How to Sell Your Car to a Dealership

Hands Holding Car and Money
We at Suntrup Nissan know you have many options when selling your current vehicle to trade up to a new one. Most dealerships around St. Louis will purchase your current car from you when you buy a new vehicle from them. This allows you to save money on your car purchase because you can put the funds from the sale toward the down payment of your new car. Here, we explain how to sell a car at a dealership and what to expect during the process. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started.

Benefits of Selling Your Car Your Car to a Dealership

Before we get into how to sell a car at a dealership, let’s look at the benefits of selling your car to a dealership in St Louis:

  • Save Time & Avoid Hassles: Selling your car to a private party can be a big hassle. If you sell your vehicle at a dealership, you won’t have to worry about placing a listing for your car online, screening possible buyers, and letting strangers drive your car around Jefferson County on a test drive.
  • Lower Your New Car Price: Using the money from your trade-in allows you to apply those funds toward purchasing your new car and reduces your monthly payments.
  • Save on Your Taxes: When you trade in your current car and buy another one from Suntrup Nissan, you will only pay the sales tax on the difference between your trade-in value and the price of your new Nissan.

How Does Selling Your Car to a Dealership Work?

So, how does selling your car to a dealership work? It’s a pretty straightforward process:

  • Clean Up Your Car: First, clean your car inside and out, and replaceminor parts like windshield wipers or floor mats to increase the perceived value of your vehicle.
  • Make a List of the Benefits of Your Car: Gather yourdetailed service records, and make a list of any special features or accessories.
  • Have Your Car’s Title on Hand: Find your car title, and have it ready when you sell it.
  • Research Your Car’s Value: Use online tools from Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, or our trade-in value tool to get the estimated value of your current vehicle. Then, use that amount as a starting point to negotiate your price for the trade-in.
  • Pick Your Dealership Carefully: If you have an older model car, it may be easier to sell it to a used car dealership in St Charles. But, before you decide on a dealership, be sure to research its reputation online.

What to Expect

This is how the rest of the process goes when selling a car at a dealership:

  • Make an Appointment: Of course, you can walk into a dealership and sell your car anytime they are open, but you may have to wait. It’s a better idea to make an appointment, so they know when to expect you.
  • Used Car Manager: Ask for the Used Car Manager or a salesperson. They’ll gather your information and probably run a vehicle history report on your vehicle.
  • Inspection: They might inspect your vehicle to check its mechanical condition.
  • Consider the Offer: Once they make you an offer, you can try to negotiate further, visit another dealership, or walk away and do nothing.

Sell Your Car to Suntrup Nissan Today

Now that you know how to sell your car at a dealership, feel free to contact the Suntrup Nissan finance team if you’re interested in selling your current vehicle to us. We treat our customers with respect and kindness and look forward to helping you.

 

More from Suntrup Nissan

  • New Nissan Rogue for Sale in St. Louis, Near St. Charles & Florissant

    St. Louis drivers looking for a versatile, well-equipped compact SUV consistently land on the Nissan Rogue, and Suntrup Nissan is the local destination to find it. Located at 6000 S. Lindbergh Blvd, we carry the full Rogue lineup with competitive pricing, dealer specials, and a finance team ready to help shoppers from St. Charles, Florissant,…

  • Your 2026 Nissan Frontier Price Guide: Every Trim, Every Build

    Mid-size truck shoppers in St. Louis consistently look to the Nissan Frontier for its proven power, competitive pricing, and capable towing at every trim level. The 2026 Frontier lineup starts below $33,000 and climbs to a fully equipped off-road build for under $45,000, with a standard 310-horsepower V6 across every single configuration. At Suntrup Nissan…

  • Your 2026 Nissan Murano Price Guide: Every Trim, Every Feature

    If you are shopping for a refined mid-size SUV in St. Louis, the 2026 Nissan Murano belongs at the top of your list. Completely redesigned with a new VC-Turbo engine, standard all-wheel drive on every trim, and an interior that competes with vehicles in a higher price bracket, the 2026 Murano delivers premium comfort without…

Suntrup Nissan 38.5208643, -90.3438767.