Preparing your car
Used car buyers would normally desire a reliable car in good working condition.
Thus, before selling your car, it is ideal to carry out a few essential checks to
ensure everything is in working order:
- An oil change won’t cost the world and can make a big difference when the
prospective buyers’ inspects your car’s engine – make sure you
fill to the correct level as indicated by the dipstick
- Check tyres – make sure their pressure is correct, any punctured tyres are
properly repaired or replaced and tread depth is at least 1.6mm deep – a tread
depth of 3mm is strongly recommended
- All lights should be examined, cleaned, repaired or replaced if necessary
- Repair or replace any damaged car part(s) which affects driving
- Check your car’s brake fluid, windscreen washer and coolant levels and fill
accordingly – use sweet-smelling washer fluid for maximum impact
- Buy replacements for missing trims or badges and have them fitted accordingly
- Consider replacing any wheel trims - especially if they've been kerbed.
- Damaged alloys can often be repaired.
Exterior
There are a number of cleaning jobs which can make your car gleam with pride, ready
for the all-important advert photograph.
Wash the car from the roof down with car shampoo and a sponge. Avoid using dishwashing
liquid, as this can cause rust.
- Clean the car from top to bottom, not forgetting minor details such as wheel arches,
bumpers, outer skirts and inner door panels
- Scratches can be covered using Turtle
Wax Color Cure®.
- Clean the wheels last. Use a special alloy wheel cleaner if dirt is particularly
stubborn to remove
- Rinse the car thoroughly with a hose or bucket of water
- Dry with a micro-fiber cloth
or chamois leather.
- Use car wax or polish to create the perfect sheen. Don't worry if paint residue
appears on the cloth; this is just a layer of ‘dead paint’
Interior
A car’s interior is just as important as its exterior – car buyers want
a comfortable drive which looks great inside as well as out.
- Vacuum the carpets, mats, seats, dashboard and any dusty crevices
- Use low-gloss cleaner on the dashboard (avoid household polish)
- Wipe glass with window cleaner and a damp cloth
- Get minor damage or holes on the dashboard fixed by specialists
- Empty the ashtrays, spray and wipe them clean
- Use a light air freshener or odour neutraliser if the car smells of smoke, but don’t
use too much…
Setting the price
Set the price too high and you may receive little interest from buyers – set
it too low and you could miss out on thousands or hundreds of ringgit.
Wheelersgate has teamed up with experienced valuation experts from notable and established
used car dealers to give you the most trusted and accurate industry
valuation report for just RM80. Find what your car's worth with Wheelersgate
Used Car Pricing Guide.
You can also try searching for other used car adverts on this website or used car
magazines to get an idea on price, but be aware - others may not have priced their
cars correctly. Read our guide to setting a price for more information.
Wording your advert
Use bullet points to accentuate the car’s best features – whether it's
leather upholstery, alloy wheels or low mileage (cars usually travel 20,000 to 25,000
kilometers a year).
Try and keep online adverts between 50 and 75 words long and magazine adverts around
20 to 30 words. Minimise use of block capitals – these can be difficult to
read.
- Avoid vague phrases such as:
- Lovely driver
- Good car
- A joy to drive
- First to see will buy
Take a front three-quarter angled picture of the car and up to eight other photos.
Use common sense on allowing prospective buyers on test driving your car. Though
the saying goes ‘don’t judge a person by its cover’, it is better
to play it safe rather than to have your car stolen.
- Avoid letting the buyer go out alone – there's a risk they won't come
back
- It's a good idea to bring a close friend or relative with you. Always keep the
keys with you when swapping seats or getting out of the car
- Let the buyers follow their own route, or suggest a variety of roads with different
speed limits. Be prepared for people to drive your car hard – but if they’re
seriously abusing it, ask them to calm down
- NEVER leave your car keys in the ignition when swapping seats. Thieves may try to
engineer such situations, so always be aware
- If you do receive cash, try to get it handed over to you in a bank, so you can pay
it in straight away and the cashier can check for fake notes. Receiving cheque is
also acceptable
- Write a receipt for both you and the buyer, stating the car is being sold and make
sure you both sign it.