How to Prepare Your Car for Sale | Mobile AL

Prepare Your Car for a Profitable Sale.

How to Prepare Your Car for Sale in Mobile, AL

Looking to make space in your driveway? Lexus of Mobile is here to help. Sell your current ride to us and use that money towards anything you like. Whether it’s an old family sedan or a classy sports car, we’ll give you an offer that takes the hassle and risk out of selling your car on your own. Selling your car can be an easy process. To get started, visit our website to check your vehicle’s Trade-In Value. Then bring your car and your trade-in offer to our dealership. Our team will then inspect your car’s interior and exterior to ensure everything is in good working order before taking it out for a test drive. Remember, the condition of your vehicle can affect its value, so at the end of this process, you could earn more or less than your original offer.

Here at Lexus of Mobile, we have purchased pre-owned cars of all makes and models, and to help you, we want to share some steps you can take to ensure you get the best possible value for your vehicle’s sale.

Preparing Your Car for Sale

By taking the time to spruce up your ride before you bring it in, you’re able to put your best foot (or wheel) forward. So give your ride a little TLC — the less we need to do to prepare your car for our lot, the higher your vehicle offer could be.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some improvements you can make to prepare your vehicle for sale:

Interior Cleaning and Detailing

Start by cleaning and detailing your car. Coming to a dealership with a thoroughly cleaned car can make all the difference. You can either pay a professional detailer or do the work yourself. If you hire a professional, be prepared to invest a few hundred dollars depending on the services you choose.

Doing your vehicle’s cleaning and detailing yourself can be a big responsibility. Here are a few steps to help get you started:

  • Throw away all the trash (receipts, straw wrappers, etc.) and take out your personal items that you’ve gathered over the years.
  • Once everything is removed from your car, vacuum it. Don’t forget between the seats and all the hard-to-reach areas. Due to years of use, your floor mats may need more than just a vacuum. If they are still dirty, you can wash them with carpet cleaner or buy new mats at an auto parts store.
  • Remove any fingerprints or smudges by cleaning your windows on the inside and outside.
  • Next, clean out your car’s trunk. If a spare tire or any other tools came with your vehicle, then make sure it’s there when you sell your car.
  • Finally, spruce up the outside of your car. Remove any leaves or debris stuck between your windshield wipers and polish your tires and rims.

Exterior Refurbishments

As a car owner, you know that you will inevitably get a ding or scratch on your vehicle at some point. However, if you’re looking to sell your ride, these imperfections can impact its resale value.

We recommend fixing any minor issues to ensure you get the highest value for your vehicle. To fix it yourself, there are DIY kits available but remember, you may not be able to do it all. If it’s a serious issue, you may have to visit an auto repair shop for a professional fix. Before allowing a body shop to carry out a major repair job, ensure you get a quote and assess whether it makes sense financially to proceed with the repairs. Depending on the repair cost and value of your car, it might be better to sell the vehicle as-is.

Minor Repairs and Replacements

Additionally, if there are any repairs or replacements that need to be made on the vehicle, like worn-out windshield wipers or a damaged tire, you should get those replaced. These are simple fixes and will increase the value of your car. Schedule a service appointment to have a mechanic take care of these repairs and top off your vehicle fluids.

If your car requires extensive work, this could be a costly update, so we’d recommend waiting before making any significant changes. Try to avoid costly repairs if possible because you don’t want to invest more money into your vehicle than you will get from selling it. To get the best value for your model, transparency is key. Be honest about your car when bringing it into the dealership for inspection.

Removing Customizations

Lastly, all those fun customizations you did to make your car yours, you’ll want to have those removed. Customizations can detract from a vehicle’s resale value. By making it more generic, potential buyers will be able to better visualize their own style of the vehicle. However, if your add-ons are more intricate (like internal modifications) you can leave it as-is as it may not be worth removing. If that’s the case, when you come in to sell your vehicle, let the team member assisting you know.

Here at Lexus of Mobile we make selling your car quick and easy, but there are steps that you, as the owner, can take to ensure you get the best offer for your vehicle. For more information about selling your vehicle, contact us today or stop by our dealership at 3024 Government Blvd, Mobile, AL 36606. We look forward to serving our customers near the Gulf Coast, Daphne and Spanish Fort.