How to Sell a Car at a Dealership

When it’s time to refresh your daily commute with a new vehicle or to free up space in the driveway, you may be wondering, “How does selling your car to a dealership work?” Dealerships take the stress out of selling your car by offering to buy it with the purchase of a new vehicle, or through a buyback program where you can walk out with your cash value. Learn how to sell a car at a dealership with the team at Cox Mazda, and take the worry out of selling your current vehicle. 

Prepping your Car for Sale

Selling your car around Sarasota doesn’t have to add to your busy lifestyle. When asked, “How does selling your car to a dealership work?”, there are a couple of steps you can take from the comfort of your home. Follow these steps to begin selling your car to a dealership: 

• Clean Up Your Car: Clean and detail your vehicle to present the best picture possible, and take the time to replace small parts like the windshield wipers and floor mats to increase your vehicle’s value. 
• Write Down the Benefits Of Your Car: If you’ve put work into your, it’s a good idea to have a detailed history of maintenance for your vehicle, as well as a list of additional features and accessories you’ve added over the years. Items like extra key fobs or bike mounts can increase the value of your vehicle at dealerships. 
• Have Your Car’s Title on Hand: Locating your title beforehand saves you and the dealer time when receiving an offer. 
• Research Your Car’s Value: Do the research into your make and model’s history through sites like Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book, and find the estimated value of your vehicle through online tools like our trade-in value estimator. This step can be very useful when negotiating the price with a dealer.
• Pick Your Dealership Wisely: Consider your vehicle condition when selling. Newer vehicles are likely to sell at most Tampa dealerships, despite their initial condition and the dealer’s inventory. However, older models might have a better chance of selling at used car dealerships. 

What to Expect When Selling to a Dealership

Once you’ve made your preparations, you’re ready to visit a Palmetto-area dealership. So, how does selling your car to a dealership work during your visit?

• Make an Appointment: Walk-ins are more than welcome, but by making an appointment, the dealer can prepare the necessary documents for a smoother selling experience. 
• Used Car Manager: You’ll then meet with the Used Car Manager or a salesperson to begin the sale, where they’ll collect your information and run a vehicle history report.
• Inspection: A thorough mechanical and visual inspection will be performed by the Used Car Manager technician in our service department.
• Consider the Offer: The dealership will provide you with an offer and from there, you can decide whether to accept the offer or visit another dealership for a better offer. 

Advantages of Selling to a Dealership 

Learning how to sell your car at a dealership has multiple benefits: 

• Save Time & Avoid Hassles: Selling to a dealership means you don’t have to stress about listing your vehicle online, fielding potential buyers, and scheduling a test drive around yours and the buyers’ schedule.
• Lower Your New Car Price: If you already have a new Mazda in mind, using your vehicle as a trade-in allows you to save on the price of your new vehicle or receive lower monthly payments.
• Save on Your Taxes: Using your car as a trade-in allows you to also save on taxes. When you purchase another vehicle, you’ll only pay the sales tax on the difference between the trade-in value and the cost of your new car. 

Learn More Car Buying Tips from Cox Mazda!

Whether you purchase another vehicle or you’re adding your vehicle’s value to your pocket, selling your vehicle is a straightforward process with Cox Mazda. Continue exploring the car buying process with the help of our other tips and tricks, and if you have any buying or selling questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today!