Clean the car, find your service records, bring both keys, and fix only the cheap things. Then get more than one offer. Those five steps move the number more than anything else, and none of them require spending real money.
Do these — they pay for themselves
Clean it, inside and out. An appraiser is human. A car that looks cared for reads as a car that was cared for, and it removes the reconditioning cost of a full detail from the math.
Bring both keys. A replacement key fob can cost hundreds of dollars, and that cost comes straight out of your offer if the second key is missing.
Gather your service records. Documented maintenance is the single cheapest way to prove the car was looked after, and it particularly helps on higher-mileage vehicles.
Fix the twenty-dollar problems. Burned-out bulbs, wiper blades, a missing floor mat, low tire pressure. Each one is a small deduction that is cheaper for you to fix than for us.
Don't do these — you won't get the money back
Do not repair major mechanical or body damage before selling. You will pay retail for the repair and recover only wholesale value in the offer. Bring us the car as it is and let the offer reflect it.
Do not buy new tires unless the car is unsafe to drive. We buy tires at wholesale. You do not.
Do not detail it professionally at high cost. A careful wash, vacuum, and wipe-down captures most of the benefit.
Then get more than one offer
Different dealers have different inventory needs, so numbers vary honestly. Getting a second opinion costs you thirty minutes and tells you whether the first number was fair. We are comfortable being compared.
Get a real offer in about 30 minutes
No obligation, and no pressure to buy a car from us in return. Five buy centers across Washington.
Get my offerFrequently asked questions
Should I fix mechanical problems before selling?
Generally no. You pay retail for the repair and recover only wholesale value in the offer. Get an as-is number first.
Does a professional detail increase my offer?
A clean car helps, but an expensive professional detail rarely returns its cost. A thorough wash, vacuum, and interior wipe-down captures most of the value.
Does having both keys really matter?
Yes. Replacing a modern key fob can cost hundreds of dollars, and a missing second key is deducted from your offer.