Selling a car isn’t a 1-2-3 step method. You literally need to be prepared for anything. Here’s a pretty good article about how to prep for the sell.

1.) Do the research and check your car’s market. Like anything else, preparation is key to a sale or any other transaction.

2.) Appraise your car and determine your price. You can lurk around the car sites to get a feel, but it should also be pretty easy to find out how your car will be valued in the open market.

3.) Organize your car records and prepare for the sale. Keep car maintenance records in a folder covering oil changes, major maintenance visits and receipts along these lines. Keep documents referencing major part replacements such as tires, wipers, fan belt, battery, as well as warranty and service receipts. Provide a CARFAX vehicle history report to potential buyers, which will boost your credibility. Good records can show any buyer that your car is well-maintained, a strong selling point.

4.) Make your car shine. Clean the car very thoroughly by giving it the works. Detail it if you have to and replace small worn out parts if need be. Like anything else that goes on the block, show off your car in its best light.

5.) Market your car online and offline. I’d first decide how to unload the car. Are you interested in trading it in through a dealership or selling it to a private party? Would you even consider donating it for a tax break? Let’s say you’re going for a sale: you’ll always get a better price by selling it directly to a buyer. At that point, you can determine if you’re going to do any of the following old-fashioned methods for selling stuff: hang a for sale sign on your car’s windows, word of mouth, neighborhood community boards and forums, taking out classified ads in local papers and periodicals.

6.)  Negotiate with a buyer for a win-win. Avoid contingency issues that the buyer brings up such as additional repairs or a paint job as this would just complicate the deal. That is, if you can help it, don’t accept a deal that is contingent on you doing more work on your car than seems reasonable or than what you’re comfortable doing. Sad to say, as online buy-and-sell avenues have grown, so have online scams. Though many con jobs are done by sellers, there are also those initiated by false buyers.

7.) Cover all the bases before the final sale. Some points to consider once you’re ready to finalize your sale transaction: watch out for scams by ensuring that you are able to receive payment prior to transferring ownership of your car. Have the check clear first and only accept payment in full.

Do You Have One In Your Car?

A roadside emergency can happen at any time, whether your car is new or old. Being prepared with a basic emergency kit can increase your safety, reduce stress, and help you get back on the road faster. Even if you have roadside-assistance coverage or an automobile-club membership with roadside assistance, you usually need access to a phone in order to contact them and you may have to wait on the side of the road for an hour or more before help arrives. That’s its recommended that drivers carry certain items in their vehicle, even if it only gets used for everyday, around-town driving.

1. First-Aid Kit. Choose one that allows you to treat a range of problems, from small cuts or burns to ones that require major bandaging.

2. Fire Extinguisher. A car fire can start from something as simple as a wiring short circuit or leaking oil. You should get away from a vehicle that’s on fire as quickly as possible. Still, for extra security it’s good to keep a fire extinguisher in the car that can be used in any emergency or to quickly douse a small flame that’s just begun. Carry a compact unit that’s labeled 1A10BC or 2A10BC.

3. Warning Light, Hazard Triangle, or Flares. Look for a battery-powered warning light that can be placed far from the vehicle. Reflective hazard triangles and flares are also effective and don’t need batteries.

4. Tire Gauge. This should be used on a monthly basis to check the inflation pressure in all four tires and the spare tire.

5. Foam Tire Sealant or a Portable Compressor and Plug Kit. For minor punctures, a foam tire sealant can get your vehicle back on the road quickly. Only use it in an emergency, however, many tire shops will refuse to repair the tire because of the sticky residue these sealants leave inside it. Be sure to choose a sealant that’s labeled as non-flammable, and don’t consider this a permanent fix.

6. Jumper Cables or a Portable Battery Booster. Jumper cables are easy to use as long as you have a second car available to provide a jump.

7. Flashlight. This can be critical at night. Choose one that is bright and weatherproof. In addition, a flashlight with a magnet, flexible mounting system, or a stand will free up your hands for other tasks.

For other important items to carry in your car at all times, click here.

Car Buying Is Easy If You Have The Right Resources

With car sales expected to be down this year, many dealerships will be desperate for any sale they can get, says Danny Chan, CEO of AutoBrag.com, a car-shopping comparison Web site that compiles price data from no-haggle dealerships. The slow conditions could prompt many of them to accept better deals as they struggle to keep their doors open, he added. But even though dealers might be hungry to make a deal, don’t expect that they’ll give in to your offers without a fight.

If you’re considering the purchase of a new car, you’ll need to prepare before browsing the show floor. Here are five tips on how to get a good deal on your new set of wheels:

1. Hit The Internet
The Web has a wealth of automobile information that can help consumers know how much they should be paying for a car and what deals they can get. AutoBrag.com tells consumers how much cars are selling for at actual no-haggle dealerships, and shoppers can use those quotes during their negotiation. Deals can also be found by expanding your online search to dealers beyond your immediate area. Even if the best deal is states away and the automobile needs to be transported to you, it may be worth the hassle.

