At one point in life, every car owner asks themselves ‘is it time to sell my car?’ And finding the answer to that question can be a little difficult. You may think that some hard and fast rules define the right time to sell your car, like warranty expiration or car parts failing. But that’s not true!

The right time to sell your car depends on several factors. This article will explore some of these factors, and then you can decide for yourself whether it’s the right time to sell your car or not.

The maintenance cost

Do you feel like you are always spending money on your car’s maintenance and repairs? But despite that, you think that keeping it running is not worth it? Here’s a 4-step process that will help you determine if the maintenance expenses are worth keeping the car:

Step 1: First and foremost, find out the value of your vehicle. The easiest way to do this is by visiting a car buying company’s website, such as ours, and fill in the required details of your car. These may include registration number, mileage, model, make, and/or year. You can also get in touch with car dealers to find out your car’s worth. This way you will be able to find out how much your vehicle will bring you back in specific selling scenarios. Just remember to get your facts straight about your car’s condition so that your vehicle’s valuation is accurate.

Step 2: Next, you need to find out how much does it cost you to keep your vehicle on the road. Ask your mechanic to give you the upcoming costs of these three things:

1. Are there any necessary major repairs that need to be made to keep the car running?
2. Does the car require any significant maintenance changes over the next 12 months? These may include replacement of tires, fluids, water pump, brakes, timing belt, etc. Small ones like oil changes do not count.

• Additional repairs that should take place over the next few months but are not necessary right now.

Remember that delaying regular maintenance can decrease the value of your car. Therefore, you can’t ignore it.

Step 3: Compare cost and value. Sum up the cost you’ve found in 2^nd step and compare it to the value you’ve determined in the 1^st step. If you see that the cost is higher than the value, then most probably it’s time for you to sell the car. However, if the comparison result is vice versa, follow the next step.

Step 4: Analyze the previous repair bills and calculate the costs again. Your first calculation was inclining towards keeping the car, so you should dive a little more into the additional costs of keeping the vehicle running.

It’s impossible for mechanics to predict the 100% accurate future repairs. Don’t forget that the older your car gets, the more repairs it will require. Go online and read reviews from other car owners who have the same make and model as you. This will give you an impartial idea of the issues that may arise with that particular make and model of the car as it ages.

Simultaneously go through your car repair records and calculate the amount of money you’ve spent on non-maintenance repairs. Add this amount to the cost deduced in the 2^nd step. If this new figure supersedes the value in the 1^st step, then it’s time to sell your car.

On the other hand, if the cost in the 2^nd step is less than the value, then it’s completely up to you whether to sell the car or not. Consider how long it has been in your possession and how it’s been running. Ultimately go with your gut instinct. Be honest and ask yourself if you’re driving a car that is worth keeping. The answer to this question will help you come to a decision.

Car parts are not easy to find

Is your car becoming older day by day? That means repairing the damaged/non-functioning parts will become increasingly difficult too. When a car manufacturer changes a car model significantly, the car parts and tools of that specific old model begin to phase out. Another worst case scenario could be that the manufacturer can go out of business, just like Saturn. If that happens, finding car parts for repair will be extremely difficult. And if you do find parts, they will most probably be used and expensive.

So in cases like this, consider selling the car!

The safety features

One of the main concerns with a car should be safety. This is one feature that has continuously improved over the years. If your car’s model is an old one, you may be missing out on some crucial safety features, such as a rearview camera, advanced airbags, electronic stability control, blind spot monitoring, automatic parking, side airbags, lane departure warning system, better brakes and handling, and more. Driving an older car without these safety features can put you and your family at risk.

You don’t trust it anymore

Is your trust level with your car going downhill with every passing day? Do you dread getting in your car because you’re scared it won’t start, or it might stop in the middle of the road? Trust your instincts and know that it’s time to sell your car. The vehicle you own should be reliable enough to take you from one point to another, without making any unexpected stops.

The conclusion

Considering the things mentioned above will make it easier for you to determine if it’s the right time to sell your car. If you are willing to sell your vehicle, get in touch with us. We’ll make your car selling process faster and easier. We offer free car valuation service and the best possible price in the market.

Quick, easy, and convenient – that’s what you get with We Buy Cars Today!