If you're thinking of upgrading your car, and you need help figuring out what happens to your existing car, considering a private sale of your car in Utah may seem like a daunting task at first; however, selling privately is often the best option as well. Selling privately allows you to have full control over your vehicle. You set the price, negotiate directly with the potential buyer, and keep the extra cash in your pocket.

Many people who consider selling their vehicles privately are worried about completing the necessary paperwork, and the time it will take to find a buyer. The good news is that with some research and the right tools, selling a vehicle privately can be done with relative ease. This guide will help you navigate through all the steps of selling your vehicle in the state of Utah from preparing the necessary documents, until you actually turn over the keys to the new owner.

Private Sales vs Dealership Trade-In

Before we start going through the steps, let's explore some of the reasons that selling a vehicle privately will generally give you a better return on your money.

All Required Documentation

The key to a smooth transaction is to have all your documentation organized before you start to sell your car; once you have completed all your documentation, you are ready to list your car. Under Utah law, there are certain documents that you need in order to transfer ownership legally; therefore, if you do not have these documents, there are many buyers who will not want to purchase the vehicle.

Here is a list of the documentation you will need:

The Certificate of Title

One of the most crucial documents in the process of transferring a vehicle is the title. The title contains a section on the back that will enable you to change ownership of your vehicle known as an Assignment of Title. When completing this section, ensure that you write in the buyer’s name, address and the odometer reading at the time of sale.

You must write your signature and print your name as it appears on the front of the title. You should never use whiteout or any other type of liquid correction on the title. Any changes or alterations will invalidate the title, and you will have to get a duplicate title.

Bill of Sale

The Bill of Sale protects both you (the seller) and the buyer by documenting all of the details of the transaction. Utah law requires that when selling a vehicle, you and the buyer must complete the Bill of Sale to ensure that the buyer pays the correct amount of sales tax when they register the vehicle. You and the buyer should each retain a copy of the signed Bill of Sale for their records.

Steps to Be Followed - Your Blueprint to Quickly Selling Your Vehicle

Selling your vehicle quickly requires a little preparation. Follow the steps outlined below to attract buyers who are seriously interested in your vehicle and finalizing the sale.

1. Preparing Your Vehicle

As the seller, you want the buyer to form a positive impression of your vehicle from the very beginning. Therefore, wash the outside of the vehicle, wax the paint, and clean the interior (including removing any personal items). If your vehicle has minor maintenance items that need to be fixed (for example, a burnt out lamp or a scratch), take the time and monetary investment to repair these minor items as they can greatly enhance your ability to sell your vehicle for your desired sales price.

2. Take Good Quality Pictures

You should use your smart phone to take pictures of the vehicle during the "golden hour" (the hour following sunrise and the hour prior to sunset). Photographs should be taken of the vehicle from several different angles (i.e., front, back, sides, and interior).

Make sure to capture photos of the vehicle's dashboard, each of the seats, the trunk, and the engine bay. Additionally, if you see any dents or scratches on the body of the vehicle, make sure to capture those in photos as well. Honesty is one of the keys to building trust with potential buyers.

3. Write a Good Listing

When communicating the vehicle's information in your listing, be sure the information is accurate and clearly communicated. The following are examples of important vehicle details to include in the description: make, model, year, mileage, and condition. Include any recent upgrades that you made to the vehicle, such as installing new tires or getting an oil change. 

You must also be truthful and transparent with your buyers regarding any mechanical issues. The sad truth is, providing a thorough and honest detailed listing will assist in eliminating any tire kickers and will provide you with buyers who are serious about purchasing your vehicle.

4. Price It Right

Before pricing your vehicle, it is a good idea to do some research on what similar vehicles are selling for in Utah. You should try to price your vehicle in a way so that you can be competitive, while at the same time allowing for some level of bargaining. If you price your vehicle too high, it will be virtually impossible for buyers to view your vehicle. If you price your vehicle too low, you will have lost potential income.

Safety First: Safe Transactions

Obtaining a sale of a higher dollar value item from an unknown, requires diligence and caution. By following these safety procedures, you will ensure your safety as well as the safety of your property.

Use Secure Communication

Never provide your contact information until you are comfortable with the buyer. Utilize secure messaging systems offered by the listing services to communicate with a potential buyer. This way, you will not disclose any of your personal information before you have established a level of comfort with the buyer.

Choose Safe Meeting Locations

Do not meet with a buyer in your home. Select a public place to meet with the buyer, which is well lit and has a lot of foot traffic. Acceptable locations for meetings include a grocery store parking lot or a bank parking lot, but adding a third option such as a local police department exchange area will also work. If possible, always have a friend or family member accompany you for added security.

When the prospective buyer has asked for an opportunity to test drive the car, ask to see a valid current driver's license, take a picture, and you should always ride along with the buyer when completing the test drive. Make a plan on how to get to and from the route that can be driven back to you (preferably short and not in heavy traffic); remember to let the buyer see how the car handles as they normally would.

Finalizing the Sale

Once you and the buyer agree on a final price, the next step is finalizing all of the necessary paperwork involved in completing the sale of the vehicle. The best practice for completing this is to carefully complete all pages of the Bill of Sale and sign the Title so that you have accurately completed the two documents with all necessary (correct) buyer and seller names and identifiers.

Once the Bill of Sale and Title are completed, be sure to remove your License Plates from the vehicle. The License Plates in Utah do not belong to the vehicle; they belong to the individual who registered the vehicle for use on the roadway. Therefore, always take your License Plates off of your vehicle prior to the buyer driving away with the vehicle.

Finally, you will need to report the completion of your sale to the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles. The easiest way is to complete the transactions via the online Motor Vehicle Portal (MVP). You should also cancel your vehicle insurance once the vehicle has driven away after the completion of the sales transaction.

Why Use KarKiosk to Sell Your Utah Vehicle?

Although listing a vehicle online can be a daunting task, there are solutions available for private sellers to utilize such as KarKiosk. KarKiosk offers a simplified but customized digital marketplace for private sellers to efficiently sell their vehicle in Utah through several unique selling features; creating a solution for sellers to complete a quick sale of their vehicle.

• KarKiosk offers a complimentary vehicle history report for your listed vehicle that not only gives you confidence in the history of your vehicle, but also provides immediate confidence to a potential buyer.

• KarKiosk automatically populates your listing to several different platforms, while social media enables you to heavily advertise your listing.

• Through the use of the KarKiosk Message Center, you can call and text with interested buyers without revealing your actual phone number.

• Through the use of free KarStudio credits, you can also utilize artificial intelligence to remove unsightly objects from your vehicle photos to make them appear more professional.

• If you need to sell your vehicle quickly, you can have an instant cash offer from direct buyers or partners.

The private sale of a vehicle can be made a lot easier by first preparing the documentation for the sale, then creating an excellent listing for the sale and listing the vehicle for sale on a reputable and secure site. Doing this will ensure you get the best price for your vehicle when you sell it privately.