2. Know What You Can Afford and Your Loan Options 
Before negotiating, it’s also important to know exactly how much you can afford. But don’t max out your budget. Experts also advise not extending the term beyond the standard five years to bring monthly payments down. More manufacturers and dealers are now offering 7-year car loans; for a $20,000 car, the loan would rack up an additional $5,335 in interest.

And investigate loan options before hitting the showroom. Often, credit unions offer favorable automobile financing, Chan said. If opting for dealer financing, make sure you know what interest rate you should be paying before signing, he said.

3. Consider Older Model Years
When the 2009 models come out and 2008 cars are still on the lot, the older new cars can be bought at a decent discount for good reason — their age will cause them to depreciate faster. Two months before the release of the 2009 Toyota Camry, the 2008 model was being sold to consumers for an average of 5.32% below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, Chan said. But during February 2008, when the new model was released, the 2008 model was being sold for an average 10.39% below MSRP.

4. Negotiate Before Incentives
Get down to a good price before adding an incentive, even if adding a manufacturer’s rebate pushes the price below invoice. In fact, keep all the transactions separate — negotiating the price before the financing and the trade-in value. You’ll often get the most for your vehicle if you sell it yourself. But if you decide to trade in your old vehicle, use the Internet to learn what it’s worth. You can simply ask AutoBragBlog.com for your used car value.

5. Don’t Cave To Pressure
It’s a buyer’s market, so don’t be intimidated and be aggressive in your negotiating. If the salesmen won’t budge and you can’t get the price you want, be prepared to walk away and try another dealership, Chan said. He also recommends not paying for extras such as paint protection; dealers often put a huge mark-up on this extra, and you may be better off having it done somewhere else.

We’ve received a comment from a reader asking why some people couldn’t just find prices from KBB.

“Isn’t it possible to find that out using KBB?”

That’s a very good question! Glad you asked. Listed below are the distinct differences between AutoBrag and Kelley Blue Book.

NEW CAR PRICES

KBB’s new car prices are estimated prices that other people have paid. Besides listing the MSRP and and Invoice, where are the prices that a dealership will quote you? Sure, they have prices that people are really paying for a car, but are those prices even considered deals? I guess you can figure that out by getting a quote from KBB, right?

Ever notice that when you try to request a “Free Dealer Price Quote” on KBB, all you get in return is a list of dealerships in your area, their contact info. and worst of all… you have to submit YOUR contact info. You’re basically allowing KBB to make a pretty penny by having them sell your contact info. to dealerships who will waste no time calling you everyday to get you to “come in” for prices. What happened to the FREE quote? Bottom line: You leave their site with no prices. Defeats the purpose.

AutoBrag’s new car prices actually lists and links you to a REAL dealership and shows your their inventory and ePrices.
What’s an ePrice? An ePrice is a quoted price that a dealership is willing to sell a particular vehicle for. It is also known as the “no haggle price, internet price, ePrice, or internet only price“. Hence the word “No-Haggle”, translation: no negotiating necessary.

USED CAR PRICES

KBB is an estimate for trade-ins, retail and private party prices. It obtains retail pricing by collecting information about actual retail sales.

AutoBrag’s used prices are the real average wholesale prices that dealers pay for at used car auctions. This is REAL time information.

Which price do you think would give you an edge: estimated car prices or actual wholesale prices based on daily activity?

At the end of the day, consumers need as many tools as they can get their hands on. By all means, use KBB but know that the people who really want the inside scoop come to AutoBrag.

What? Free Carfax?

AutoMall.com, LLC, one of the Internet’s original automotive information Web sites announced that, for the first time, used car buyers can prioritize search results by Carfax 1-Owner cars and listings with free Carfax Vehicle History Reports. Smart dealers give buyers free Carfax Vehicle History Reports to build consumer confidence. Free Carfax Reports build buyer confidence so these vehicles sell faster.

AutoMall.com clearly identifies every vehicle listed that comes with a free Carfax Report on its search results and vehicle detail pages. With one mouse click, used car shoppers get the added peace of mind they need to make faster buying decisions. AutoMall.com hosts a daily-updated database of about 500,000 dealer-located vehicles at any given time.

Here’s the Complete List of Finance Related Calculators.

Auto Loan Early Payoff Calculator

Auto Loan Calculator

Auto Rebate vs. Low Interest Financing

Bi-weekly Payments for a Car Loan

Bi-weekly Payments for an Auto Loan with Fees

Dealer Financing vs. Credit Union Financing

Home Equity vs. Auto loan Calculator

Auto Lease vs. Auto Buy Calculator

Low Interest Auto Financing Calculator