It is an unenviable position to be in, but the truth is that many of those looking to sell their used car are burdened with a make, model, or even color, that simply isn’t very popular. When it comes to used cars, the standard tends to be a little lower; most buyers accept that, when buying second hand, options become somewhat restricted. Having to make do with whatever inventory used car dealerships have, there is also a general sense that the old adage “beggars can’t be choosers” is a fact of life with the used car market.
This impression is a little inaccurate. The used car market is in fact massive (much bigger than the new car market) and, thanks to the COVID pandemic restricting the manufacture and production of new cars, it’s the one area of the car industry that has actually seen a boom. A second-hand dealership of repute is not one that is restricted to an inventory of only local trade-ins. Many have a significant market reach and are connected to a nationwide network of outlets, meaning the choice of car on offer is often quite varied.
Cash for Cars in San Diego is undoubtedly an example of one such dealership. With the market reach (and a nationwide price database) allowing cars to be traded in for the best price, such dealerships also have the resources to restore even the most junked cars to a sellable state, in turn massively expanding the choices on offer for those browsing the used car market for a second-hand car. If you’re planning to sell a used car in San Diego or elsewhere in California, a company like Cash for Cars in San Diego can offer a free professional appraisal, an unparalleled market reach and, ultimately, the best price.
However, there are some cars that simply don’t sell as well. What are the tips for those trying to shift such a vehicle? And what factors influence a car’s marketability and selling price?
The Importance of Color
It might seem like an entirely superficial part of the car, but the paintjob arguably makes more of a difference to the value of your car than even the engine or the condition of the brakes. As the rule of thumb has it, cars in an eccentric color (we’re talking yellow, green, or electric blue) have significantly less appeal than those in more traditional colors such as silver, black, dark blue, and so on.
So what can you do about this? You could certainly look into repainting the car, but this might not be the best approach. For one thing, paintjobs are expensive, and it is not at all obvious that painting your car in a more popular color will increase its selling price over the amount you would spend on the repaint. The best move is instead to go through a dealership with the resources for restoration and the market reach to shift even unpopular cars. A good dealership like Cash for Cars in San Diego will buy almost any car because they have the ability to sell almost any car, and if the color needs to be changed, they can do that for cheaper than it would cost any individual.
And Everything Else…
Beyond color, the general aesthetics of the car and the appearance of its condition are obviously important. But again, car dealerships have the resources to either do something about this or sell the car on in any case.
Ultimately, selling an unpopular car boils down to precisely that – how the car appeals to buyers. Everything less visible can be fixed with competent restoration.
