Sell It Or Trade It? The Best Way To Get Rid Of Your Unwanted Car

If you are planning to get rid of your unwanted car, there are many ways to go about it. The easiest way to offload an old car for most folks is to trade it in for a new car at the dealership. Others prefer to sell their unwanted car privately. If you are caught up in a dilemma of which of these two methods you should use, here is a look at arguments for both to help you make a decision that works for you.

Trading in your car

Dealers of used cars, such as Aabble Mass Auto Recycling, want your trade-in for many different reason, including for parts, so they make the procedure very easy and hassle-free, with most dealerships making a trade-in a same-day transaction. The main benefit of a trade-in is that it will save you time and effort, and it can be a pretty good deal if you negotiate a good price for the used car, meaning that you top up only a small amount to meet the sale value of a new car.  

This option can be convenient if you do not have the time or inclination to sell your unwanted car yourself, and you don't mind settling for a lower offer than you would actually get if you sold the car to a private party.

You may also stand to gain from substantial tax benefits when you opt for the trade-in option, as you only have to pay sales tax on the difference between the sale price of the new car you choose and the trade-in value of your old car. In states with high sales tax rates, this can mean saving a substantial amount on a new car.

Selling your car yourself

If your sole focus is getting as much money as possible and don't mind the work, then selling your used car privately is the way to go. When trading in your car, you will have to accept the value offered by the dealership, which could be hundreds of dollars below the actual market value.

When selling yourself, you can increase your bargaining power by advertising on multiple sources such as on local newspapers and online car sale websites, and then selling to the highest bidder.

You can also increase the resale value of the car by making quick repairs to crucial parts such as the windshield, bodywork and brakes, and clean the car to improve its appearance.

You will however have to take pictures, spend time and money on advertising and repairs and have to organize test drives with potential buyers, so be sure you have the required time and money if you want to use this method.