Integrated Way to Selling a Used Car

I was driving along a sunny back road late last autumn, in my 1999 Saab 9-3. As I eased into a foliage landscaped curve in my hamlet of New England, I sensed that it was time to sell the thirteen year-old car.

In order to do this effectively, I used an integrated approach that involved three components; price, condition, and marketing.

I had to come up with a reasonable asking price to encourage interest, while keeping in mind the ensuing negotiation that was bound to take place. Edmunds and KBB provided easy-to-use tools to determine what that price would be.


My car was well maintained and I'd kept all of the service records in a file folder in anticipation of this day. It only needed to be cleaned. My mechanic referred me to a reputable detail shop for a full service spa treatment. However, to save money, this can be a weekend DIY project. Just make certain that you pay attention to hidden storage areas, ashtrays, and glove compartments while tidying things up. And if you've been somewhat slack in maintaining the car, be sure to have your mechanic address this. Most buyers will have their mechanic inspect the car, so make sure that repairs are up-to-date. Red flags kill deals.

There are several on-line and traditional sources for marketing used cars. I used craigslist.com and my local university classifieds, but other sources also include autotrader.com, cars.com, and ebay classifieds. Note that the there is no cost for craigslist and ebay.


If you're social media savvy, use Twitter and Facebook, but keep in mind that these sites are part of an integrated marketing approach and should not be used as the whole enchilada, because with them, you're depending on others to get the word out for you. Message boards are also helpful. They can be found in classified sections of auto forums.

Living in greater Boston proved to be a tremendous asset for me. There are lots of colleges and universities. Most students in the market for a used car are looking for something to shuttle around in for a few years. One of the on-line university classified sources was a good fit. It was close to my home which made it easy for potential buyers to view the car in a convenient location. This saved me a lot of time. After viewing the car, interested buyers were able to make arrangements to test drive it, and the logistics of making that happen were simple because of the close proximity. In the end, a suitable buyer was found. My car met their needs, and their budget.