However, you can also take a digital approach by selling your used car online. Selling an old car online is a better option as you can reach out to maximum buyers and the overall speed of process is much faster than offline method. Let’s glance through the different ways to sell your second-hand car.
How to Sell a Second-hand Car?
There are two ways to sell used cars: the traditional offline method and the modern online method. The first method involves you getting in touch with car dealers or spreading the word among your contacts. You can take different approaches to sell an old car. It also depends on the purpose of selling. For instance, if you upgrade to a new car, you may sell your old car to the dealer.
The second option is the digital method or selling your used vehicle online. There are numerous online used cars portals where you can list your car. You can also exchange your old car on online platforms such as AckoDrive. You can even make use of social media channels to sell your used car.
The Modern Way of Selling an Old Car
If you are under the impression that selling a used car online in India is a difficult task, you may be wrong because it is the most effective way to sell your second-hand vehicle. With the emergence of internet-enabled smartphones, selling used cars online has become a new norm. There are several online platforms or portals where you can list your old car. Below are the ways to sell your used vehicle online.
List your used car in an online classified portal.
Exchange the old vehicle via an online car buying platform such as AckoDrive.
Make use of your social media channels to spread the word about your used car.
Step-by-Step Process of Selling a Second-hand Car
Here is the step-by-step guide if you are planning to sell your used car.
Prepare the Car for Sale: Once you have decided to sell your car, the next step is to prepare your vehicle for sale. Get the car serviced, clean the interior and repaint if required. The car should be appealing to the buyers. A vehicle in top-notch condition will attract more buyers, and the chances of you getting a good price are higher.
Collect Your Paperwork: Gather all the car-related documents such as registration certificate, car insurance documents, PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate, etc. Also, do not forget to include other documents such as the owner’s manual, warranty card for the battery and the car service history record.
Set the Asking Price: After you have sorted out the documents, the next step is to set the selling or asking price. It is an important step and may require a bit of research to find out the best price for your car. Look for similar make/model cars in the used car market and get an idea about the selling price. Ensure that the selling price is not too high nor too less.
Create Ads that Sell: Creating an ad that is appealing and informative is extremely important. Create an advertisement in any of the online used car portals. Ensure that the ad has all the information such as make/model, year of manufacturing, registration details, insurance details, mileage, reason of selling, expected price, etc. Also, do not forget to publish the photographs of the vehicle. The more the pictures, the better it is.
Screen Callers and Interact With Prospective Buyers: Once you have set up the ads, you may get many queries. It is crucial to screen callers and identify genuine buyers. Interact with the potential buyers; simultaneously, don’t be too aggressive to close the deal. Explain all the details about your car and clear all the queries of the buyer.
Close the Deal: Once the buyer is happy with the car, you can close the deal by coming to a mutual agreement on the price. If the buyer needs some time to arrange funds, you can negotiate for a reasonable deposit. Also, mention the timeline within which the full payment has to be made.
Documentation and Payment: After finalizing the deal, wait for the payment to be cleared by the buyer. Once the payment is made, hand over all the documents and complete all the formalities. Also, ask the buyer to provide government-issued identity proof. Also, remember that there are some documents that you need to keep. After clearing documentation, hand over car keys to the buyer.
After-Sale Guide: Once you deliver the car to the buyer, there are specific tasks that you need to do as a seller. Inform the RTO about the transfer of ownership, submit the required documents, and collect the acknowledgement for the same. Inform the insurance company if the transfer of insurance cover is also part of the deal. If not, you need to cancel the policy. Lastly, ask the buyer to send you the updated Registration Certificate.
Documents Required for Selling a Second-Hand Car
Below are the required documents to sell an old car in India.
Car Documents
Car Registration Certificate (Mandatory)
Car Insurance Policy Document (Mandatory)
Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate (Mandatory)
Invoice of the vehicle (Optional)
Duplicate keys (Optional)
Owner’s manual (Optional)
Insurance transfer application (If required)
Individual Documents
You need to submit the self-attested copies of the following documents.
You can get the RTO forms online or offline. You need to submit the forms to the RTO.
Three copies of Form 28: For obtaining No Objection Certificate.
Two copies of Form 29: To claim all vehicle-related documents are handed over to the buyer.
Two copies of Form 30: To inform the RTO that ownership needs to be transferred.
Sale Affidavit: Agreement of transfer of liabilities of the car to the buyer.
Clearance Certificate: An application form stating the vehicle is sold to the buyer and the buyer's details.
Additional Documents (Special Cases)
If the Car is Financed: If your car is financed, you need to get the NOC from the bank. You would also need Form 35 to transfer the ownership to the buyer. By submitting these documents, Hypothecation (HP) will be removed from your Registration Certificate.
Car owned by an NRI: If you are an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) and want to sell your used car, you need a duly filled and signed letter from FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer). To get your FRRO letter, you can register at the FRRO portal.
How to Sell a Used Car With Loan?
If you had purchased the car on loan, you might be wondering how to sell a financed car? First of all, you need to get a clearance certificate (NOC) from the bank to sell your vehicle. Along with NOC, you will also need two copies of Form 35.
When you purchase the car on loan, the term HP (Hypothecation) will be mentioned in your RC. It means that the financing company/bank owns the vehicle. Once you clear the loan and get the NOC, you can remove HP from the RC. To sell a financed car, you need the NOC and Form 35.
Selling Used Imported Cars in India
The process of selling a used imported car in India is similar to selling any other used Indian vehicle. But there is a catch. You cannot sell an imported car in India for at least two years since you purchased the vehicle. That means you have to wait for two years to sell the car. Apart from that, other processes involved in selling the car, including RTO procedures, remain the same.
When selling an imported car, you can highlight the facts, such as the unique features of the vehicle and manufacturing country. Also, keep all the documents safely, such as the original invoice, custom clearance certificate, etc.
Pros and Cons of Various Ways of Selling a Used Car
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of various ways of selling a used car.
