When it comes to selling your car timing is in fact everything
Getting rid of an old car that is racking up those repair bills is one of the best decisions you will make. There are other decisions during the course of this process that will dictate your gains. No one can argue that timing is an extremely crucial part of that. It is of course extremely tempting to get cash for cars as soon as possible. However, as the experts in the field, we are here to tell you that some offers might just be worth the wait if you time it right. Here are the best times to sell your car.
When the Sun is Out
Spring is truly a magical time bringing much relief from the dreary grasp of winter. The auto market in Brisbane too goes into a revival mode when the sun is out. People are looking to get out of their homes and soak up the warmth and what better way to do that than in a convertible driving down the city’s glorious coast. If you are looking to get rid of a speedster in this season, you will have an easy time getting rid of it. Wait until the golden window of September to November to sell your sports car.
Conversely, you will reach a dead end or encounter some serious lowballing if you are looking to offload a car during the cold winter months. The car market is already saturated come fall and no one is willing to venture to shop for cars. Also the trouble of doing business during the chilly months between March and August means that you will simply not receive the deal you need.
Consider the Economy
For those of you looking to sell a car right now, there is quite literally no time like the present. A global chip shortage has caused indefinite delays in the production of new cars. You are in a unique position to command a fair price in a sellers market. So if you have a car that is in a fairly good condition, chances are that you will get a good price on your car.
Regardless of this rare market situation, there are a few cycles that the market goes through when selling is not as opportune as others. For example July might probably be the worst time to sell a car in Brisbane. The beginning of the financial year means that there are umpteen EOFY sales going on and people are trying not to indulge in any big purchases. Similarly if petrol prices have gone up, no one will be looking to add a gas guzzler to their budget plan.
Right Car, Right Time
In a city like Brisbane, there are certain times of the year where certain factors lead up to the demand for a certain type of car. If that is the kind of car you are looking to get car removal and sell it, the likelihood of you securing a fair price increases massively. Just before the school season begins is when you can sell your space hogging SUV or station wagon. Families who are looking for extended boot space will be happy to take it off your hands in February.
Similarly incoming uni students are most likely on the lookout for their first cars in that short window between November and early December. So if you have a moderately priced sedan or hatchback, this is the target market for you. Contrarily, these two groups are also least likely to purchase a car during the holidays. Given how big this consumer market is, you’ll be better off waiting out the December to January period.
Just Before You Have To
If you’re looking to offload a relatively new car for an upgrade, we have some bad news for you. We all know that the car starts to depreciate the minute you drive it off the trader’s lot but the car depreciates the most in the first 3 years. So when you are looking to sell before you get sufficient use from your car, you are most likely to encounter offers that are terribly lower than what you paid.
Most people are likely to switch their cars between the 5-7 year mark, however they are on the lookout for a car better than their last. The good news is that if you have a good portion of the warranty period left or have kept the odometer at below 80,000km, you can still command a fair price. Cars in a relatively good condition with timely service records allow for more negotiating room. On the other hand, if you have a lemon with considerable damage, speed is of the essence but we do urge you to be honest with all the details.
When it comes to selling second hand cars, most people are often skeptical about finding an equitable bargain. In the current climate however the ball is in the seller’s court. Considering the above conditions might in turn help you reap a more than fair return on your good old car.