How to Sell a Car at a Dealership

Many auto dealers in and around Indianapolis will buy your current car, truck, or SUV as part of a down payment to put towards a new vehicle. Or you can sell your car to a dealership outright, regardless of where you buy your next vehicle from. 

You can put the proceeds of the sale as a down payment to lower the amount of your auto loan. Or you can keep the cash and spend it on whatever you like! Whichever you choose, learn how to sell a car at a dealership with our guide to this process. We’ll take you step by step so you can get the most out of the transaction.

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work? 

Selling your car to a dealership near Frankfort like Lafayette GMC is relatively simple. Follow these steps as you understand how to sell a car at a dealership. You can always reach out to us if you have more questions.

• Thoroughly Clean Up Your Car: Having your car washed and detailed makes it sparkle while improving its curb appeal for the dealership. Replace small parts like windshield wipers or floor mats to increase the value of your vehicle before you bring it to the dealership. Making it look nice can leave a great first impression on the sales and service team.
• Write Down the Benefits of Your Car: Make sure to write down a detailed history of the maintenance record of your vehicle. Sometimes, these service records will appear on a CARFAX history report, depending on where you take your vehicle for service. List its additional features and accessories like extra key fobs or bike mounts. These will increase the value of your vehicle and make it more appealing to dealerships. 
• Have Your Car’s Title on Hand: Having your vehicle’s title ready when you sell it will save time on the dealer’s end and get you your offer faster. Selling your car to a dealership is easier when your title is free and clear without any loans to pay off.
• Research Your Car’s Value: Use tools from Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, or your local dealership to find the trade-in value of your car. You can use this figure as a starting point for negotiating the final offer you get from a dealership. Keep in mind the dealership will assess the vehicle’s condition and how many repairs it may have to make as well as the popularity of your vehicle. The final trade-in value may differ from what you find online, but it will give you a close approximation of what to expect. The dealership will recondition the vehicle at some point to sell it as a quality used or certified pre-owned vehicle.
• Pick Your Dealership Wisely: If you have a newer, gently used vehicle, most dealerships in the Delphi area will buy it regardless of their inventory or the car’s initial condition. However, if you have an older model car, then you may find it’s easier to sell it to a used car dealership instead.

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work: What to Expect 

After preparing your car for sale, the process will generally follow these steps. This is the second part of the answer to, “How does selling your car to a dealership work?”

• Make an Appointment: While you can walk into a dealership and sell your car, it’s best to contact the dealership to make an appointment. This ensures the dealership has the right staff on hand to take care of your transaction. 
• Used Car Manager: Most dealerships will direct you to a used car manager or a salesperson to oversee the sale of your car at a dealership. They’ll collect your information, and then run a vehicle history report on your car, truck, or SUV. 
• Inspection: In some cases, the used car manager will perform an initial inspection of your vehicle before passing it on to certified service technicians for a closer look.
• Consider the Offer: Based on what the dealership offers you, you can accept the offer or go to another dealership to see if you can get a better offer. It’s completely up to you how you want to proceed.

Sell Your Car to Lafayette GMC!

Now you know how to sell a car at a dealership in Lafayette. If you have further questions or just want more details about how our process works, contact us or call (765) 257-2942 at your convenience. We’re happy to help in any way we can! In the meantime, connect with our finance center to learn the ins and outs of car shopping.