How To Sell My Car Fast

Car Care Tips To Help You Sell Your Used Car Fast

What We Do To Quickly Sell A Car For The Most Profit

The following list of car care tips is meant as an ongoing checklist of things to take care of way before you need to sell your used car fast. Though some of these tips can be undertaken immediately, others like oil change frequency require that you do regular maintenance on your engine. All these tips put together will help you sell your used car fast.

 

Clean and Detail

A clean, shiney car shows better and gets the "wow" factor when the buyer first sees it. Not only does it look great, but subconciously, it tells the buyer that the vehicle was well cared for and they won't have to spend anymore time or money to clean or fix anything. Because of that, customers have been more willing to pay our asking price. If you have taken good care of the car, then negotiations will be in your favor, because there will be no excuses or complaints from low ballers.

Auto Maintenance and Repair

OK. Now that you have your car looking good on the surface, the more discriminating buyer will look at the tires and shocks, check the brakes and other safety items like lights turn signals and of course, look at the battery. Others will go further, like check the oil to see the color and condition. That alone will tell the more astute or mechanically inclined buyer, how well the car has been cared for.

You've heard that an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", so to avoid expensive repairs, here are car care tips to keep your ride in tip top condition so when the time comes, you can quickly sell your car for the most cash.

Tires

The first thing the "tire kicker" will see is how good your tires are. To keep them in top shape your tires should be inflated to factory recommended pressure (you can find that info on a sticker on the door jam or in your owners manual) As a rule of thumb, if you can't find the specific factory recommended pressure, then 32 psi is always a safe bet for passenger car tires. Trucks that carry more weight will be somewhat higher. Always check your tires when they are cold, before you start driving down the highway.

Tire Safety

Any bulges on the tires indicate that they should be immediately replaced. If your tire tread is unevenly worn down, replace the whole tire even if there is plenty of tread left on most of the tire. Also have the wheel alignment checked on your car. These are problems that often cause uneven tread wear. Obviously, if your used car is showing balding tires, get them replaced with new ones. Few used car accessories command a higher price or helped me sell my used car fast like a really good set of tires.

Shock Absorbers

Check your shock absorbers. Not only for drivng comfort but also for control and safety on the road. Shock absorbers that need to be replaced often suffer from oil seepage.You can test shock action by bouncing the car up and down. The car should stop bouncing when you step back. Old, worn or leaking shocks should be replaced. Always replace shock absorbers in pairs.

New shocks will restore the function of your springs and suspension and can make your car feel like new.

Motor Oil

Of all the tips that have helped me sell my used car fast, this is a maintenance item that needs to be done on a regular schedule. Attention to a detail as seemingly insignificant as checking your oil once a month can pay off big when you want to sell your used car fast.

To check your oil, remove your oil dipstick from the engine, wiping it clean with a paper or rag, then re-inserting the dipstick into it's tube on the motor. Remove the dipstick a second time and look to see where the oil level is. The dipstick will have markings indicating how much oil is in the sump (usually an oil pan). If the oil level is low add the amount of oil necessary to bring it to the full mark.

To keep expensive repairs from happening, your used car's oil should be completely drained and replaced every 4,000 miles or 90 days, whichever comes first. Newer car's interval could be longer so check your owners manual. Older, high mileage cars have more wear and need to changed more often.

Remember to always put in a new oil filter every time you change the oil. The absolute minimum is twice a year. Modern cars have an oil change indicator. If your car has an electronic oil-change indicator on the instrument cluster, don't exceed its warning.

 

And now a word about the different types of motor oil.

Premium Conventional Oil

Standard on all late model new-cars. Auto manufacturers often specify a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for those cars in colder climates. The slightly heavier 10W-30 oil can be used by cars driven in warmer or less extreme weather conditions. These ratings cover just about every used vehicle on the road.

Full Synthetic Oil

Full synthetic oils have been around for years and are formulated for modern engines used in sports cars, performance cars and in luxury sports sedans. The type of oil is for high performance engines built with very close tolerances. Synthetics are often favored in more extreme climates because of the way they flow better at low temperatures and keep peak lubricity at high temps. The higher retail cost of synthetic oils is usually not justified for the daily commuter. Some folks swear by synthetic oils but the average driver with an average vehicle should just use conventional oils unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. As always, consult your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations.

