Usually, people go one of two routes when trying to offload their current vehicle: selling it privately or trading it in. Each method has its perks and benefits, and it depends on whether you value convenience or receiving the most money in return. 

Typically, selling your car to a private party brings you the most money for your used car. But along with that extra cash comes hour after hour of taking pictures, posting ads on websites, answering phone calls from potential buyers, and ironing out the sale details.

And when it's all said and done, it may take weeks or even months to find someone interested in buying your used vehicle.

Conversely, trading in your car is a streamlined process. Visiting the reseller of your choice, you decide whether or not to accept their offer for your car's trade-in value, and if so, put that money toward your next one. 

Rather than spending your priceless time taking pictures and answering the phone, you could be driving off in your next vehicle in a matter of hours.

Whether you decide to sell your used vehicle privately or trade it in, how can you be sure you receive good money for your car's value? At Shift, you can get a fair offer, better than at the dealership, driven by powerful machine learning algorithms and tons of data. All you'll have to do is enter the make, model, year, and mileage on Shift's easy-to-use website, and you'll instantly receive a purchase offer that's valid for seven days. With Shift, there is no need to spend the extra time waxing and washing the car.

A little dirt will not affect the quote, and we fully detail the cars ourselves anyway (before listing them for sale). With your used vehicle sold, you can browse Shift's wide selection of fully inspected cars located across the country. Want to take a test drive before you buy? If you live in one of Shift's many service areas, a concierge will drive to you, letting you get a feel for the car's performance before signing the papers.

While selling privately and trading in are the most common ways of divesting yourself of a used car, do dealerships buy cars?

Maybe you own multiple vehicles and want to simplify things yet don't want to go through the hassle of selling one to a private party. And since you don't want to buy another car, trading in isn't an option.

The answer is yes, you can sell your used car to a dealer. But how does it work? Though the process represents less hassle than selling a vehicle yourself, knowing the steps ahead of time can prepare you for what to expect.

When you arrive at a dealer ready to sell your used car, informing them of your intentions ensures you speak to the right person. Typically, this will be the used car manager instead of a salesperson.

Once you speak to someone, they'll take down both your personal information and the details of your vehicle and perform an inspection. Using your car's VIN, they'll run a history check to research its past for any accidents or needed repairs.

The dealer representative also might send your vehicle to their mechanics to check for any dents or mechanical issues. And since a dealer's in the business of selling cars, they might ask you if you'd prefer to trade in instead of sell.

With your information taken down and the vehicle looked at, you'll receive an offer at some point. Though you may believe your car to be in excellent shape and great transportation, a car dealership's valuation of it depends on several factors.

Foremost among them are market conditions and at what price similar vehicles sell for across the country. Many dealers and resellers buy used cars at auctions, and these prices go into determining what they'll pay for yours. 

Another element affecting dealer offers is the popularity of your make and model and how quickly they can sell it. Specific vehicles are in higher demand than others, and if yours is among them, you may secure an excellent offer. 

Depending on how dealer inventory fluctuates, your used car may or may not represent a valuable offer to them. Say a dealer needs SUVs or pickup trucks for the coming winter, yet they have low inventory and selection. If you walk in needing to sell your SUV, they may jump at the chance to pay a nice price for it. On the other hand, if a dealer has several vehicles that match yours, they may pay less for it.

And if you're currently making monthly payments on a car loan, that can also play a part in the offer you receive. 

Performing research ahead of time to check for current car prices can help you find out the worth of your current vehicle.

In short, if you need to sell your current vehicle and don't want to trade it in, selling it to a dealer is convenient.

Though you may not receive as much money as selling your car privately, you avoid the time-consuming process of taking pictures, posting ads, and answering phone calls. 

Though car shopping can be fun, negotiating at a dealership is stressful. Even with manufacturer incentives, buying at a dealer can be a hassle. But Shift makes buying your next vehicle easy. In Shift's no-pressure sales environment, you get a fair, no-haggle price driven by powerful machine learning algorithms and tons of data. And Shift's certified mechanics perform extensive 150-point inspections on every car and have complete vehicle history reports, so you know your used car feels as good as new.

Once you purchase a used car from Shift, our best-in-industry service contracts ensure it runs as good as new, mile after mile. With a Shift Vehicle Protection plan, not only are essential components covered, but you also receive free roadside assistance. Help is just a phone call away, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.