should give your car a thorough cleaning.

In addition to washing the outside of your car, you should also vacuum the interior. If your car is particularly dirty, you might consider paying for the cost of a professional car wash. It is amazing how much a clean appearance can affect the price of a used car, but most buyers will think that a dirty car means that the engine and other mechanical equipment have not been maintained in good working order.

If you follow these simple steps, you should have no problem getting a good price for your used car. The key is to think about what you would want to see if you were the person looking to buy the car from you.

What Paperwork Do You Need?

When you are selling a used car, there are some papers that you need to provide, most of which depend on the state in which you live. If you are selling your vehicle to us, you are going to need a valid and current form of identification, the original vehicle title, and you will have to sign the bill of sale for the transaction. We would also appreciate you having your current maintenance and inspection records.

If you are selling your used car in a private sale, then you are going to need to complete a great deal of paperwork yourself. First, the prospective buyer is going to need to see the title and registration to your used car. This will confirm ownership. Next, the buyer will want to see the maintenance records on your used car to make sure you keep up with routine service. This will also reveal if there are any issues with the car’s performance. The buyer may even require that you provide a vehicle history report from CARFAX or AutoCheck. This will show important information about your car, including confirmation of a clean title.

There is additional paperwork involved in selling a used car in a private sale. The buyer is going to want to see the car’s warranty. In most cases, the unused portion of the factory warranty is transferable in a sale. If there is no warranty, then you and the buyer will have to sign a statement agreeing that the sale is made “as is,” meaning that you have not given the buyer any representations about the condition or performance of the vehicle. You will also have to give the buyer an Odometer Disclosure Statement. This is a statement of the exact mileage on your used car at the time of sale. Once you have compiled and completed all of these items, you will have to give the buyer a bill of sale. This document lists the price and all key terms of the sale of your used car.

Here is the good news: if you sell your used car to our dealership, you won’t have to fill out all of this annoying paperwork. Our team at DePaula Chevrolet will complete the bill of sale, odometer disclosure report, and title transfer papers and will also give you instructions on canceling your registration and insurance for your car, as well as returning your license plates to the local office of the DMV. When you sell to a dealership like us, we make the entire process smooth, transparent, and easy for you.

How Do I Find Out What My Car Is Worth?

You're ready to sell your vehicle, but you're unsure where to start or what offer to accept. Luckily, you're in the right place because DePaula Chevrolet believes knowledge is power. The first step in selling your car is finding out what your car is worth using the VIN or vehicle identification number on sites like Kelley Blue Book. What does this process entail, and how is it different from our Value Your Trade tool on our website?

Whether you venture over to our dealership or use the Value Your Trade tool, we're dedicated to giving you fair market value for your vehicle. However, we don't want you to simply take our word for it, which is why we encourage our customers to do their homework and use other sites like Kelley Blue Book to determine their vehicle's worth. Our goal is to help you get the most for your car, truck, or SUV, and that starts by knowing its worth and the total payoff amount on the loan if financed.

Kelley Blue Book Value

Kelley Blue Book is the industry's go-to resource for determining a vehicle's value, known as the "Blue Book Value." To use the site, you'll need your vehicle's VIN––a number that's as unique to your vehicle as your thumbprint is to you. Your VIN is typically visible from outside the car on the driver's side at the bottom of the windshield, where it meets the dashboard. You can also find it printed on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, on your insurance card, registration, or title.

With your VIN and a few details about your vehicle's condition and mileage, Kelley Blue Book looks at its make and model, market trends, options, fuel economy, and location to determine its worth. For instance, convertibles are often less valuable in northern cities with long and frigid winters, but they fetch a high price in coastal areas and warmer climates. The same is true for SUVs when fuel prices are high, which typically leads drivers to look for more efficient options.

From your search results, you'll find three Kelley Blue Book values. The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price gives you an idea of what buyers are currently paying for the vehicle. The Trade-In Value shows you what you can expect a dealership to offer, and the Private Party Value shows you what you can expect to get if selling it yourself.

