subject: Setting a price for a private sale [print this page] Getting the price right for a sale is imperative. Set it too low and you will be exploited...set it too high and you'll have a car, and the associated costs, on your hands for weeks!
Price guides
Nowadays, there are plenty available, online (usually free) orincorporated into magazines. The Auto Trader web site is another comprehensive source of used prices.
However, always remember they are only a guide! You'll be offered several prices, taking into account a whole array of variables, ranging from differing conditions of car to mileage, meaning 'exact book price' sales are rare.
Consider any options your car has; is it a rare model or one in particular demand? Is the colour is a desirable one? Are there any other considerations that could affect your price e.g. low mileage, a sought-after special edition or a particularly generous specification.
Classified advertisements
A look through Auto Trader will usually help you set the price of your car. Look for models similar to yours, and see what the 'going rate' is; you can then price your car accordingly. This works especially well for popular models, because there's so much choice. It's also a good trick for rarer or older models, as they may not actually be listed in price guides.
Trade-ins
Visit dealers, to get an idea of your car's trade-in value; anything you get over and above that will thus be a profit. Don't, however, look at dealer forecourt stock and expect to get similar prices for your car; you're not offering a warranty or any guarantees, remember, and therefore should charge a lot less.
