Do This Before You Sell Your Car To Save A Ton Of Money

Thanks to 2025 Trump tariffs on automobiles –  to the tune of 25% on automobile imports and automobile parts — the price of new cars in the United States is set to skyrocket (on top of how much new cars already depreciate). This means that consumers looking to purchase a vehicle in the near future might instead find themselves turning to the used car market to get a better deal. This means that, if you were thinking about selling your car anytime soon — now may be a better time than ever. 

With that said, before you make the decision, there are a few things you should consider ensure you get the best price possible on your vehicle. For starters, make sure to check the current Kelly Blue Book value. KBB is one of the most widely used and trusted industry standard tools that anyone can access to get an accurate price on the make and model of their car. This can serve as a great reference point to start from when listing your car for sale. Then, once you're ready to sell and have a listed price in mind, one simple tip in particular can make all the difference when it comes to getting your asking price: cleaning your car.

While it might sound silly, making sure your car is thoroughly cleaned, both inside and out, can help you get your asking price. This is largely because buyers want to know you took good care of the vehicle. A clean interior can offer would-be buyers a sense of relief that you cared for the car's engine similarly. One way to go about this is by getting a professional detailing service. This can cost anywhere from $200-$350 for a complete interior and exterior job. Meanwhile servicing just your interior or just your exterior will be closer to $100. 

If you want to save some money on this process, you can always wash the exterior of your vehicle yourself — either by hand or by using self-service car washes. Self-service washed can offer a simple and affordable way to clean up your car's appearance, usually costing between $5 and $10. Professional hand washes, on the other hand, typically start at roughly $20. Once all this is done, make sure to take high quality photos of the interior and exterior of your car to let potential buyers know it's indeed worth the price you're offering it for.

During, and even after, the COVID-19 pandemic the price of used cars increased significantly — leading to many used cars going for the same price as brand new vehicles. This was mainly due to supply chain disruptions, computer chip shortages, and inflation. As more and more consumers struggle to afford afford new vehicles — made worse due to tariff-fueled price increases — the demand in the used car market is sure to increase. This being the case, if you plan on selling your car in the near future, it's a good idea to refresh yourself on how to sign over a title and to remember that you don't always have to accept the first offer that comes in. Especially if the offer is below asking.

The specific reason to remember this tip in the near future is that with the expected increase in demand for used cars, more people than ever will be scouring the market for used vehicles. By accepting the first offer that comes in, you run the risk of potentially missing out on selling your vehicle for a better price to another customer in the future.