What is the flow when selling a car?Explains what to prepare and precautions

Even if you want to sell a car, there are probably many people who don't know what to start with. It may be easy if you just sell it normally, but if you want to sell it at a high price, the story changes.

This article is designed to answer the above questions. In addition to how to choose a sales destination, we also introduce tips and precautions for selling cars at a high price.

The flow of selling a car is the following 7 steps

First of all, I would like to briefly introduce the flow of selling cars. Selling a car is divided into the following seven steps.

〇 7 steps to sell a car

It will take a week or two to complete all of the above steps. It is not uncommon for it to take about a month if the selection of the seller and the preparation of necessary documents are delayed.

The price of a car drops every day, so it is not recommended to spend too much time selling the car. Therefore, let's prepare for the flow in this article and proceed with the sale smoothly. From the next chapter, we will explain each step in an easy-to-understand manner.

Step 1. Choose a seller

The most important thing when selling a car is deciding where to sell it. You have the option of selling at a dealer for the time being, but if you want to sell at a high price, that's not enough.

Here, we will explain the following three methods that are often cited as methods for selling cars.

3 car sales destinations

The lower you go, the higher the price of the car, but due to the amount of trouble, we do not recommend "buying and selling between individuals". I will introduce the reason from now on.

1. Dealer

If you plan to buy a new car and haven't decided how to sell your car, most will use the dealer's trade-in. Trade-in means deducting the sale price of the car from the purchase price of the new car.

For example, if the purchase price of a new car is 3 million yen and the trade-in is 1 million yen, you only have to pay 2 million yen to the dealer. The biggest merit is that you can purchase a new car and sell the car at the same time.

However, it has the disadvantage that the sale price will be cheaper. In addition, there is always a discount on new car purchases. If you use trade-in at a dealer, you may be able to reduce the discount amount in order to make the sale price look high.

By reducing the discount on new cars and adding the money that floats to the valuation amount, the apparent valuation amount can be increased. However, only the dealer's sales staff knows the breakdown, so the seller does not know.

Unknowingly, the magic of numbers can be fooled. Due to these disadvantages, we do not recommend trade-in of dealers for those who want to "buy a new car cheaply" or "sell a car at a high price". Dealer trade-in is a service for those who want to minimize the hassle of buying a new car and selling a car.

The trade-in is explained in "Is it true that car trade-in is cheap? What is the difference from car purchase?"

2. Purchase shop

In recent years, more and more people are selling to car purchasers, such as Gulliver and Big Motor. Since it specializes in car purchases, the biggest merit is that it sells at a higher price than dealers. Especially recently, the number of companies that sell used cars in-house is increasing. Therefore, it is possible to establish a cycle of "in-house purchase / in-house sales", and even more expensive purchases can be expected.

Since the number of such companies is increasing compared to the past, we can expect competition among them. By competing with multiple purchasers, it is possible to sell a car at a much higher price than a dealer. However, there are too many similar stores, and there is a disadvantage that you do not know which one to choose.

The recommendations of the purchase shop are explained in "[2022 latest version] Reputation of car purchase shop and recommended ranking definitive edition".

3. Buying and selling between individuals

Recently, Mercari and Yahoo Auction have appeared, making it easier for individuals to sell their cars. If you use a dealer or a purchaser, you will inevitably get a "margin" that benefits each dealer.

Depending on the vendor, you may get a margin of 200,000 yen or more, so you cannot sell the car at the highest price. On the other hand, in the case of inter-individual sales, the car is sold directly to the user who wants it, so the used selling price is the selling price. Because there is no margin for the dealer, the car can be sold at a high price.

However, buying and selling between individuals has the disadvantage that the risk of getting into trouble is extremely high. In addition to not being paid, there are problems that lead to serious problems such as not being able to change the name. If you make a violation or accident without changing your name, you may be held liable.

In other cases, the car breaks down after it is sold, and it is difficult to decide who will pay for the repair. Also, if you sell it through flea market apps, about 10% of the product price will be charged as a commission. The higher the price, the higher the commission.

With this in mind, it's safer to have a vendor in between, even if you have some margin.

Step 2. Apply for an assessment

After deciding where to sell, it's finally time to apply for an assessment. If you trade in at a dealer, there is no problem if you request an assessment during the negotiation for purchasing a new car. Here, we will introduce the application method when having the purchaser make an assessment.

Find a nearby purchase shop

Most buyers have their own stores. If you are a nationwide company, you will surely have one store in your neighborhood. If you bring your car to one of these stores, you can get an assessment on the spot.

However, with that, only one company can be assessed, and the assessed prices cannot be compared. In addition, it may sell at a surprisingly high price if you receive an assessment from a purchaser rooted in the region, not just a major purchaser. Therefore, let's use the car lump sum assessment when selecting a purchaser.

Car bulk assessment is a service that sells cars at a high price

To briefly explain the car lump sum assessment, it is a service that allows you to request assessments from multiple purchasers. If you enter the zip code from the dedicated site, it will list the shops in the neighborhood.

All you have to do is select the vendor you want to request an assessment from and apply. You don't have to choose a vendor yourself, and you can request assessments from multiple vendors at once. With a car lump sum assessment, you won't have to worry about choosing a store.

Check the market price of your car

Even if you want to sell a car at a high price, it is meaningless unless you know the standard market price. Before getting an assessment, use the internet to find out the approximate market price.

The site for checking the car valuation market price is explained in "Simulation 7 site that shows the general car valuation market price without personal information".

Some car bulk assessment sites will display the market price after you apply. Another option is to use a used car search site to search for used cars with the same conditions as the car you want to sell. The average selling price minus about 200,000 to 300,000 yen is considered to be the approximate market price.

The market price is just a guide, so it is recommended to use multiple methods to check. If you look at all the results and know the average value, you can think of it as the market price.

The application for assessment is completed with just this. If you use the car lump sum assessment, you will receive a call from the purchaser who applied for it.

There are several car lump sum assessments, but the one we recommend is the "car sensor".

For recommendations on car bulk assessment, please see "[2022 latest] Recommended ranking definitive edition for car bulk assessment! Thorough comparison of 6 sites".

Step 3. Adjust the appointment

When you apply for an assessment, the purchaser will call you. It's a phone call to adjust the assessment date, so let's tell the free day and decide the schedule. If you use the car bulk assessment, you will receive a large number of calls immediately after applying.

In order to minimize the number of calls, it is necessary to schedule on that phone. If the schedule is not decided, the purchaser will call you many times. Also, when collecting multiple purchasers, it is recommended to set them at the same time on the same day.

Since all the purchasers meet together, there is an advantage that competition will occur and the assessed amount will increase.

The telephone support for car lump sum assessment is explained in "Is it possible to use only car lump sum assessment email? There is a way to reduce the number of calls".

Step 4. Get an assessment

Finally on the day of the assessment. The work of the purchaser's staff to confirm the car is the assessment. The assessment time is about 30 minutes to 1 hour for each company, so make sure you have enough time to schedule the day. Assessments are divided into cases where the purchaser receives the assessment at the store and cases where the assessor comes to his / her home.

Both are free to use and the results will not change. If you request an assessment from multiple purchasers, you will be subject to the assessment of each company. If you call all the purchasers at the same time on the same day, the assessment will be completed in 30 minutes to 1 hour for the entire company.

However, be aware that if you call them separately, there will be an assessment time each time.

Wash the car before the assessment

If you sell your car at a high price, wash it before the assessment. By washing the car, all scratches and dents on the body will be easy to understand. That way, you'll get an accurate assessment and you're less likely to lose.

If the body is dirty, scratches and dents cannot be seen and the amount may be reduced. The same can be said for the interior, so be sure to clean the inside of the car.

Car wash only removes dirt from the exterior and does not require waxing. Cleaning the inside of the car can be done with a vacuum cleaner.

The relationship between the car valuation amount and the car wash is explained in detail in "Does the car wash before the car valuation lead to an increase in the purchase price?".

Step 5. Prepare the documents

Once the assessment is complete and you are satisfied with the results, it is time to sign the contract. After signing the contract, we will prepare the documents for sale. The following documents are required to sell a car.

For mini vehicles, you do not need a registered seal and a seal registration certificate. The purchaser will prepare the power of attorney and the transfer certificate, so all you have to do is fill in and seal the necessary information.

The required documents for selling a car are explained in "List of required documents for selling ordinary cars and light cars and how to prepare and reissue them".

Step 6. Hand over the vehicle

The contract and delivery of the vehicle may take place on the same day, depending on the purchaser. Many purchasers use a method in which only the vehicle is picked up on the assessment date and then the documents are exchanged by mail.

Therefore, the assessment and delivery of the vehicle may be on the same day. If you are assessed at the shop where you purchased the car, you will have to use public transportation to return home after handing over the car. It's a good idea to keep unnecessary items in the car at home.

Step 7. Confirm your deposit

Once the vehicle and documents have been handed over, the sale price will be transferred to the designated bank account within a few days. Many of the major buyers will make the transfer in a couple of business days. However, it may take up to a week for small and medium-sized purchasers. Let's confirm when the transfer date will be at the time of contract.

Most buyers use wire transfers, so cash purchases are rare. Also, if you use the dealer's trade-in, the sale price will be deducted from the new car purchase price.

Keep in mind that you will not receive cash by wire transfer. In rare cases, you may receive cash by wire transfer only if the trade-in price exceeds the purchase price of the new car.

The above is the introduction of the flow of selling 7-step cars. Basically, the flow is the same for all selling methods.

Tips for selling cars at a high price

Once you understand the process of selling a car, know the tips for selling it as high as possible. We recommend that you read it before requesting an assessment, as it introduces the timing of high sales and tips that can be done immediately.

