How to sell your car for the first time can be worrisome given the high values involved. Buyers are wary about getting a lemon while sellers are anxious about dealing with scammers. It is important to remember that these transactions happen every day and there is no reason to be scared as long as you take precautions. Below are some of the best tips on how to sell your car safely:

Sell through Friends and Connections

If you don’t want to deal with total strangers, then post your ad on social media and hope that you get leads from your friends. Perhaps one of the people in your circle is interested in your car. At the very least, they might be able to point you to others who are expressing their interest. This referral will still give you some reassurance that the buyer has been vetted. You have a friend to rely on in case something goes wrong.

Find Websites with User Ratings

If you don’t get offers, then you might want to expand your audience by listing your car in online classifieds. There are specialty sites for used cars. Some of them might even have user ratings that you can use as an estimate of trustworthiness. They may also have a public profiles with posts in a forum or comments on pages. These will give you an idea of who you are dealing with.

Do Background Checks on Buyers

Once you get offers, you could do a quick background check on buyers. Look for them on social media, for example, and see if they are who they claim to be. Most will probably want to deal with local folks who are easier to trace and meet with in case of a problem. Check for any red flags, however you define those to be.

Listen to Your Intuition

If there are buyers who are making outrageous demands or questionable requests, then remember that you don’t have to entertain them. Just wait for a better buyer to come up. Find someone who you can negotiate with on sensible terms. Listen to your intuition.

Meet Buyers Away from Your House

If you are not keen on letting strangers into your house, then you might set the meeting for inspection away from it. Go somewhere public and bring a friend with you. Ride with them if they ask for a test drive.

Do Transactions in the Bank

If they make a serious offer that you wish to accept, then consider finalizing the transaction in the bank. They can get a manager’s check while you wait so that you can verify it right away.

New cars are all fresh from the factory with the parts in mint condition. You know what you’re getting so the price is fairly standard. That is not the case with sell my car online. There’s a lot of variables to consider. Some units have been driven to the ground while others have been barely used. Some might have been submerged in floods and rusting underneath while others have been well maintained for years. Some have retained their stock parts while others have been continuously upgraded. Then there’s the reality of the markets and art of the negotiations. Many are asking, “How do I get a good price if I sell my car online?”

Put Yourself in a Good Position

It all starts before you get to the negotiating table. You need to put yourself in a good position to dictate the terms of the transaction. Essentially, you must have an excellent product in your hands. Prove it through undisputable documents such as the maintenance records and a mechanic’s report. Clean it up and make it sparkle as if it was new. Let them know that they cannot send you a lowball offer given your pride in your car.

Study the Current Car Market

One way to know what a fair price would be is to study the current prices in the market. Search of used cars on sale with the exact same make and model. How much are others asking for their ride? If you can’t find many samples, then check out similar types of vehicles instead. The figures should be in the same ballpark. Read a few articles on the latest trends to see whether your car fits the bill or not. Raise or reduce your price accordingly.

Don’t Be in a Rush to Sell

Buyers will always want to get a good deal. For many, this means getting a massive discount on their purchases. Sometimes there is a sensible argument to lower the price but if they are asking for a reduction without merit, then feel free to walk away. Don’t be in a rush to sell because a better buyer will come along. If people think you’re in a hurry, then they will use this to put you in a corner and get you to agree on a low offer.

Always Be Polite Yet Firm

Even if you don’t like where the conversation is headed or how the buyer is talking, try to stay polite yet firm. Maybe they are simply testing the waters to see if they can save a bit of money. If you stand your ground, they will either buy it or make way for others who will.