How to Sell Your Car for the Best Price Possible … in other words, “How can I get the most for my car?”

The first thing you need to do is get your car looking wicked awesome! This isn’t exactly front-page news, but people prefer to buy cars that are clean and well-taken care of. Do your best to make it shiny and looking as close to “like new” as possible.

1. Get your car detailed. Spending $100 to $200 for this service could add as much as $500 or more to your car’s resale value. Professional detailers have special tools to clean the car of dirt and grime inside and out. Whether you decide to hire a detailer or to detail the car yourself, be sure to take care of the following:
   • The exterior finish of the car deserves a multi-step process that will not only clean, but correct and protect the paint surface. Wash the car thoroughly and dry it to remove dirt and grim. Remove any tar or contaminants in the clear coat and polish and buff to remove any fine scratches before sealing by waxing the car to protect the paint and bring out the shine.
   • Wheels and undercarriage of the car needs to be cleaned as well … inside the wheel wells and around the major suspension components, such as anti-roll bars and control arms. Spray plastic splash guards and inner fender liners with a plastic protectant. Clean and use a tire spray that improves luster and brings out their original shine.
   • Use a polishing compound on headlights and taillights and then seal them with a plastic sealant.  Clean chrome or plastic trim … don’t forget to clean and polish tailpipes!
   • Shampoo carpets and floor mats.  Spray mats with a plastic or rubber protectant as well.  (Consider replacing the floor mats – it will make a big difference!) All interior vinyl or leather should be properly cleaned and conditioned, including the interior of the trunk.
   • Lightly mist the engine compartment with water and clean surfaces with a degreaser before rinsing.  When the surfaces are dry, spray any silicone, plastic, or rubber components to protect them from cracking.
2. Change the oil if the car is due and make obvious repairs. Little things like the battery not working in the key fob or the air filter or fan belt that needs changing can make a huge difference to your prospective buyer. Even bigger repairs can add substantially to the resale value.  New brakes, a scheduled service, new tires.
3. Have all your maintenance and service records on hand and in order. Order a CarFax report to show that your car has not had an accident.
4. Price the car realistically.  Use the Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) or the NADA Guides (www.nadaguides.com) to help. Look at cars being sold on www.cars.com or www.nightowlautoshop.com as well. Don’t forget to consider the “haggling” buffer so you can negotiate with the buyer.
5. Check out the NightOwl app for selling your car safely and successfully without the usual hassles of used car selling. No more nuisance or night phone calls. Watch a video to see how easy it is to sell your car with NightOwl (www.nightowlautoshop.com/#/private) If you have questions about NightOwl, call us at 877-459-3008 or email support@nightowlautoshop.com.