Car selling advice for ‘first timers’

We live in an age where we have just about every answer to just about any question at our fingertips - literally. Gone are the days when we had to page through dusty books to find what we were after, just to learn that those answers were already outdated...

What will the temperature be tomorrow? What movie should I watch? Restaurants near me, Jeremy Clarkson net worth, How to fix a toilet? These are just a few of the questions most of us have searched for online at some point.

A while back, we sat down and - just for some fun - we typed in 'How to sell my car?'. We are car people and despite operating in this industry for close to 15 years, we were left speechless when we saw that our search was met with over 3 000 000 000 results. Yes, you read that correctly - three billion!

We know that for first-time car sellers, selling your car can be a daunting and extremely time-consuming process. Your head often becomes flooded with questions: “Am I being scammed?”, “Can I trust this person?”, “Could I have gotten more for my car?” and “What the hell are all these papers for?!”

Every day we use devices that instantly connect us to anything and anyone. We have cookies tracking us every minute and algorithms that help determine our decision-making. With such advanced capabilities on hand, why hasn't someone found a better way to sell a car?

Why can't we just get a simplified, accurate, and complete look at the best options available, all in one place? Where it's easy to compare offers, easy to understand the data, and easy to make the right decision.

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Well, surprise surprise that actually does exist. It's called CarFling.

CarFling collects and stores all of your vehicle's data in a single, secure place and helps you see all your possibilities before you make any decision.

Our live behavioural and transactional datasets allow us to keep track of market dynamics unlike anyone else. These insights, in the hands of our seasoned veterans, helps get you ahead of the game.

Knowing what your vehicle is really worth in relation to what the market is willing to pay, as well as understanding how its condition affects the overall price - you're able to confidently approach the market, craft the best deal, and make the right decisions when it comes to selling your car.    

Ultimately, CarFling does also fall into the bucket of those 3 billion search options.

After decades of operating in the industry, we'd like to believe that we're different enough to not just stand out but more importantly, to stand the test of time. But if you're still not sure whether or not to journey with us, we'd still like to equip you with some of our expert knowledge to keep front of mind if you choose to go down this road alone.

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1. You need to chat to someone you can trust

Selling your car is a task that not many people really look forward to. Every experience is different, so reaching out to a family member or friend who has done this before will help you avoid unnecessary obstacles and could potentially save you some time and money.

Remember our latest CarFling, Joshua? He was also a first-time car seller who needed the money to follow his dreams and pursue a new life abroad. But he knew he couldn’t do it alone; so he turned to his mum for help.

If you know of someone who operates in the automotive industry, that's even better. Speaking to an expert is always the top prize.

Unfortunately, there are far too many scammers fishing for fresh bait in the second-hand car market. They're smart and know how to lure you into what looks like a shiny deal.

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2. Know what your options are

BC (Before CarFling) you've only really ever had two options...

• Sell your car privately
• Go directly to a business (where they'll eventually resell it to someone else)

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Selling Privately

It seems more efficient. It's a shorter path, with fewer hands, and less margin, and looks like it could pay out more.

So what's the downside?

• Your buyer will often have to sell their car first in order to buy yours
• Conflicting schedules can get in the way of getting the deal done
• And don't forget that value is subjective. What your car is worth to you is not necessarily going to be the same number your buyer has in mind.

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Selling To A Business

It seems more effective - you're dealing with a professional here. You expect them to have the expertise, resources, technology, data, and experience to help you get the ‘right’ price for your car.

So what's the downside?

• Simply put, you're given too many choices and without the know-how, it's difficult to see what your best option is
• It's time-consuming to drive to different dealerships, sit and wait for hours, and then have to go through the same process multiple times
• They'll buy your car upfront and later sell it for a higher price - the price you thought your car was worth!
• Finally, there is always that little voice in your head whispering "what if I can get a better deal somewhere else?"

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3. Know the value of your vehicle

This is the most important part of the process.

Before you can even start to think about selling - either listing it online or taking it to a dealership - you need to have a good idea of your vehicle's value. The market for used cars is something that is constantly changing with multiple different factors influencing the price of a car.

The only way to determine the true value of your vehicle, is by letting the market tell you what it is worth. This starts by getting a view of the whole used car landscape. Most people get a variety of different valuations from dealerships, websites and other marketplaces, before simply taking an average. But, all of this takes time - a lot of time!

The value of your car is determined by the following:

• Demand for the make and model in the market at the time
• Condition
• Service History
• Mileage

But most importantly, you need to remember that your car is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it!

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4. Sort out your car admin

Aside from knowing how you want to go about selling your car and its resale value, there is a lot of paperwork you need to prepare beforehand. This is crucial to ensure a seamless sale.

What do you need to collect?

• Personal identification
• Proof of ownership
• Settlement letter
• Notification of Change of Ownership (NCO)
• Application for registration of the vehicle
• Vehicle registration certificate
• Proof of sale of the vehicle sales agreement
• Roadworthy certificate (RWC)
• Service History

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There's a lot to do before officially stepping out of the driver's seat and handing over the keys.

Our expert advice? Don't do this alone.

Do it through CarFling, where we take care of all of this for you.

• Collecting and storing all of your car admin
• Professionally inspecting and valuating your vehicle
• Crafting the best deal for you
• Getting the sale over the line

If you're going to sell your car, be it your first time or your fifth, do it through CarFling. The most intelligent way to sell your car.

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