I care about mileage and model year

A car that sells well means a car that is very popular as a used car. In other words, it is important that the car is the one that the next person to buy will think "I want!".

The mileage and model year have a lot to do with that. In general, cars with mileage over 100,000 kilometers will be in less demand. Therefore, it is recommended to sell it before it exceeds 100,000 kg. Similarly, if the model year exceeds 10 years, the demand will decrease, so be sure to sell it before that.

The relationship between vehicle assessment and mileage is explained in "What is the relationship between vehicle assessment and mileage? How to sell high even for overrunning vehicles of 100,000 km or more".

Sell ​​before model change

Since cars are undergoing regular model changes, it is important to check the timing. If you sell a car after a model change, the purchase price will drop as an old model.

Therefore, let go of the car before the model change. Especially recently, the safe driving support system has been significantly upgraded due to the model change. Then, the demand for the old model will decrease. You can check the information on model changes on the Internet, so always keep an eye on the trends of new models.

Car wash and cleaning

Cleaning inside and outside the car is very important. A beautiful car will improve the mindset of the assessor. That doesn't increase the assessed price, but a good image is important.

Also, by keeping scratches, dents, and dirt on the interior in an unobtrusive state, you can receive an accurate assessment. Accurate assessment cannot be performed on a dirty car. As a result, it is evaluated that "scratches and dents may be hidden if cleaned later", and there is a possibility that the amount will be reduced.

Have maintenance notes and accessories ready

When a car undergoes regular inspections, a maintenance record remains in a maintenance note. These are important documents that show what kind of maintenance the car has received.

Having a maintenance note increases the likelihood of a high rating at the time of assessment. Therefore, be sure to check for maintenance notes in advance. We also recommend that you have all the accessories such as spare keys at the time of assessment. Missing items can cause negative assessments, so it's important to keep that risk low.

If you follow these rules, the assessor will be able to confirm the car. Preventing wasteful negative assessments is the key to selling a car as high as possible.

Questions when selling a car

There are many people who have some doubts about selling a car. Therefore, I would like to introduce all the things that many people have doubts about when selling a car.

Should scratches and dents be repaired?

Let's sell scratches and dents without repairing them. These are reduction points, but even if they are repaired and then sold, they will not be a positive assessment. The amount of reduction is insignificant, and in most cases the repair fee is more expensive.

Most buyers have their own garages. Since it can be repaired at a low price at the factory, scratches and dents are not a big reduction point.

Do you have a car inspection?

Even if you sell after undergoing an automobile inspection, you cannot cover the automobile inspection fee. Even if you sell it with two years left in the vehicle inspection, it will not be as positive as the vehicle inspection fee.

This is also the same reason why it is better to sell without repairing scratches and dents. Vehicle inspections can also be done at our own factory, so the purchaser doesn't really care. However, after the vehicle inspection has expired, you will not be able to run on your own, so you will not be able to receive an assessment of bringing it to the store.

The car assessment that has been out of inspection is explained in detail in "How to sell a car that has been out of inspection as much as possible and 3 selections to prepare".

What if the name is different?

If your name is other than yourself, you will not be able to sell your car. Be sure to change to your own name before receiving an assessment. If your name is a loan company or dealer, you must pay off the loan before you can sell it.

If you have already paid off the loan, you need to take the procedure of "release of ownership". If you are still on loan, let us know when you apply for the assessment. If the assessed amount exceeds the loan balance, the purchaser will take care of the necessary procedures and you can sell the car. If you fall below this, you will have to consult with the loan company as you will have to pay the difference yourself.

Selling a car with a loan balance is explained in "How can I sell a car with a loan balance? How can I sell it as high as possible?".

How long does it take?

As I mentioned at the beginning, it takes about 1 to 2 weeks to sell a car. It takes about 2 to 3 days from the time you sign the sales contract until the money is transferred. This is when everything goes smoothly, and if you stumble on any of the 7 steps in this article, you'll increase the number of days.

It often takes time to prepare the documents, so it is recommended to prepare the necessary documents in advance.

summary

In this article, we introduced the flow of selling cars. When selling a car, it takes the longest time to decide where to sell it. However, if the car you are riding is a mini car, a minivan, or an SUV, you will not have much trouble.

Any purchaser wants a popular car model, so you can expect expensive purchases. However, it is difficult to select a purchaser for cars with low demand such as sports cars and old cars. You will need to ask multiple buyers to make an assessment and patiently find the one that will buy you the most. Since the valuation amount varies depending on the purchaser, it is recommended to receive the valuation of at least 3 to 5 companies.

This is the same for those who sell popular models. If you want to minimize the effort and maximize the amount of money you can sell, we recommend using the Car Bulk Assessment. There are disadvantages such as many phone calls, but if you can divide it with a little patience, it is a service that you want to actively utilize.