KyleStar
Greenie
- #1
Thread Owner
Once the price is agreed and the tow truck is scheduled, a lot of sellers just hand over the keys and leave money behind. A little prep the night before pickup can put real cash in your pocket. Here is the checklist I run through:
1. Personal stuff: go through the glove box, trunk, under the seats, and the spare tire well. Pull garage door openers, chargers, work documents, and anything with personal info on it.
2. Plates and paperwork: most states want the license plates back, so remove them before the tow. Keep a signed bill of sale and your copy of the title transfer or release of liability. I also take photos of the car as it sits, odometer included, as proof of condition.
3. Fluids and battery: many buyers expect the tank drained and the oil and coolant out, or they will knock money off for the extra labor. Burn off or siphon out the remaining fuel and confirm whether the buyer wants the battery in or out.
4. Parts worth pulling first: catalytic converter, battery, aluminum wheels, alternator, starter, and any intact aftermarket stereo or parts. These can sell separately for more than their per-pound value as part of the car. For deciding what to pull yourself versus leave in, this breakdown of whether to part out a car or sell it whole lays out the tradeoffs pretty clearly.
5. Do not strip it to the shell: buyers pay for reasonably complete cars. Take too much and the driver may refuse the load or re-price it on the spot. Keep wheels on (or have rollers handy) and leave the body and frame intact.
6. Tires: decent used tires can go to a tire shop for a few bucks each, while bald ones ride along with the car. Most tow buyers will not pay extra for tires, so this is pure bonus.
Run through it in that order the day before pickup and the handoff takes ten minutes. Anyone here have a part they always pull before the truck shows up?
1. Personal stuff: go through the glove box, trunk, under the seats, and the spare tire well. Pull garage door openers, chargers, work documents, and anything with personal info on it.
2. Plates and paperwork: most states want the license plates back, so remove them before the tow. Keep a signed bill of sale and your copy of the title transfer or release of liability. I also take photos of the car as it sits, odometer included, as proof of condition.
3. Fluids and battery: many buyers expect the tank drained and the oil and coolant out, or they will knock money off for the extra labor. Burn off or siphon out the remaining fuel and confirm whether the buyer wants the battery in or out.
4. Parts worth pulling first: catalytic converter, battery, aluminum wheels, alternator, starter, and any intact aftermarket stereo or parts. These can sell separately for more than their per-pound value as part of the car. For deciding what to pull yourself versus leave in, this breakdown of whether to part out a car or sell it whole lays out the tradeoffs pretty clearly.
5. Do not strip it to the shell: buyers pay for reasonably complete cars. Take too much and the driver may refuse the load or re-price it on the spot. Keep wheels on (or have rollers handy) and leave the body and frame intact.
6. Tires: decent used tires can go to a tire shop for a few bucks each, while bald ones ride along with the car. Most tow buyers will not pay extra for tires, so this is pure bonus.
Run through it in that order the day before pickup and the handoff takes ten minutes. Anyone here have a part they always pull before the truck shows up?
