How to Sell a Car at a Dealership

If you plan on trading in your current car for a new one in the Chicago area, you may be wondering how to trade in a car at a dealership for a new one. If you have equity in your current car, you can use the trade-in toward the down payment. You may also be wondering how to sell a car at a dealership without buying a new one. No matter which option you choose, we can teach you how to sell a car at a dealership. Learn more about the trade-in and selling processes with the team at Sutton Ford in Matteson!

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work? 

So, how does selling your car to a dealership work? Selling your car to a New Lenox-area dealership is an easy process: 

• Clean Up Your Car: Having your car washed, and detailed, and replacing small parts like windshield wipers or floor mats is a great way to increase the value of your vehicle before you bring it to the dealership. 
• Write Down the Benefits Of Your Car: Having a detailed history of the maintenance record of your vehicle, a list of its additional features, and a list of its accessories like extra key fobs or bike mounts will increase the value of your vehicle and make it more appealing to dealerships. 
• Have Your Car’s Title on Hand: Having your vehicle’s title ready when you sell it will save time on the dealer’s end and get you your offer faster. Find out how to trade or sell a car to a dealership that is being financed here.
• Research Your Car’s Value: Use tools from Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, or your local dealership to find the trade-in value of your car. You can use this number to negotiate your price or get an approximate value for what the dealer is willing to buy your car for.
• Pick Your Dealership Wisely: If you have a newer, gently used vehicle then most Hammond-area dealerships will buy it regardless of their inventory or the car’s initial condition. However, if you have an older model car, then you may find it’s easier to sell it at a used car dealership instead.

What to Expect 

After preparing your car for sale, you can expect the rest of the process to go as follows: 

• Make an Appointment: While you can walk into a dealership and sell your car, it’s best to make an appointment, so the dealer knows to expect you and can have the proper documents ready. 
• Used Car Manager: Most dealerships will direct you to a Used Car Manager or a salesperson to handle the sale. They’ll collect your information, and then run a vehicle history report on your car. 
• Inspection: In some cases, the Used Car Manager will inspect your vehicle, or they’ll have it taken to their service center for an inspection of its quality and mechanical condition. 
• Consider the Offer: Based on what the dealership offers you, you can accept the offer or go to another dealership to see if you can get a better offer. 

Sell Your Car to Sutton Ford!

Now that we’ve gone over how selling your car to a dealership works, it’s time to bring your car to Sutton Ford for a quote. If you see something on our lot that catches your eye, be sure to contact us to schedule an appointment for a test drive. You can even get pre-approved for financing online and browse our car-buying tips before visiting our Matteson showroom.