Should i sell my suv

The decision to trade in a car or sell your car privately essentially comes down to two questions: How important is getting the maximum sales price for your old car, and how much work do you want to do to sell it? Otherwise, you might not be able to sell your car privately. Some dealers might pay off your old loan if you trade in your car. Image: Man sitting in cafe and working on his laptop. In a Nutshell Depending on the car you have, the decision to trade it in or sell it privately could result in a difference of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

But the hassle of selling your car privately may not be worth the extra cash. Advertiser Disclosure We think it's important for you to understand how we make money. Show Hide. About the author: Lance Cothern is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. You'll usually get the most money for your car, somewhere between the vehicle's retail and wholesale values.

You might not be able to sell your current car until after you buy your new car. So you won't be able to use the money as a down payment. If the old car isn't paid off, you could have an overlap of car payments until you sell it. You will need to negotiate with a buyer, but most usually aren't as experienced at haggling as a professional car salesperson.

You might have to pay more sales tax on the new car, but if you get more money for the old car by selling it yourself, you could still come out ahead. Learn more about choosing a used car, avoiding a lemon, buying and selling a used car, pricing and financing, and more in our used car buying guide. Get Ratings on the go and compare while you shop. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member?

If you're up for the extra effort there's no denying that private party can net you slightly more cash, but you'll have to put in a bit of time yourself to sift through all the offers, talk to potential buyers, and eventually meet with people to show them the car, so for many, trading a slightly lower valuation is less hassle than that. If anything is certain, it's that dealers have lost their bargaining advantage; with used cars at a premium and so many ways to buy and sell it's clear that cash is king.

If it were us, we'd go with the highest bidder. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Car and Driver. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses.