Thinking about selling a car in Illinois? Selling your car can bring you good cash, rather than letting it sit and rust in your garage or driveway. There are three ways to sell used cars. One, you can sell it to a private buyer. Two, sell it to a car dealer or three, find a car buyer that takes care of the job for you. In this blog, we will discuss the said three options as this may help you decide which route to take, in selling your car in the state of Illinois.

Sell to a Private Buyer

Selling to a private buyer can sometimes be overwhelming and can take so much time and effort. From repairing dents and car repaint to dealing with buyers, and test drives, it is undeniably a great deal of labor. Though it requires hard work, you will surely benefit from it as it can give you a potential profit. Here are some recommendations to help you sell your used car privately.

• GET IT READY

Prepare your car for selling by making it function and look good. This includes repairing any dents or car issues and getting any touch-ups if needed. Remove all personal belongings, clean, and make it look like new. This doesn’t just make the car look more enticing but it also increases the market value.

• KNOW YOUR CAR'S INFORMATION

  Make an Illinois Car Bill of Sale. It acts as a contract documenting the car's sale. It should include the car's make and model, title, registration, vehicle's identification number (VIN), odometer reading, mileage, and your car's history. It must be signed by both the seller and the buyer, each must have their copies. 

• ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

Obtain a Seller's Report of Sale form VSD 703 and a copy of your Illinois car title and registration (in case you do not have it or lost it) from the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS). SOS offices are located in cities and towns across Illinois and they are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM and on Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

• KNOW YOUR CAR'S WORTH

In reaching your car's suitable price, you may consider your car's condition, upgrades, and enhancements. You may also check the Kelley Blue Book or NADA for reference. You may want to set the price a bit higher to allow some wiggle room when making negotiations.

• LOOK FOR A BUYER

Selling cars online is a convenient way to find a buyer. Post a “used car for sale” ad online since it is the fastest way to reach people. Websites like Cars.com, Autotrader, CarGurus, Facebook online groups or Marketplace, Craigslist, and many more are good posting sites for selling. Make sure to include good images and your complete car information to avoid repeat questions like "What is the car's mileage, condition, etc.?"

You may also post it on a local newspaper which of course, may cost extra or put a "For Sale" sign in your car whenever it's parked somewhere or in the driveway.

• REACH AN AGREEMENT AND MEET

Once an agreement on the price and your preferred mode of payment has been concluded, you can set a meet up. Have someone accompany you for the test drive. Make sure your insurance allows the buyer to test drive the car. In some instances, the buyer hires a third party mechanic to do some inspections.

• REQUIRED PROCEDURES IN ILLINOIS

Verify if the buyer has a driver's license and valid car insurance. Sign over the title and remove the license plates. Fill out the Bill of Sale and the Sellers Report of Sale form VSD 703 with the buyer. Submit the said form along with the license plates (if you will no longer use them) to the Illinois Secretary of State.

If in case you still want to use the same plates for your newly acquired car, you can transfer it by submitting an Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) form or also known as Form VSD 190 to the Illinois Secretary of State in person. The transfer fee costs $25 and if you transfer it with the title, it costs $150. Otherwise, you cancel your license plates and return them to the Illinois Secretary of State.

• COMPLETED SALE

Make sure your car insurance is canceled. Validate the payment is received before handing over the car keys. Once payment is validated, Voila! You just had your car sold!

Sell to a Car Dealer or Trade-In

Another course of action that you may take is to sell your vehicle to a car dealer or trade it in. Most car dealers can help you with getting a good car in exchange for your old ones while others can also help buy your car without getting another car from them. All you need is to bring your vehicle to their nearest office so they can have it inspected. Also, we understand that part of the selling process is doing the paperwork. You do not have to worry about it as the car dealer will help you in the process and will make things less-hassle.

As for trading your car in, you can complete your sale and get away with a new car with a minimum effort. A car dealer can help you transfer the value of your old car to pay for the new one with ease. This can help you achieve your budget goals and may also give you a chance to buy the car of your dreams. Though this option brings convenience, most of the car dealers offer a price that is close to the wholesale value. Their offers may not be as good as selling your car to a private buyer but still, it may benefit you into saving your time and effort.

Sell to a Car Buyer

One of the great options is to sell your running car to a Car Buyer. If a car dealer can make the selling process less-hassle, a car buyer can make it even better by making it more hassle-free. You can find a high paying car buyer like "Sell my car in Chicago with Enrique for Cash" that has extensive experience in the car-buying business. With years of expertise, we aim to make the sale transaction effortless and convenient for our customers.

Compared to a car dealer, a car buyer like Enrique can settle the deal fast in just a matter of days. All you need is to give us a call (224) 236-7010 or contact us through our website to get a free quote then provide us all the necessary information about your car. We will reach out to you with the highest possible offer then schedule an appointment.

As easy as that!

To make it more convenient, we are the ones who will go to your location. Then we will assess your car based on all the data you sent. Once all are verified, we will pay you with the agreed pricing. Unlike car dealers, we do not require you to bring the vehicle to an office. We can tow the car for you and take it away from your location. And just like that, you have instantly sold your car! A Car Buyer like Enrique is way more convenient than selling your vehicle to a private party or a car dealer.

Are you now ready to sell your car? We hope you will be able to make good cash out of it. You can choose from doing it yourself, check with a car dealer, or sell to a car buyer. The decision is yours. No matter what you choose, we wish you success in selling your cars! Best of luck!