Did you know, on average, it can take up to 4-8 weeks to sell a used car? For many of us, we cannot afford to wait that long. Especially if you need to sell your car fast to put that money towards urgent bills.
Of course, the time it takes to sell your used car will be dependent on the type of vehicle you have and current market demand. So, if you are lucky enough to be selling a highly sought-after vehicle when other vehicles are low in stock, your selling time will be reduced.
The thing is, market demand changes all the time. But if you follow the tips in this article, you will be able to sell your car fast, no matter what. That’s right, even if your vehicle has issues!
As you can imagine, most people who buy second-hand cars just want a car they can drive straight away. This means selling a vehicle with issues makes it harder to sell leaving it in your possession for longer.
Fortunately, you won’t have to wait that long. So without further ado, let’s get into the best ways to sell your car in a matter of days or weeks.
Find An Instant Buyer
By far the quickest way to sell a used car is to use a local vehicle buyer. This is different to selling privately which can take weeks to make a sale. There are two types of car buyers that we will discuss as follows:
Cash-for-Car Companies
Selling to a cash-for-car company is the easiest and most efficient way to sell a vehicle in any condition, without any hassle.
Most cash-for-car companies will purchase any type of vehicle regardless of its make, model, or age. For example, ABCM Car Removal buys all kinds of vehicles from those with minor issues all the way up to totally wrecked cars.
The best thing about these services is they will come to your location, pay you money upfront, and handle the transportation of the vehicle. So if your vehicle is beyond repair, this is an excellent option as you don’t have to drive it anyway and drop it off.
Otherwise known as car removal services, these companies make money buying vehicles to either resell them as is or to dismantle them to resell their spare parts and scrap metal.
Due to this, you usually will not get a very high price when using this method. But if you are strapped for cash they do provide the fastest way to sell a car, even if it has issues. Plus, most of them provide a same-day transaction.
Car Dealerships
If your car is in decent condition and you’re looking for a quick buck, selling to a car dealership may be a great option.
Car dealerships buy vehicles so they can resell them on their lot. As we mentioned cars can take weeks to sell, but car dealerships are happy to have them sitting in their car yard and let buyers come to them, however long that takes.
The only problem with selling your used car to a car dealership is that they will buy it cheaply so they can still make a profit. In addition, car dealerships won’t purchase your vehicle if it is too damaged as it would require them to spend big on repairs.
Price to Sell & Advertise
The next best way to sell a used car fast is to price it right and get your advertisement in front of as many people as possible.
This means you first have to do some market research to determine the market value of your vehicle. Once you know what other similar vehicles are selling for in your local area, simply drop your asking price so you are the cheapest option.
This will ensure that anyone looking for your type of vehicle will come to you are you are the cheapest available.
Next, you just need to advertise, and here are the best ways to do that.
Park It On A Very Busy Street
This is an old-school way of advertising that still works wonders today. The idea works like this. You make a very large sign using cardboard with the words “For Sale” which also lists your asking price and phone number.
This main sign is to attract the attention of passers-by. When enough people drive past it, sooner or later people will stop and park near your car to check it out.
Just make sure to include another printout, usually an A4 piece of paper with a list of all the car’s features and selling points. This will help provide more info for the people that stop to check it out.
Put Ads On Online Marketplaces
The modern-day version of parking on a busy street is to leverage high-traffic websites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and car sales websites.
In fact, this option works even better than the busy street as you can get your vehicle seen by people all over the city, state, and even country.
The great thing about selling on online platforms is that people can filter their search to find your specific car. Then if you have priced it to sell, you will have plenty of inquiries flooding in.
How Much Will You Get for Selling a Used Car?
The amount you’ll get for a used car will depend on the year, make, model, and condition.
According to Carsales.com.au, the average price for used cars in 2024 in Australia was $33,000. That is $10,500 more than the average price of used cars at the start of the pandemic.
However, the cars in this report are in good running condition. Vehicles with issues will sell for less depending on the type and complexity of the issue.
If you sell a broken car, you can expect to get around a few hundred bucks up to $10,000 depending on the issue, the type, and the weight of the vehicle.
How To Get More Money When Selling Your Used Car
If you have a bit of extra time then these tips will help you get more when selling your car, and you can still sell it fast.
- Fix minor issues – Small scratches, dirty car seats, dead batteries, and broken lights are minor issues that can easily be fixed. But, without fixing them they will greatly impact the price of your vehicle. Be sure to fix whatever you can before taking photos and listing them online.
- Wash your car thoroughly – One of the easiest things you can do to bump the value of your car is to give it a car wash. Buyers perceive clean cars as newer than the exact same car when it’s muddy.
- Consider auto detailing – Autodetailing removes light scratches and gives your vehicle a little shine which will definitely increase the perceived value of your vehicle. If you’re concerned about the price of auto detailing service, there are cheap products out there that you can use yourself.
- Take high-quality photos and provide a detailed description – High-quality photos and descriptive descriptions help you showcase your vehicle better. We highly recommend that you ask someone with the creative know-how of photography to take your listing photos. Also, ask a friend, ideally with copywriting skills to do the descriptions for you.
Final Thoughts
Selling a car fast is totally possible, however, you will usually have to compromise on your asking price. The less money you are willing to take the quicker you can sell it.
Also, keep in mind that a car with issues will typically take longer to sell when trying to sell privately. You may feel like it will never sell, but there are always options such as an instant car-buying service that will take cars in any condition.
Just remember to be honest with your vehicle’s description. Lying about your vehicle’s issue in an effort to sell your car quickly may only create more problems for you down the road.
It’s better to be honest about the issues so the buyer can assess whether or not want to take on the challenge.
With that in mind, I wish you all the best in selling your vehicle in a quick time frame.
