How to Sell Your Vehicle to a Dealership: A Step-by-Step Guide
Thinking about selling your car? Selling to a dealership is one of the easiest ways to skip the stress and uncertainty of private sales while getting a fair, fast offer.
At Strosnider Chevrolet in Hopewell, we help drivers across the East Coast to sell their vehicles with confidence and ease. Here’s how to make the most of the process:
Step 1: Gather Your Documents
Bring your vehicle title (or loan information if it’s not paid off), registration, maintenance records, and a valid photo ID. This helps us get everything finalized without delays.
Step 2: Clean It Up
No need for a full detail, but a quick vacuum, wash, and removal of personal items can help your car shine during its appraisal.
Step 3: Do Some Homework
Check your car’s value using trusted sources like Kelley Blue Book (KBB) or Edmunds. This gives you a rough idea of what to expect, especially for common vehicles that might be in higher demand for your area, like trucks and SUVs that hold strong local demand in Central Virginia. Be prepared for a learning curve with these online tools, the in-person appraisal can be variable.
KBB uses standardized condition levels to help determine how much a car or truck is worth. So when you're entering a vehicle into KBB, you select its condition to get an accurate trade-in, private party, or retail value. The main categories that you can choose from are partial to your experience.
Step 4: Visit the Showroom for an Appraisal
Come into the showroom for a vehicle appraisal. At Strosnider Chevrolet, we’ll evaluate your vehicle based on its condition, mileage, and market demand, then make you a no-obligation offer.
Pro Tip: For the best experience, we recommend stopping by earlier in the day or making an appointment. That way, we can get you in and out more efficiently. That said, we’ll gladly appraise your vehicle anytime during our business hours.
Step 5: Review the Offer
You’re never pressured to say yes. We’re here to make sure your questions are answered and the process is clear from start to finish. Offers will be time sensitive based on that day’s demand and your vehicle’s status.
Step 6: Seal the Deal
Accept the offer and we’ll take care of the paperwork, pay off any remaining loan, and write you a check, or offer to apply the value toward a new vehicle. Either way, you can walk away with peace of mind.
Bonus Tip: Thinking About a Trade?
Many Central Virginia drivers use the value of their vehicle as a down payment on something new or pre-owned. If that’s your plan, our sales team is ready to help you find the perfect fit. We are here to help you whatever your goal may be. We are proud to be your experts and advocates in the automotive industry, with the added benefits of price transparency and the Strosnider Advantage plan!
From Petersburg to Prince George and beyond, selling your vehicle at Strosnider Chevrolet is as easy as walking into our showroom. No pressure. Just good people, great service, and a promise: Nobody Treats You Better.
