The first step is to know the market. Family cars like minivans or sedans are always in high demand. People are always having children and growing their families. While these cars may not be the most exciting on the market, they are very practical to a lot of people. If you are selling a convertible or sports car, try to wait and sell it during warmer months. More people will want to look at a fun, flashy car when the it's wamr and the sun is shining so they can show it off around town. Also, do some research online and get an idea for what the average going rate is for cars similar to the one you want to sell.

A couple of useful tools online are Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds.com. These websites will help you to calculate what the fair market value for your vehicle is so you can price it accordingly. After researching what other people are selling similar cars for and getting a fair market value price for your vehicle, decide on a selling price. Make sure you leave some room for negotiating, buyers will inevitably try to get the best deal they can but you don’t want to end up taking a price lower than you really want. Also, price your vehicle carefully. People like the look of a nice round number, like “$8250”. If you price your vehicle at some arbitrary number like “47”, you could lose some potential buyers.

The next important step to take is to make sure you bump up your vehicle’s curb appeal. The first impression is a lasting impression. Take your car to an auto detailing place and get them to clean it from top to bottom. Make sure everything is as clean and shiny as you can get it. Remove any junk or trash from the floorboards and be sure to empty the trunk. Also, give the car a good washing and waxing and see if there are any scratches or dings that you can easily buff out so your car is looking its best. Most buyers will decide in the first few seconds of looking at your car whether or not they are even interested in buying it. Also, strongly consider getting a Carfax report to show buyers that the title is clean.

After you have gotten your car up and running and clean, it’s time to tackle the advertising. Newspaper ads, while a bit pricey, often get the best results. In this digital age, online ads can also be profitable. Many websites let you advertise for free and you could get some good hits off of them. Also, put a For Sale sign in the window of your car. This can be especially effective if you plan to continue to drive the vehicle while you are trying to sell it.

Once you have advertising out for your vehicle, be prepared for phone calls and always make the potential buyer comfortable so they will want to come out and look at the car. Also, be prepared for potential buyers to negotiate the price you have set. Try to prepare answers to questions like “What’s the best price you’ll give me” or “Would you accept (amount)?”. And finally, know your bottom line and don’t go below it; let the buyer leave and if they are truly interested, they will call you back the next day willing to pay your price.

Once you have a sale in the works, check with your local DMV to make sure that you are following all the laws regarding the sale of a vehicle. Sometimes you can also find a release of liability form to download on the DMV’s website. Record all important information about your vehicle prior to the sale, such as the odometer reading and be sure to keep copies of all the paperwork dealing with the sale. And finally, once the sale has been finalized and the title was signed over to the new buyer, remember to cancel your insurance policy. You don’t want to pay insurance on the vehicle for any longer than you need to!

Scott Conklin is the president of Conklin Cars, a leading provider of Kansas Ford, Kansas Toyota, Kansas Honda, and many other Kansas cars, trucks, and SUVs.  Conklin Cars can be found online at:  ConklinCars.com

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Car owners can unknowingly have large amounts of equity locked up in their vehicle, even if was bought with finance or hire purchase. What you will finally receive v. If the car was bought on finance a long time ago you may well have paid off most of the loan. If you acquired your car on a lease agreement the rules are entirely different. Find our how much you owe on your car by contacting the company for a balance. Repossession is the last resort of lenders who would prefer you sold your car to a dealer who will settle the balance including any missing payments.

Selling a car for cash, particularly if it needs to be done quickly, often means taking less than the car is really worth. Your local dealer will only want your old car if you buy a brand new one at full list price. So few people now read local newspapers than private classified advertising of used cars is often a waste of time.

Websites such as Sellmycar4cash buy used cars to use as stock for main dealers and offer to value and buy your car quickly without any fees or risk. Values can only be ontained on cars newer than 7 years and under 100 k mileage. Record all the deatils of your second hand car on the webpage form and a representative will call you back with a cash offer. Agreement of valuation would result in a call to make an appointment to meet, pay for and collect the car. If agreement is reached on the value of the car you are selling the next step is to arrange the meeting to view and pay.

Would-be used car buyers, of apparently real bargain cars, have been asked to meet in quiet places and told that the seller will only take cash. Unprepared buyers have arrived at the meeting only to have all of the cash taken by robbers who also drive off with the car.

Online used car buyers and sellers need to take great care to safeguard themselves and their money from this new breed of Internet fraudster and crook.

A good basic trustworthiness checklist would start with:

• Will they give a full name in advance and carry photo ID when you meet?
• Can the address of their premises by checked?
• Can they supply something other than just a mobile phone number?
• Check out their bank details if they will provide?
• If you agree to a bankers draft, as to meet at your bank where you can pay it in?
• Payments in cash should only be in pounds sterling to avoid forgeries that you may not spot.
• Finally, if meeting the buyer or seller half-way, make sure they agree to meet in a safe well lit place where plenty of people are about and take someone with you.
• Deal just too good to turn down? Might be a scam!

There are plenty of reputable online car firms who will sell you a car or buy one from you without risk but you do need to do your homework and check them out first. If they seem reluctant to give you information, particularly about who they are or where they based, then you had better assume the worst.