Selling Your Car During Covid 19

The World Health Organization identified COVID-19 as a contagious illness caused by a novel coronavirus. Infected people may have a raging fever, persistent cough, pain in the chest, breathing problems, exhaustion, or headaches. On the other hand, they may show no signs at all while still carrying the virus.

Therefore, people are understandably reluctant to expose themselves. However, although buying a car can put people at some risk, owning one will help you get around without having to use public transport. People are still buying cars, so you shouldn’t have too many problems selling one.

How to prepare for selling your car

Though it is not ideal to physically reach out to people, you can sell your automobile online. To prepare, you can do the following:

• Maintain your car and keep it clean. You can put some effort into keeping and maintaining the cleanliness of your car by wiping down the interior with disinfectant wipes or by splashing some bleach on the solid and hard surfaces. You can vacuum the carpet and cloth seats, and then spray them with an aerosol disinfectant. We recommend you let them catch some air before spraying though.
• Keep your vehicle in top condition. Focus on your car’s mechanical and cosmetic condition as it plays a very important role in people’s buying decisions. Scratches or bumps can be used against you during the negotiation.
• Get someone to assess your car. Although your car needs to be checked, because of the current situation, many businesses have closed. Waiting for the pandemic to end may not be the best action. If you know someone who can assess your car or someone in your family who is a mechanic, it’s best you let them do it for you. Just make sure to practice physical distancing with whoever will be assessing your car.
• Fix minor problems. Call someone who can repair minor problems in your car, maybe a friend or a family member. They will surely appreciate any additional income in the middle of this crisis.
• Determine the price of your car. If you’re done fixing your vehicle and if you’re satisfied with the outcome, then it’s time to decide on how much you would want to sell it for.

Some aspects of the situation will work in your favor

Everyone is affected by the global crisis. There are changes in how business is done, but there are some positive factors you should consider as well:

• Some businesses are hiring people. Some companies and small businesses like grocery stores, pizza restaurants, and other establishments that offer take-out orders, are hiring people for stocking and delivering goods. These working people will need a car to go to work and their employers might consider buying them a used one.
• There is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. The President of The United States, Donald Trump, has signed a relief bill in March 2020, offering a $2 trillion economic stimulus package to those Americans who are currently unemployed and are struggling to manage the economic fallout of the pandemic.

In addition to that, there is a rescue fund of $500 billion. Americans are entitled to a $1200 check if they’re single and a $2400 check if they’re married. With the cash assistance, people will be able to pay their rent, and some may even afford to buy a car. This is where your used vehicle can come in.

• Self-employed individuals/freelancers will also be receiving checks. Individuals who are self-employed and with businesses like Uber or Airbnb are also going to receive checks from the $2 Trillion relief package. This may allow you to find someone who would want to buy your car for business purposes.
• You will find practical car buyers. Because of the pandemic, we are starting to prioritize certain items over others. Easy and safe transportation for one’s family is very important, so buying a vehicle is likely to be on many people’s minds.

Interested buyers will appreciate your advertisement, whether it is someone who manages a grocery store or someone who owns a business that delivers goods.

You can ease some of your buyers’ concerns

Because you are selling your car in a complicated period, it‘s good to do whatever you can to alleviate some of your customer’s worries. Here are some tips on how to do it:

• Recognize the Coronavirus’ existence. You can show potential buyers your awareness about this pandemic in your ad. You can mention you’d like to maintain social distancing and offer to disinfect the vehicle before a potential client arrives to inspect it.
• Explain how you maintain your car. Some buyers may get a good impression if you include some details on how you maintain your vehicle. You may also include a video showing the car’s state from every angle. This way, interested parties won’t have to worry about making a trip only to find problems.
• Prepare a copy of your car’s history report. Scammers are everywhere especially during times of crisis. You can let your customer know you’re a trustworthy seller by taking the initiative to provide the car’s paperwork.
• Prepare the car’s title. It’s your responsibility to have it ready, and it’s unprofessional and potentially dangerous to force your customers to make additional trips.
• Prepare to transfer the title. If you’ve forgotten the procedures needed to transfer a title in your state, you should take the time to learn them again. Some clients may be buying a car for the first time and not know how the process works. You should be able to guide them.

Final preparations

Advertising your car online is the best way even in normal times. Here are some tips on how you can do it:

• Take 5-10 good pictures of your car. People are at home and most are buying things online. Capture every angle of your vehicle and make sure your photos are inviting and appealing to potential buyers.
• Provide complete specs for your car. Give them a detailed and honest description of the car you are selling. You can tell them what you have done so far for its improvement, like buying new tires or a sound system.
• Find at least 3 online marketplaces where you can post your ad. There are several sites where you can post and share like Facebook, Craigslist, and Autotrader. Use at least three sites so you’ll have more exposure.