How To Sell Your Retro Car: Important Things To Know

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What Are Some Important Things To Know About Selling Retro Cars?

Many people want to sell their retro cars but don’t know where to start. Selling your car is not just about putting it on the market and waiting for someone to buy it. It would be best to research what you can get for your vehicle and how much time you will have before facing problems with registration or emission standards. This blog post will help guide you through the steps required so that you can successfully sell your old-school automobile.

Assess your car’s condition

One of the primary things you need to do is assess the condition of your car. If it has a lot of problems, you might have trouble selling it for what it’s worth. While vehicles can be fixed up and better looked at, this process isn’t always easy or cheap. 

You want to consider whether or not potential buyers will see past any defects that may exist in your vehicle. Remember to also look for exterior problems, such as scratches or dents that may be difficult to repair, without spending money on an expensive paint job. You should also carefully inspect your car’s interior and look for any damage to upholstery or carpeting.

  • Fix up your car


Suppose you want to sell your retro vehicle, but it has some stains on its interior or exterior, making it look less appealing than other vehicles on sale. In that case, there is a good chance that potential buyers will pass over yours when they have so many options. Don’t just assume that you will only sell your car for a low price because of its condition. You can always invest some money into making it look better so that the buyer doesn’t have a reason not to pay what you are asking for.

Sell through a dealership.

To ensure that you get top dollar for your car, it might be best to go with a dealer. While dealers will take their cut off the total price you receive when selling your car, they also know how to market and advertise so that people are willing to pay more money because there is less risk involved. In this case, you may need to explore a nationwide classic car dealership within your vicinity because they can help you with different options to get the money you are looking for. Many buyers who come out of state to buy a vehicle will want the convenience of dealing with professionals who can ensure that all necessary paperwork is in order.

Explore online auction sites

If you are not interested in selling your retro car for less than what it’s worth, another option would be listing it on an online auction site like eBay Motors or Craigslist, where potential buyers have more competition when they are in a bidding war. Of course, you will have to decide how much money is worth your time and effort and the risk of selling it for less than what you wanted. 

  • Reserve price


To avoid selling your car for a lower price, consider setting up a reserve price that the vehicle must reach before anyone can buy it. Buyers don’t want to lose money, but they will be less likely to outbid you for this type of vehicle because there is a chance that someone else might bid even higher than them, leaving them empty-handed in the end. Rest assured that someone else might be willing to pay more during the auction. 

It would help if you also considered whether or not your state has any laws or regulations that make it more challenging to sell a car privately, such as having an inspection done on the vehicle before you can transfer ownership. This wastes time and money because buyers will have fewer reasons to bid high when they could buy one from someone willing to do all of this for them to get the process done quickly.

Shipping a Classic Car

The two main options for shipping a classic car are on an open or enclosed trailer. Depending on whether your classic car is fully restored or a project car will determine the type of trailer. An enclosed trailer will help protect your classic car from all-weather elements. This is the most common mode of transport most classic car owners choose. An open trailer will suffice if the vehicle is a project with a lot of exterior work.  

With the information you’ve learned, it’s time to take action! Have your car appraised by a local dealership or trusted mechanic. Create an attractive listing on Craigslist with plenty of photos and detailed feature descriptions. Be willing to negotiate with interested buyers who come along while being wary of scammers looking for easy prey. If this is all more than you want to handle right now, give professional dealerships a call so they can help you get started today.