Synthetic Blend Oil

These oils are a hybrid of synthetic oil mixed with conventional oil, and overall are formulated to provide protection for somewhat heavier loads and high temperatures. This type of motor oil is less volatile and is good for use in warmer climates because they evaporate slower than conventional oil, which reduces oil loss and increases fuel economy. Synthetic blend oils are often a good alternative for those drivers who want a little better engine protection for less cost than a full synthetic oil.

Higher Mileage Oil

Cars sold since the late 80s are built better than previous generations and are staying on the road longer than ever before. For those of you who intend to drive their cars a long time, there is also the option of using special oil formulated for higher-mileage vehicles. The benefit of higher mileage formulations is that they have special metal repair molecules and rubber conditioners for old seals (to help prevent oil leaks). That could help keep your high mileage car out of the shop because of engine wear issues, but that's only if you change your oil regularly. Depending on your driving style and conditions, a good rule of thumb is change your oil every 4,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. Higher mileage oils can be purchased wherever motor oil is sold. You can save a few dolars by keeping an eye out for oil change specials at places like NAPA, AutoZone, PepBoys or Walmart.

Your Car Battery

This is one of the most important things (after tires) to check if you want to sell your used car fast. If the battery looks new, then the buyer will know that you have taken care of any problems that are battery related. To avoid any battery problems (like hard starting or dim lights), check it every month. Replace your battery when it becomes dirty or as part of a tune-up. Your car battery is easy to reach, right under the hood. If you can't find it or don't know what to look for, ask your local service station attendant (or mechanic) to check your battery for you. Selling a used vehicle means taking care of corrosion issues on your car and the acidity of the battery compartment makes this a great place to start your preventative maintenance.

 

Belts

Engine belts and hoses should always be in strong shape with easy bending qualities. Any hoses or belts where the rubber is dried out, frayed, glazed, or starting to show too many shredded threads should be replaced immediately! Also, pay close attention to the metal clamps that hold the hoses in place. Make sure to tighten these clamps. Hoses that look bad or show excessive softness or hardness should be replaced. Selling a used car fast is easy when you take care of these very important details.

 

Brake Fluid

Check the brake fluid every couple of months. Pay attention to your car's brake master cylinder reservoir lid. If necessary, flip off the retainer clip and remove the lid or unscrew the plastic lid, depending on which type your vehicle has. Add needed fluid and check for possible leaks throughout the system. Pay special attention not to overfill the reservoir.

 

Exhaust

Loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports can lead to bigger problems for your used car. Check for holes in muffler or pipes and those people living along the coast should guard against rusted parts from all the damp, salty air. California's stringent smog laws require that your mufflers be in perfect operating condition.

Lights

Make sure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. Often a non-working light is simply a burned out bulb. Rarely will it be the result of simple short circuits but can be fixed for little money. The resale value on a used car with faulty lighting can take a nose-dive way in excess of the cost of fixing this simple problem.

Power Steering Fluid

Check the power steering fluid level evey couple of months. Check it by removing the reservoir dipstick. Add fluid if the level is down and inspect the attached pump and hoses for leaks. If the steering wheel squeaks too much when you turn it, you can be sure you need to replenish your power steering. Also look for leaks (a puddle of fluid on the ground under the car is a sign of leakage). Power steering hoses wear out over time and they can be difficult to service or replace for the home/shadetree mechanic. This is one time where you'll definately want to hire a professional, trustworthy auto mechanic.

Transmission Fluid

Check transmission fluid monthly with engine warm and running, and the parking brake on. Shift to drive, then to park. Remove dipstick, wipe dry, insert it and remove it again. Add the approved type fluid, if needed. Never overfill.

Washer Fluid

Even though it's a maintenance item that is not critical to your car's mechanical condition, it is one of those little details that used car buyers look for. Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full. You can even use some of it to clean off the wiper blades.

Wiper Blades

Inspect the windshield wiper blades whenever you clean your windshield. Do not wait until the rubber is worn or brittle to replace them. They should be replaced at least once per year, and more often if smearing occurs.

These tips and tricks are the same ones we use to quickly sell a used car at the highest price for the most profit. A serious buyer will always look for the best car he can get and will be willing to pay a higher price for a clean, well cared for vehicle. These car care tips, if implemented as we have described, will help you sell your car fast.