Sometimes the hardest part about purchasing a new or used vehicle is getting rid of your present car.  There are several options for selling your car.  You can trade it in to the dealer, sell your car privately, or donate it to charity.  Here are the pros and cons of each of these.

Probably the easiest way to go is to trade in your vehicle.  Dealers tend to make the process easy because they want your car.  The dealer will assess your car to determine how much it is worth and deduct it from the price of your new car.  The pitfall to this is that a trade in value is generally much lower than what you could get for your car privately.  However, you can’t beat the convenience.

If you sell your car yourself you will most likely get the most money.  However, this can be a lot of work.  It will be time consuming to prep your car for sale.  Assess your vehicle and determine what you’re willing to pay on minor repairs.  Things should be fixed well enough to avoid legal troubles down the road.

Another option for getting rid of your car is to donate it to charity.  Some people find this option attractive on principle.  If your car is on it’s last leg and might be hard to sell, this is probably the best option for you.  After all, who’s going to buy a car that is going to require constant roadside assistance?

Consider the condition of your car to make the best choice about getting rid of your car.  Be realistic about how much you will get for your car.