You have made the decision to part ways with your classic car or truck. There are endless reasons why you are selling, but we hope it is to make more room in your garage for a new collector vehicle. No matter the reason, we want to offer some advice on how to get the most money possible.
With a little research and a little physical work can really make the difference in the final selling price. Here are 9 things you can do to get your classic car or truck ready to sell.
- Determine the Value. Spend the money to get a professional appraisal. Expert appraisers are in tune with the market and can give you a good ballpark number to start with. Plus it will install confidence in the buyer if they see the price was set by an expert in the industry. There are also online tools like the NADA Guides that can help you figure out a starting price.
- Make Minor Repairs. This can really make the difference when trying to sell a classic car or truck. Fixing minor issues will increase the overall value of the car and make it more desirable to buyers, ultimately letting you set a higher asking price.
- Give a Full Disclosure. The more you can tell a buyer about the car, the better chance you have of selling it. Having a full history about the car is almost priceless. Be totally upfront with buyers by giving them the good and the bad details about the vehicle. If you have any paperwork make sure you present that to the buyer too. It will put them at ease knowing you are an honest seller.
- Clean it Well. This should be common sense, but showing a clean vehicle will help you get top dollar. This includes cleaning the interior, the trunk, degrease the the engine as well as polishing the chrome and waxing the paint. Consider using a professional detailer. It may cost you a couple hundred dollars, but the pros are efficient and usually can do a better job than your average Joe.
- Advertise. Most classic car sales begin on the Internet. Websites like ClassicCars.com and AutoTrader Classics are great places to showcase your classic car or truck. Local print ads are also a good way to get the word out. Try your local paper or a classic car publication. 5. It’s all about having the right ad in the right place at the right time. Be sure to create your ads with keywords that will help justify the price you are asking. “Super Clean, “One Owner”, “Fully Restored”, etc. are just a few ideas to keep in mind when describing your classic car for sale. You should also include as many pictures as you can. At a minimum you should include one shot of each side of the car, one of the interior and one engine shot.
- Be Available. It doesn’t matter if you have the best ads in the world, If a buyer cannot get in touch with you when they are looking, it can really ruin your chances of a sale. Its a good idea to place your phone number and email address in all of your advertising. Check voice mails and email regularly so you don’t miss the sale.
- For Sale Signage. If you choose to put a “For Sale” sign in your vehicle make sure you remove the sign at night and always park in a secure location. These signs are notorious for attracting criminals. Chances are you won’t be around to check on the car regularly and they take advantage of the siting prey.
- Hire a Broker. If you are selling a high-priced classic, then by all means hire a professional to sell it for you. Make sure you get all terms and conditions in writing including their marketing plan, time frame and the commission percentage they are expecting to make from the sale.
- Watch Out for Crooks! Unfortunately there are bad guys lurking out there waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. That is why you always need to keep the original title, registration and other original paperwork in a secure location. Make sure you block out title numbers and addresses on any copies otherwise this information could be used against you to obtain a duplicate title.
Parting with a classic car or truck can be a difficult choice. Follow these steps to make the process as painless as possible and get the most out of the sale.