Selling your car isn’t as simple as putting a “for sale” sign in the windshield and hoping the perfect buyer sees it. Opting to sell it yourself instead of trading it in to a dealership can give you more bang for your buck, but that also depends on how you price it. Pricing it fairly and accurately can help you get the best price possible.
Prices for 3-year-old used cars have jumped almost $10,000 since 2020, but people are still buying used cars. Supply and demand for used cars at dealerships is fairly balanced, according to Kelly Blue Book. Cars on the used car lots can sell pretty quickly, though. Data from Edmunds shows these cars spend an average of 38 days on dealer lots in the second quarter of both 2025 and 2026.
Watch this video for tips
on boosting your car’s resale value.
Car resale value
The first step in selling your car is determining how much it’s worth.
There are several reputable websites that can help you determine your car’s value based on its age, condition and features. You can use your vehicle’s VIN, license plate number or manually select the make, model and features.
Popular websites include:
- Kelly Blue Book.
- Carvana.
- Consumer Reports.
- TrueCar.
It will ask you questions about the car’s condition before calculating an estimated value for a trade-in or private sale. It’s worth using more than one of these sites to see how the numbers compare.
But that’s just part of it.
Checking sites such as Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces where people sell their cars can give you an idea of what sellers are asking for the same or similar vehicles and how saturated — or not — the market is for your vehicle.
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Boost your car’s value
There are simple ways you can boost your car’s resale value.
One of the biggest boosters happens before you even decide to sell it. Staying up to date on your car’s regular maintenance, such as oil changes, brake checks and tire rotations, can have a positive impact on its selling price.
Hold on to the receipts and records, too. Having those on hand can boost a buyer’s confidence in purchasing your vehicle.
A clean bill of health from a presale inspection done by a mechanic or your local dealership can also reassure buyers and help justify your asking price.
Before you list it, take care of any minor repairs your car needs. Fixing things such as a cracked windshield or burned-out light bulbs, replacing worn seat covers and installing new floor mats can often add more value to your car than the cost of the repairs.
Even small things, such as replacing the windshield wipers and removing stickers, can increase its appeal to buyers..
A car wash and full detail, inside and out, right before you list your vehicle can make it more appealing to potential buyers and help it shine in listing photos.
No one wants a car that smells bad. Give it a refresh using anything from a DIY baking soda remedy to fabric fresheners to just airing it out. Simple solutions to refresh your car will go a long way.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Easy ways to get the best price for your used car: Video
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