If you are planning to sell your car in a private sale, there are some smart ways you can get more money for your car perhaps hundreds of dollars over its book value. Selling your car instead of trading it in is wise: you’ll get more than anything offered by your dealer. Keep reading and we’ll examine ways you can make money with your car sale.

Prep It – If your car hasn’t been waxed for some time, now is the time to do it. Thoroughly clean the exterior including the body, bumpers, trim, and wheels. On the inside, vacuum the flooring and seats and use a sealant to bring out a rich shine on the dashboard. Remove spots, gum, or any other debris. Spray the interior with a warm and inviting scent. Check the trunk to make sure that it is clean and that the spare and jack are in place. Lift the hood and clean off the battery posts and make certain that all the hoses and wires are in place. Change the oil, oil filter, and air filter as needed.

Display It – If able, leave your car on display in a high traffic area such as a mall, parking lot, intersection with signs in place listing price and contact information. Be careful about places expressly forbidding this practice – who wants to pay towing and compound fees?!

List It – Here is where things can get very interesting. If you list your car with a newspaper, chances are they will re-list it on their website, perhaps until it is sold for no additional charge. Consider eBay if you want to broaden your audience, but keep in mind that eBay is notorious for letting scammers over run their site. Make certain that the buyer pays with cash or a bank check before tossing him the keys and signing over the title!

Check the Kelly blue book to determine your car’s price. Wear and tear can adversely affect the price as can high mileage. Still, you should be able to get more than the list price and less than the dealer’s selling price. Get the price right in the middle of that and you will feel like a winner and so will the buyer.

If your vehicle is very old, consider donating it to charity. No, you won’t see any cash but you will be helping a charity out and receiving a nice tax deduction.