Selling Your Car vs. Trading It In

BAY CITY, Mich.- Have you recently taken on the task of selling your vehicle on your own? Have you been wondering if you'll make less money by trading in your vehicle? If you're looking for an honest explanation that will help you understand which option is best for you, check out our truthful series: What To Expect When Selling Your Vehicle Yourself and What To Expect Before Trading In Your Vehicle.

In our opinion, selling your vehicle outright isn't for everyone. If you enjoy meeting new people, have no problems negotiating or working with the public, and have your vehicle priced at less than $8,000, then it may be right for you. But if you're not interested in the hard work, liability, and details that go into selling your vehicle on your own, then you may be better off trading in your vehicle. There are many different aspects to consider in both situations and you should definitely take the time to consider which is best for you. 

See what some of Hank Graff Chevrolet's clients had to say about the process of Selling Your Car vs. Trading It In:

"In regards to my aspect of purchasing and trading in to obtain a new vehicle I have to say the trade in process was much nicer than dealing with selling it outright through different sources.  First, working hand and hand with the dealer (Graff of Bay City) I was able to find and customize the vehicle to my particular liking. I wasn't forced to settle for part of what I was looking for, I was able to get 100% of what I wanted making it a much easier process than looking through multiple sources.  I have sold vehicles on my own before in front of my house and that can be a long and tedious process, not to mention dealing with all the paper work of transferring and State papers. While this was the first time I have ever traded a vehicle in, I have to admit it was the most relaxing process ever and took little effort on my behalf. The dealership took all the hassle out of the transaction.  I received an excellent quote for my trade and didn't have to do anything outside of supplying my title and a signature.  The nice feature of trading in my truck was being able to use it directly to take expense right off the top of the new purchase. I looked at it in the aspect of an equation ( my time saved + no hassle selling the vehicle on the road + being able to apply the trade immediately to my purchase = any difference in price I may have gotten from trying to sell it any other way if any difference at all) Basically time saved and hassle averted makes trading a very viable and sensible decision.  It makes it much nicer when a dealer works as hard for you as Graff did for me and I will always remember that experience and work with Graff in the future.  Even though this was my first new vehicle purchase I am sure down the line I will purchase another vehicle and will take advantage of trading in."
     -Aaron, from Mid-Michigan 

"I tried for over a year to sell my Yukon.  I thought initially that this would be no problem since I always take good care of my vehicles.  I reached out to Lisa at Graff Chevrolet because I have purchased from her before and she gave me a fair trade in value, however I thought for what the difference was I would still try to sell it outright.  I had several inquiries plus an offer to trade for jet ski's(not sure how that would have worked out), but nothing ever came together.  In looking back I wish I would have sold the vehicle to Graff Chevrolet sooner.  It all turned out good in the end and because I am limited on my time have learned that in my situation it is best to trade in compared to selling outright."
     -Ben, from the West Side of Michigan

"Marc and Lisa were extremely accommodating during my entire experience in purchasing my new vehicle. Both of them provided excellent communication during the entire process.  The customer service that I was shown was above and beyond anything that I was ever expecting!  Marc came by my work with an Equinox to test drive, while he drove my car back to the dealership to get a quote on the trade-in value.  I am so extremely happy with the way my transaction took place, and will definitely send everyone I know to have the same great experience at Graff Chevrolet in Bay City!"
     -Jordan, from the Great Lakes Bay Region Michigan

If you're looking for an honest opinion while debating Selling Your Car vs. Trading It In, we'd be happy to help! Just stop by your Female Friendly Dealership, Graff Bay City, located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Graff Bay City, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Lisa Rechsteiner
General Manager
Graff Chevrolet, Inc.
Any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at lrechsteiner@graffsales.com.

What To Expect Before Trading In Your Vehicle

BAY CITY, Mich.- If you are, or have ever been, in the market to sell your car in an effort to purchase a new vehicle, you had to make the decision whether to sell it on your own or trade it in. You may have read our feature on What To Expect WhenSelling Your Vehicle Yourself, and now we’re going to take you through What To Expect Before Trading In Your Vehicle, honestly. This is not your typically How-To explanation. We’re going to tell you exactly what you can expect when you’re thinking about trading in your vehicle.

First off, it doesn’t matter if you’re selling your vehicle yourself or trading it in, it’s important to be upfront about the condition of the vehicle. If you decide to trade in your used vehicle, the dealer will usually check the history of the car so there is no use in hiding information about its condition.

Now, the first thing on your mind is probably your vehicle’s trade in value. While you have an advantage here by being able to shop around for the best trade in offer, you must also keep some other things in mind. Yes, some dealers will just tell you what you want to hear in regards to price, but that may not be how much you will actually get and that it most likely not the type of dealership you want to work with. So, prepare yourself by first researching what your vehicle may be worth on a site such as KBB.com.

Next, What You Can Expect Before Trading In Your Vehicle if you choose to work with a reputable, honest dealership, is that you will begin to build a relationship with one of the sales people or the sales manager, whether it be over the phone, online, or in store. You should feel comfortable working with your dealer, and while you may have no experience in the automobile industry, it’s important to keep in mind that your sales person is actually at a disadvantage too. Why is this? An honest, knowledgeable salesperson knows that they must first gain your trust in order to proceed. They want to understand your ultimate goal in order to help you trade in or buy a vehicle that is truly beneficial to you. By understanding your needs, they can help you better. Not to mention, trading in a vehicle that is worth something to you, or purchasing a new vehicle, are both huge investments. It’s worth the time to build the relationship and feel 100% confortable with your dealer and salesperson.

Once that relationship is built, you can expect that the trade in value of your vehicle will be based on the actual cash value of the trade, not on the value of the vehicle you are interested in purchasing. While you can negotiate the trade in value, you will mostly only be able to adjust the price by the $100’s, not $1,000’s. You can also expect this offer to be less than if you were to sell your vehicle yourself. But this is okay because the dealership is now doing all of the work instead of you: advertising, insuring, and taking the liability of the vehicle, while covering the costs of doing business.

Whether you’re interested in selling your vehicle yourself or trading it in, there is a lot to consider before making a final decision. Take the time to decide which is best for you, and don’t be afraid to get the opinion of your reputable Bay City Area Chevrolet Dealer. We would be more than happy to help you figure out which option is best for your needs and wants. If you have any questions on What To Expect When Trading In Your Vehicle, feel free to stop by! Graff Bay City is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Graff Bay City, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Lisa Rechsteiner
General Manager
Graff Chevrolet, Inc.
Any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at lrechsteiner@graffsales.com.

What to Expect When Selling Your Vehicle Yourself

BAY CITY, Mich.- Have you recently decided to sell your vehicle yourself? Or have you been thinking about whether selling your vehicle yourself is the best option for you? Do you know everything that is involved with selling your vehicle on your own? It is important to consider every aspect involved with selling your vehicle on your own, so find out right now What To Expect When Selling Your Vehicle Yourself.

You first thought is probably that you can make more money if you sell your vehicle yourself rather than trade it in. While it is true that you could possibly make up to $1,500-$3,000 more when selling your vehicle yourself, you must also consider the costs of doing it on your own, rather than through a dealership. First, you will probably list your vehicle on Craig’s List, Ebay, Cars.com, Autotrader.com, or even in the newspaper. When someone interested in your vehicle contacts you, the first thing you will want to do is make sure that they have full coverage insurance since they will most likely want to take the vehicle on a test drive. This is important not only because of the possibility of a collision, but because of liability as well. Since you still technically still own the vehicle at this point, any liability will fall back on you. However, depending on your state laws, some situations may still fall back on your insurance, so make sure you are aware of your local laws before heading out for a test drive.

The second important aspect of selling your vehicle on your own is to make sure that you are extremely clear that you are selling the vehicle “AS IS” and you assume no responsibility once the title has been transferred to the new owner. In the situation of selling your vehicle, you do not want to encounter any miscommunication and you don’t want to be responsible for the vehicle after the title has been transferred, so always be upfront about the condition of the vehicle and let the interested buyer know that you are selling the vehicle “AS IS” without any warranty. If your vehicle has been in an accident, it is important to disclose this information and let the interested buyer know where the vehicle was repaired. Never try to hide this information. Should you have a factory warranty or an extended service contract on the vehicle, make sure the prospective buyer understands that this is supplied by the manufacturer or the extended service contract company. To be completely safe, the seller and the buyer should actually sign a contract that states they both understand the vehicle is being sold “AS IS”.

The last thing to expect when selling your vehicle yourself is what happens when you actually sell the vehicle. If you own your vehicle without any liens or have the ability to pay it off before you sell the vehicle, it definitely makes it easier to transfer the title to the owner. Things get more complicated when you still owe money on the vehicle since you will have to pay it off before they can buy it or you will have to work out an agreement that they will pay you for the vehicle, and you will then get them a clear title within 5 working days. When taking funds from a private party make sure you only accept cash, cashiers check, or money order, and then go directly to the bank with the buyer to cash the funds. You never want to accept a personal check unless you retain ownership of your vehicle until the personal check clears your bank. Then once payment is complete both the seller and the buyer will go to your local DMV/Secretary of State to transfer the title. This is where it is important to have a title without a lien. A DMV/Secretary of State won't transfer a title with a lien unless you have permission from the lending institution.

Now that you’re a little more familiar with What To Expect When Selling Your Vehicle Yourself, it’s time to evaluate all of the aspects that go into it and decide if it is the best decision for you. If you enjoy meeting new people and have no issues negotiating or working with the public, then it may make sense for you to sell your vehicle yourself. Especially if you have a vehicle that will sell for less than $8,000, since it is much easier for someone to have small amount of money saved up for a vehicle. If the buyer needs to secure a loan, smaller amounts are also easier to be approved for. When you get closer to the $10,000 price point, it is tougher for the buyer to secure a loan for the vehicle.

At Graff Bay City, we want to help you make the best decision for you. If you need help weighing the pros and cons of what to expect when selling your vehicle yourself, then stop by, we’d be more than happy to help! We’re located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website at www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Lisa Rechsteiner

General Manager

Graff Chevrolet, Inc.

Any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at lrechsteiner@graffsales.com.