Community Chat

[Disneylandfan]

We had our car checked at Carmax for sell price. They were really low. We had just put 4 brand new tires on the car a 2 months before and their appraisers said tires in fair condition. We didn't expect a return on the tires but everything was really low and the car was in great shape and way under on mileage.

We got a much better trade in price on our car when we took it to the dealer.

[hckynut]

On 3/31/2014 demanda said:

I am thinking of buying a new car and I am almost certain that the dealer will not give me what I would like to get for my current car. A co-worker told me about Carmax. Has anyone had any experience selling a car to Carmax or We Buy Any Car? Thanks in advance!

Can't help you with Carmax as I have never had a reason to use that company.

A new car dealers never have an they never will give you what you think it is worth. They are dealing in wholesale and selling you a new car at retail. To get the closest to "what you would like to get for your current car"? Sell it yourself. That is only way to get, what you should know what you car is worth, and that would be by going to Edmunds website and figuring out how much value there is in your current car.

I've always sold our cars as that way I can talk nothing but wholesale to a car dealer. I know what my car is worth and I know what a new car is worth. Knowledge is power when dealing with car salespeople nothing replaces knowing the value of any vehicle you are selling/trading or new vehicle you are buying.

[KathyPet]

never used either but the ""We Buy Any Car"" ad just screams ripoff to me.

[circles]

I hate that commercial!!!! as soon as it starts up....I change the station....immediately....

[gidgetgh]

We've sold a car to CarMax as has my dad. We both had great experiences.

[BlingQueen022]

On 4/2/2014 ------ said:

I live in a very safe area of San Diego and thought I would have no issues selling my car from home. I placed a for sale ad in the AutoTrader. A young man wanted to see the car and I gave him my address. He was very polite and glanced over the car. He told me he was ready to buy it and had the cash on him. Then he asked if he could use my bathroom. Something told me it was not a good idea to let him in the house and I told him there was a gas station nearby and gave him directions. He smiled and said he would be right back then left. He never returned. The whole thing made me uneasy so I ended the ad and traded in my car at a dealership. Since then I have never placed a for sale ad in the paper.

I don't care where you live. No area is safe. You keep on believing that, and you'll be a victim of crime faster then you can blink an eye.

[pattypeep]

On 4/2/2014 sunshine45 said:

On 4/2/2014 twopeas said:

In this day and age, I, for one, wouldn't try to sell a car from home. Would you let a stranger take the car for a test drive (alone) or would you or your dh go with them and take a chance of being killed? Too frightening.

we have done this too many times to even remember and have NEVER had a problem. most people want their mechanic to look at it also. if you have an independent mechanic he may even let you leave the car at the shop so that people can check out the car there. you get their keys OR have them leave a family member as collateral.....LOL.

you write a bill of sale that says you are selling the car as is, sign the back of the title and make sure there are no liens listed on the front, give them any inspection/smog papers as needed for your state, and get the money. it really is quite easy.

sunshine, I must say you are fortunate. About 20 years ago my dh and I decided to sell my little sports car. Being afraid to do what I wrote above, we took it to a consignment place right in our town on the main road. We got a call a couple of days later saying that my car was stolen off the lot. Apparently, some guy test drove it, stopped in at Ace Hardware (we believed, since Ace is close by), had a key made, came back sometime during the night and stole my car. It was found nine days later, stripped and basically totaled. The fight with our insurance company after that was a nightmare. Apparently, they thought we were in cahoots with someone, I guess. Our agent, who is a personal friend, had to go to bat for us. Yes, we both worked for the courts and sure, we would do something like this. Not. I cried and cried when I saw my car. It made my physically ill what these people did to it. I do not believe they were ever caught. Yes, the insurance company finally paid up. We've changed insurance companies.

[betteb]

Go to www.nadaguides.com and find out what your car is worth. You just put in your info, make, model, year and mileage and it gives you wholesale, trade and retail values.

[millieshops]

Where I used to live, I sold my cars myself when I was finished with them. Did that twice.

Where I live now, that would be close to impossible unless I were selling to someone I know personally - and I keep my cars too long to want ever to sell them to family or friends. The dealer or CarMax, etc. is my way to go. A little less money, a lot less hassle.