Why Your Loan Payoff Matters

Once you know how much your vehicle is worth, it's essential to know the loan payoff if your car is financed. Why does this matter? Let's say that your current SUV is worth $15,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. The SUV is financed, with $10,000 remaining on the loan. The dealership offers you $15,000 for your SUV, which means the loan is repaid, and you have $5,000 remaining. This is called a positive equity situation where you can put the $5,000 toward your next purchase or walk away with cash in hand.

So, what happens if you owe more than $15,000 on your SUV? Let's say that your final payoff on the SUV's loan is $17,850. However, the dealership gives you $15,000, which means you have to come up with $2,850 to satisfy the loan. This is considered a negative equity situation.

You have a better platform to negotiate when you know how much you owe on your vehicle and what it's worth. You know how much you need to get for your car to satisfy the loan and put yourself in a favorable equity situation or break even. Without this knowledge, you're negotiating blindly, which can be financially devastating.

You've Sold Your Car, Now What?

We've shown you how easy it is to sell your vehicle to DePaula Chevrolet, but what happens afterward? Are you left stranded without a vehicle, or are you required to buy with us? What if you've already found the perfect model on our lot? The good news is that you have several options, each of which comes with our hassle-free guarantee. With no strings attached, selling your car to us is always a win-win.

Once you've sold us your vehicle, you have four options. You can walk away with cash in hand, buy a new Chevrolet, buy a used vehicle, or sign a lease. So, how do you know which option is right for you? As we said before, knowledge is power, and that's why we're here to tell you more about each option so that you can make the best decision for your budget and driving needs.

Walk Away

At most dealerships, if they buy your car, they expect or require you to purchase your next vehicle with them. That's not how we operate. There are no strings attached when you sell your car to DePaula Chevrolet. We don't expect you to buy your next vehicle from us and understand if you choose to leave with a check in hand. We're happy you decided to sell to us and allowed the DePaula Chevrolet team to give you the most for your car, truck, or SUV.

Buy a New Chevy

Many customers who sell their vehicle to us use it toward their next purchase of a new Chevy. Chevrolet is renowned for frequently updating its lineup. Every model, from the Malibu and Bolt to the Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado, offers a host of innovative features and luxuries at an incredible price. This value is doubled, if not tripled, when you sell your car with us because we'll help you put that money toward your purchase.

Once you find the perfect new Chevy, our sales and finance teams will help you finalize your trade and complete the purchase process. We treat your trade-in as a separate transaction so that you have a clear idea of what you're getting for your vehicle and whether you're breaking even or in a positive or negative equity situation. With this information, you know how much of your trade goes toward your purchase, ultimately reducing your monthly payments by reducing the total purchase price. It's a win-win!

Buy a Used Model

Did you know that over 40 million used cars, trucks, and SUVs are sold yearly in America? The used car market is growing exponentially as more drivers discover the benefits of investing in a pre-owned model. So, what's the big deal? When you shop our used inventory, you'll find your money goes a lot further and can get you behind the wheel of a top-tier trim at a fraction of the price.

Just like the process when you buy a new Chevy, purchasing a used model follows the same pattern. We'll treat your trade as a separate transaction, showing you how much money you can put toward your used vehicle. Since our used inventory is competitively priced, and we guarantee to give you the most for your trade, you'll find that you can easily get behind the wheel of your dream vehicle without spending a fortune. Whether it's a truck like the Ford F-150, an SUV like the Kia Telluride, or a sports car like the Corvette, every vehicle is within budget when you shop off our used lot!

Sign a Lease

If you're not interested in buying a vehicle, you can choose to sign a lease and reap the benefits of getting behind the wheel of a new Chevrolet every few years. Leasing is like renting an apartment; you're paying to drive the vehicle for a length of time without taking full ownership. As a result, your monthly payments are lower since leases can run anywhere from 24 to 60 months.

We'll help you find the right lease term for your needs and explain the requirements, such as mileage limitations and what Chevrolet considers excessive wear and use. For example, going over the mileage limit or extreme damage to the vehicle can result in penalties at the end of your lease. Another consideration is that you're not building equity with your payments. These terms are often acceptable for many since it means driving the latest Chevrolet every few years. It also means limited responsibilities as an owner, especially when it comes to more extensive repairs and issues.

DePaula Chevrolet Is the Place to Sell Your Used Car