You made a serious commitment when you bought your car. You had to pay an enormous amount of money to bring it home, and pledged much more for the expensive upkeep. You protected it from the elements, parked it away from all others, treated it to the occasional high-speed adventure on the open road, and buffed it with its own special towel. So, it makes sense to devote some time to what to consider before selling your luxury car.

Saying Goodbye

Whether or not you follow through with a sale, you should emotionally prepare yourself to let go. Parting with a vehicle is similar to breaking up with a significant other, but be sure to remind yourself that what you had was real, beautiful – and now over. You can feel good about passing on the joy by sharing your car with a new owner. If you don’t come to grips with your decision, your sentimentality may cause you to inflate your asking price beyond the car’s value, drawing out the process painfully.

Taking Inventory

You’ve been enjoying your car all this time, not coldly calculating what you can get for it. But now you should compile a list of all its features and specifications. Have the information at hand about the make, model, year, color, mileage, and more. Take pictures. Make note of any upgrades or enhancements that can boost the sale price.

Top Condition Sells

Take care of any warning lights on the dashboard, and make sure the engine is in tip-top shape. You don’t want your car to be considered a fixer-upper. Is everything in good working order? Fix any dents or scratches – they’re minor fixes that can have a big impact on price. Pay attention to your luxury car’s appearance, detail the interiors, and give it all a good wash and polish.

Online Research

You might be an expert on the topic of your beloved car, but you are likely not an expert on the luxury car resale market. Get up to speed on what you can about your specific model, because different years received different critical reactions. You can find fairly precise comparisons online that can help you realistically judge future offers. Check the blue book value and look into what cars depreciate the fastest and which retain their value.

Buyers Are Limited

Let’s face it, getting ready to sell your Porsche is a little different than putting up your old comic books on eBay. Very few people can afford your car, even fewer are looking for a preowned luxury vehicle, and there’s no surefire way to find each other. Think about how soon you are willing to wait for a sale, and how much time you can devote to finding a buyer. This will guide you in the next steps of your search.

Pros and Cons of Classifieds

Listing your luxury car on Craigslist is an option, especially since it can cost very little or nothing to advertise in the classifieds. Then again, it could be a colossal waste of time. You may want to skip this step to try and reach your target audience more directly. You may also want to classifieds because they can be breeding grounds for scammers, and a luxury car listing is an attention-getter. Frauds prowl classifieds, and they know a lot of ways to cheat you out of your car.

Websites Take a While

You can find car listing websites that cater to the buyers you’re looking for, and they’re more reliable than classifieds. You’re more likely to find buyers who are trustworthy, interested, and have the necessary cash. The process isn’t as fast as working with professional buyers such as Nahas Motorcars , though, because you have to account for the middleman. The back-and-forth can get drawn out, and there will be extra fees for the website and specific protocols.

Auctions Are Risky

There may be local auctions that suit your purposes, which is more convenient than trying to cast a nationwide net for buyers. You will know ahead of time that bidders are serious. But as in any auction, there could be a bidding war that escalates the price beyond expectations – or a lack of bids that result in a low price. If your heart can take it, an auction can pay off, as long as you make your peace and set a starting bid that, in a worst-case scenario, you can live with.

Test Drive Drawbacks

If you find a potential buyer, the best way to show off the appeal of your car is to offer a test drive. You have to experience the thrill of driving an exotic car to understand why they cost so much. You could even seal the deal before merging lanes on the highway. Of course, the downside is obvious: once again, this could be an opening for a scammer to hijack your car, or for a nervous driver to damage it. Insist that you go along on the ride, and plan out the route ahead of time, directing the driver where to go.

Procuring Payment

If you are successful in agreeing to a deal, take a beat before you hand over the keys to your car. It’s easy to get scammed with a fake or fraudulent check, and you may not be able to identify counterfeit cash. Always contact the bank if you have a bad feeling about a deal, and wait to verify that the cash is in your account before letting the new owner drive off into the sunset.

Skipping the Hassle

When you’re selling an exotic vehicle, the stakes are high, and you probably haven’t done it before. There’s a lot to know, the process can take a lot of time, and you may accept a lower price than you should have. Many sellers prefer to deal directly with luxury car buying specialists that can dramatically shorten the process. You can check for a buyer’s reputation online with reviews, and screen them ahead of time by phone.

When you’re deciding what to consider before selling your luxury car , consider what Nahas Motorcars can offer that no other buyer can. No matter where you are in the country, we come to you, and the entire transaction can take about 20 minutes. We know our stuff and don’t waste your time haggling. There are no worries if our money is good — we pay on the spot, and take care of any loan payouts at the same time. Contact us to get started, and before you know it, you’ll be shopping for your next car.