How can I sell my car?
The different ways to sell your car in South Africa.
Selling your car can be a relatively fuss-free process if you know the ins and outs, so our aim today is to educate you while also answering all of the questions we have discovered surrounding the topic.
There are 3 main ways you can sell your car in South Africa, namely:
- Get an Instant Offer for your car
- Trade it in at a dealership
- Sell it privately
In today's article, we will explain how each of these works.
Get an Instant Offer for my car.
Here at AutoTrader, we have an innovative product called Instant Offer that allows you to sell your vehicle to a trusted dealership in no time whatsoever, offering you the best price and a safe, secure transaction from South Africa's trusted online motoring marketplace.
How can I sell my car instantly?
Our Instant Offer service at AutoTrader allows you to sell your car online instantly with a simple 3-step process that takes just minutes, with a cash offering within hours, with no risk to you, the seller. Click here to learn more about Instant Offer.
What is the difference between trading in my car and selling it?
The difference between selling your car and trading it in is vast, with those opting to trade their vehicle having to then purchase something else from the dealership in question, while selling the car may yield more money and does not require you to purchase another car, however, you are subject to the possibility of the new owner finding fault with the vehicle and coming back to you to assist with repairs. We have compiled a useful article on whether you should trade-in or sell your vehicle.
How much money is my car worth?
We have a Car Valuation tool here at AutoTrader, which allows you to determine the value of your car, making the decision of whether to trade or sell your vehicle easier than ever, simply click here.
Get an Instant Offer for your car >
Trade-in my car.
Trading in a vehicle is a relatively simple process whereby the dealership from which you are looking to purchase a new vehicle then purchases your old vehicle from you. This means that the outstanding balance might be settled in full, an amount might be outstanding for the owner, or the owner will receive the surplus after the vehicle has been settled, which they can then either put down on their new vehicle or keep the money for themselves.
Can you trade in a car that you're financing?
It is a common practice for people to trade the vehicle that's not paid off for another model, despite this trade-in happening when they own money on the car. The dealership will then effectively swap your car with a new one and create a new finance deal for you. Click here to read our comprehensive guide to vehicle financing.
Can you trade in your car if it's damaged?
A dealership is open to purchasing your vehicle if it has damage and you are entitled to request a trade-in despite prior knowledge of the damage, however, there are certainly limits to this, which we have outlined in an article about trading in a car that has been damaged.
What is the best place to trade in your car?
The best place to trade a car in near you or if you have negative equity are dealerships in your immediate vicinity that are willing to structure a deal whereby your negative equity is either lessened or eliminated as a result of the deal you have in place with the vehicle that replaces it. This can be done by loading the negative equity on the new car or discounting the new car to the point with the negative equity on the old car is reduced, however, this is not guaranteed to happen.
Does cleaning your car help trade-in value?
A clean car is always a more appealing car to a dealership and a buyer as it allows both parties to properly inspect the vehicle. Click here to read more about cleaning your car before trading it in.
Find a local dealership to trade in your car >
Selling my car privately
Selling a car privately means that one individual sells his or her vehicle to another private individual without a dealership or other third party getting involved in the deal.
How do you sell your car privately?
Selling your car privately can often yield the best amount of money for the seller as they can ask their desired price and will not be subjected to a trade value from a dealer, but rather a retail value, which is always more as the dealer needs to make a profit. Selling your car privately is reasonably simple, you select a platform on which to advertise the car, which includes websites, social media and even word of mouth. When listing the vehicle online, you will need to provide pictures, information pertaining to the vehicle and of course, your asking price and content details. We have created a detailed article on how to sell your vehicle privately. It is difficult to estimate how long it will take to sell a vehicle privately as this depends on the type of vehicle, its price, condition and what the market for the vehicle is like, however, it will always take longer than a simple trade-in.
Is it safe to sell your car privately?
It is imperative that you know how to protect yourself when selling your car privately, including setting up a secure meeting place, making sure of the availability of the vehicle and its documentation, ensuring the buyer is legitimate, securing the deal and ensuring you are safe in the event of a test drive. This begs the question, what is the safest way to sell your car privately? We answer that by expalining which is the best way to sell your car privately.
What is the best way to sell your car privately?
In short, the best way to sell a vehicle privately is to utilize a safe, secure platform where users must register and can be verified, as this will prove the fastest way to sell your car and the easiest way to sell your car privately too.
Can you sell your car privately if it's on finance?
We are often asked "How do I sell my car privately if it's on finance" and the simple answer is best sumarised from one of our finance-related artciles "It's not a complex process, and while it involves a fair amount of paperwork and some phone calls, selling a car which is still financed can be accomplished fairly easily. Just make sure it makes financial sense before you do it..."
For more information read the rules of selling a car while it's still financed.
What paperwork do I need to sell my car privately?
Documentation is incredibly important when selling or purchasing a vehicle, so what paperwork is required to sell your vehicle privately? In short, you will require your ID document, the vehicle settlement letter, proof of ownership, notification of change of ownership certificate, a vehicle registration certificate and proof of sale. For more detailed information click here.
Tips for selling a car privately
- Make sure you list the car on a reputable platform.
- Research the value of your car and be realistic about its value.
- Take great photos to really showcase your car! Check out our YouTube video for tips.
Sell your car privately with AutoTrader > Speak to a Consultant about selling your car today 0860 60 50 50.
