The first instinct of most people who plan to change their old car is to go ahead and exchange it with a brand new model. This would then involve the dealer reviewing the car from top to bottom, taking it on a test spin, and checking the car's Fair Market Value to get a reasonable price estimate. From that, they will give you a price that will be subtracted from the total cost of your new vehicle. Here is a quick guide for anyone who wishes to sell their automobile privately, thus getting rid of their old model - take note of this guide whenever you need to sell your old car and turn it over to the new owner.

Clean and Prep the Car

The first, and one of the most important things you should do, is set up your sale prep by getting your car ready for cleaning, so that it's good to go once a buyer shows interest. You will need to clean every nook and cranny of your car, from the windows to the drink holder - that's right, everything. You'll need to leave the windows open once they're cleaned to air out any undesirable odors. You may not notice it anymore, but when cars loose that new car scent, they take on other odors.

When preparing the inside of your car, move all seats back and forth, because you'll never know - there just might be some long lost item or some loose change underneath, or some trash that needs to be disposed of. Examine the trunk afterwards. There may even be some secret compartments underneath the mats that you may need to check. There can be a whole lot of things that could have been lost in the years that you've had your car.

Wash your car completely, starting by hosing it down with water. A good shine can make an old car look like a classic. Don't forget to pay special attention to the hubcaps and the headlights. Hubcaps are like a magnet to grime. A soft, abrasive brush and some liquid soap will get them sparkling. Headlights can also become hazy. If you have buyers coming over in the evening, you'll want to do a demonstration for your headlights to make sure they're still working properly.

Judge Your Car's Value

Depending on your self-esteem and how you regard your car, it can either be worth a fortune or worth rubbish. But there are listings that will provide you with the actual fair market value of the make and model of your car. Use simple search strings like "car value" and "what's my car worth" and you should get a long list of results.

If you still need some help on this, you just need to be familiar with the make (i.e. Chevrolet), the model or style (i.e. Corvette) and the year it was made (i.e. 1978). If it's a special edition or has extra letters after the name, usually found in an emblem on the back of the car, you will need to know this too. Popular special editions include "LE" (limited edition) and "DL" (deluxe). Once you have gotten all the info you need, print it out. Documentation will be very necessary when it comes to the negotiation process.

Advertise Your Car

You can advertise our car in a number of different ways. You can go the old-fashioned route by having it advertised on your local paper. Although rates have increased as newspapers are struggling financially, it can still be a good deal because you will attract more people from your general area.

Other places to consider are church bulletin boards, newsletters, or other associations to which you belong. These options are all cheaper than advertising on a newspaper, and can sometimes even be done free of charge. You can also have your family, friends, and colleagues spread the word. But if you do, make sure that you are honest about the quality of the car. You could lose friendships or business contacts due to a glitch or flaw you failed to mention - no matter how small it is. You can also use social networking sites like Facebook and post ads through your status message(s).

Closing The Deal

We're sure you've found this guide to be quick and painless, but we're almost done - naturally you need to close the deal by discussing the best price. It pays to ask a bit more up front than you expect to get. Mention your payment options before hand. You should always go with cash unless you're familiar with the buyer. If that's not possible, another option is a money order. Personal checks are dangerous, because they can bounce. To complete the torch-passing process, you need to transfer your car's title. And all you need to do is visit an auto tags office. For a small fee, they would help you with the papers, and once filled out, will file them with your state's DMV. Oh, we forgot - declare the car's sale in your upcoming tax returns this coming April!