Classic cars are vintage vehicles that are at least between 20-45 years old. Collecting it is a hobby for some and an investment for several others. Sometimes both are intertwined as the price of a classic ride is dependent on their background story and how they were manufactured.
Selling a classic car is purely an art form as it requires much planning and effort which subsequently involves research. If done properly, you stand to make a whole lot of cash from it. However, finding the right buyer for your classic car at market value can be difficult considering it’s not just your regular old sedan. With that in mind, you can follow these tips below to sell your classic car for a good price.
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Get The Car Market Ready
When trying to sell your car and you have the intention of making a chunk of money from it, then you need to make sure that it is presentable. It should be as clean as possible (repainted if need be) and be in good mechanical order. Well, you might not need to do much as classic cars are driven as often as regular vehicles.
It’s not a must this is done but more value is placed on a product that has a great presentation. People would certainly prefer a vehicle that’s in perfect working condition than one with several issues. Getting your vehicle ready for the market makes it easy for interested buyers to seal a deal with you.
Then you might want to take some pictures and videos of the car for advertisement purposes. You never know where they might reach so treat the car as you would any exquisite item. Compile all the documentation required before you put it on sale. You might be lucky and see a buyer who wants everything completed that same day. So, have those papers ready to avoid delay.
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Have An Estimate Of The Car’s Value
Different services can be used to determine the approximate value of your classic car. The value varies depending on the condition of your car and how desperate a client wants it. Some people don’t mind paying exorbitant prices for a car because it brings back a good memory to them or they feel the price would go up in a few years. Either way, it’s usually advisable that you place your price a little bit higher than what it’s worth. That way, if a buyer wants to negotiate, you wouldn’t be at the receiving end.
There are forums online you can go through to see the current price of your car’s model and price. Check for forums within your region. You could also employ the services of a professional assessor to give you an estimate of the price of your car. It wouldn’t be cool if you had a buyer come up and ask how much you’re willing to sell and you can’t provide a definite answer because you don’t know either. Hence, the reason to have an estimate of the car’s value.
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Set Your Price
After you have an idea about how much your classic car is worth, the next is to set your price which shouldn’t be at all difficult. Depending on what you want, you can have it listed as negotiable or not. Just be sure to place a worthy price. Don’t forget that tip of setting the bar a little higher than you want to sell and that’s if you want negotiations open. They would only end up pricing it down to an amount you’re comfortable with.
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At What Venue Did You Intend To Sell The Car?
Like most products, classic cars need to be displayed rather than being parked in your garage. Where it is located affects how quickly you would sell and how much you’d sell. Also, the venue you choose will depend on what type of classic car you have.
Some cars do better at auctions and others are easily sold online. Take some time to read more here and learn about classic car dealerships. Giving it to a car dealer is an option to consider if you don’t want to go through the stress of selling it yourself. It would mean you get a quick deal but terms and conditions apply.
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List Its Rare Characteristics
Are there features, apart from it being a classic car, that makes it stand out? It could be rare color combos, souped-up engines, or fully loaded features. Don’t hesitate to make your claim about those characteristics.
When you do, get the proof that backs up your claim that your car has those features. The proof is the production numbers which can be gotten from the car manufacturer upon request.
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Go Beyond Your Region, Look International
Sometimes, classic cars tend to gain more traction outside the region of the seller. That doesn’t mean it is less desirable to collectors, it just might not be exotic. When you intend to sell to the international market, the possibility of your car being much rarer increases. Note, however, that there have to be actual rare features on your ride for it to be valuable or to make sense of the cost of exporting it.
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Have A Marketing Plan
Do you have any plan on how you’re going to get buyers to come around? There are various ways by which you can sell your classic car. You could decide to go through a car dealer, advertise, use word of mouth, or take your vehicle for car shows.
One thing is certain, however, if you want to sell your car(s), be ready to market by whatever means necessary.
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Meet Buyers In Person
Most of your buyers would want to see the car physically. Some would want to come along with an expert who can assess the vehicles and your claims about them.
You should be abreast with information about the car’s features and history. Honestly answer all of their questions if they have any.
Get someone to come along with you if perhaps you are not comfortable meeting prospective clients alone.
A vehicle in a generally good condition would make it difficult for anyone to notice if there are small defects. But that may not be good enough as experienced collectors can easily spot them when inspecting the vehicle. For you to make the most money from your classic car, avoid giving interested buyers an opportunity to lower your asking price or back off from the deal. These tips have been listed in no particular order, but you’re sure of making sales when you follow them.