I wish we all had a military-sized budget for car shopping and no obligation to recoup money by selling our old cars, but that’s not the case. If you want to get the most out of your current car and upgrade with your next promotion or permanent change of station, you need to figure out how to get top dollar when you sell.
Here are some tips that can put money in your pocket, whether you plan on selling your car next month or several years down the road.
Stay on Top of Maintenance
Spending money on maintenance isn’t fun, but it’s probably the best way to protect your investment. Think of it this way: You’re either paying to have a nice car forever or paying to get more of your money back when you eventually sell it.
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That means staying on top of preventive maintenance such as oil changes. Some manufacturers recommend oil changes every 5,000 to 10,000 miles — or even longer — but you may want to change it more often if you drive in extreme conditions. What some consider a waste of money, others see as cheap insurance.
For everything else, find a mechanic you trust and carefully consider their advice. You might be able to postpone routine service items like fluid changes, ball joint replacements, brake pads and timing belts, but they will eventually cause serious damage and a hefty repair bill if you neglect them long enough.
Whenever you bring your car in for work, save the receipts. If you do your own wrenching at an on-base hobby shop (a great way to save money and learn new skills), keep a detailed log of everything you do. Potential buyers will pay more for a car that they know has been well-maintained.
Minimize Wear and Tear
Car ownership will always involve some wear and tear; it’s inevitable. You can keep it to a minimum, though.
Avoid eating and smoking in your car. No matter how careful you are, crumbs, spilled drinks and rogue french fries will manage to find their way into hiding places inside your car. Nobody wants to buy part of every lunch you ate for the past three years.
That goes for smoking, too. Smoking is still fairly common in the military, but the average buyer will be pretty appalled if they open your car door and get smacked with a whiff of stale cigarette smoke.
Storing dirty gear in your car is another no-no. There will be times when you get back from the field and have to pile a bunch of grimy gear into your car, but don’t leave it there long enough to fester and turn your trunk into its own biome.
Look after the exterior, too. Avoid parking in tight spaces where you’re more likely to get door-dinged. Buy an inexpensive sunshade to keep your dashboard from fading and cracking. Hand-wash your car or use a touchless drive-through car wash whenever possible instead of using what car enthusiasts call the slap-n-scratch.
Fix the Little Things
All of our cars have flaws, and we typically just get used to them. You might be able to ignore a burned-out light bulb or loose sun visor, but a prospective buyer will probably see it as a mark against your car, and they may wonder what else is wrong with it.
This is the time to replace that cracked windshield, install new windshield wipers and swap out your cabin air filter (it’s one of the easiest, cheapest and most neglected maintenance items). Burned-out light bulbs aren’t just annoying; they’re a safety hazard. Your local auto parts store will help you find the right replacement, and you can usually do the job with basic tools in a few minutes.
Damaged interior trim pieces can sometimes be a pain to replace, but you might be surprised. Looking up a video tutorial for your car on YouTube and ordering a component from RockAuto might totally revive your car’s interior.
Give Your Car a Makeover
When the repairs are all taken care of, you can focus on aesthetics and help your car put its best foot — or tire, in this case — forward.
Give your car a final wash and wax to help it shine. Get some pro tips and cleaning supplies from Griot’s Garage or Chemical Guys, and keep them handy for your next car. Throw a coat of wax or Nu Finish on the glass, too; that will help water bead up and run off, providing a clearer view of the road. Vacuum the carpets and seats to get your car’s interior looking as good as its paint.
If your headlights have grown yellow and oxidized, pick up a headlight restoration kit to get them looking bright and clear again. Using these takes some patience and attention to detail, but the rewards are worth it. This solution will eventually wear off and need a reapplication, but it’s cheap compared to the cost of replacing headlights.
Before you start snapping pictures or drive to the dealership, consider cleaning up the engine bay to remove dust and road grime. Some people want to see a freshly detailed engine compartment. Others want it untouched so they know you didn’t just wipe off evidence of an oil leak. Strike a happy middle ground with a quick wipe-down of the most visible plastic components.
Private Sales vs. Dealerships
What do you value more, time or money? Selling or trading your car at a dealership is quick and easy. Places such as CarMax will ask you to fill out a form with basic information, and if your car doesn’t light on fire during their test drive around the parking lot, it’s sold. They’ll give you a fraction of the car’s value, though.
Remember that dealerships have to make money on your car, either on their own lot or at auction. By the time they price in a mechanical inspection, detailing and listing it, there may not be much left for you.
The best way to get full market value for your car is to cut out the middle man and sell it yourself — if you have the time and desire to make that happen.
If you sell your car yourself, be thorough in your listing. Nobody should have to ask you for basic information like year, make, model, mileage and service history. Offering extra information, such as “never smoked in,” “oil changed every 5,000 miles” and “dealer-maintained,” is always helpful.
Invest an hour or so in taking good pictures that literally show your car in the best light. Taking photos in the golden hour (the time around sunrise and sunset) will give your car a warm, attractive look that’s much more appealing than the harsh top-down light of midday. Cover all the angles, inside and out. If anything is left to a potential buyer’s imagination, assume that they’ll think you’re hiding something.
Need inspiration? Head over to Bring a Trailer and look at listings like this one for a 2005 BMW M3. The seller clearly took the time to make sure the car looked great and share every detail.
Once you have all that information, cast a wide net. List your car on several sites and be prepared to answer questions and deal with a lot of people who ask whether it’s still available and never respond when you tell them it is.
I had one person knock on my door out of the blue asking to buy the car in my driveway, and another flew in from out of state to buy one. You never know who’s a serious buyer, so give everyone a chance to close the deal.
Finally, think about how you’ll accept payment. Some websites act as an escrow service, which is secure for buyers and sellers. If you accept cash or a check, do so at a bank and have a teller verify the transaction before you sign over the title.
Timing the Market
Being in the military has its perks, including how much money you can get for your car. Since you’ll likely be moving all over the country every few years, you’ll have easy access to multiple car markets.
A vehicle that’s a dime a dozen at one duty station may command a premium price at the next. Do your homework by researching what cars of your make, model and mileage are selling for at your current and future duty station before deciding when to sell it.
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