How To Sell A Vehicle

Rickochet

I have a 2012 Toyota Highlander SE AWD that we bought new. It has 34k miles on it and has been garage kept since day one. This was my wife's ride who died last October. I have a 2009 Tacoma Access Cab truck as my ride that has 64k miles. I have been driving the Highlander some but don't feel comfortable in it. The AWD steering is very active and the visibility is not as good as my truck. The gas and brake pedals feel uncomfortable as well. I took this to another city via interstate a few days ago in busy traffic and scared myself a few times I just think this vehicle is no longer suited for my geezer 75 year old ass. So, maybe time to think about selling or trading it. My wife always named her vehicles. She bought this about the time that she started drawing her Social Security so she let Uncle Sam pay for it so she named it "Sammy." I haven't sold a vehicle in probably 30 years. I either traded or gave them to the kids. I see online options like Carvana but don't know much about them. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

colej

Rickochet

Carmax was who I sold my truck to. It couldn’t have been easier and got more money out of it then taking it to dealer for a trade in. I might've got maybe $1,000 more selling it private but it wouldn’t be worth the hassle.

VigilanteTrail

Rickochet

We just sold our 2011 Sequoia quickly via advertising on FaceBook marketplace…but this method can be a double edge sword based on how much effort & ass pain you want to deal with…especially if you live in a big city area I imagine…I live in Montana so it is a different animal

VigilanteTrail

Rickochet or trading it.

Please only do this as a last resort Rick…especially since it is a very low mileage Highlander

SMT

Rickochet After the passing of my dad, we took his car to Carmax and the process was so easy. You sit there, they pull it up on the computer and write you a check. They even left the room to bring it to me. It was equal to or more than we would have asked and I didn't have to deal with the idiocy of selling a car online or wherever. HUGE fan.

Rickochet

VigilanteTrail We just sold our 2011 Sequoia quickly via advertising on FaceBook marketplace…but this method can be a double edge sword based on how much effort & ass pain you want to deal with…

I don't want to deal with the general public.

colej

VigilanteTrail

It’s unreal the amount of scamming/phishing you get when you post something on marketplace.

Rickochet

VigilanteTrail Please only do this as a last resort Rick…especially since it is a very low mileage Highlander

I am just looking at options. I don't need the money. I may just end up keeping it as my local grocery hauler. I like having a second vehicle.

Walterjn

Rickochet carmax.

sdandrea1

Rick- every time I go to my local Toyota dealer, they offer to buy my Highlander from me. It's worth a shot, especially being clean, low mileage. Take it down to your Toyota dealer and as them! CarMax as well. No hassle, no ads, no bad buyers.......just a check.

VigilanteTrail

sdandrea1 It's worth a shot, especially being clean, low mileage. Take it down to your Toyota dealer and ask them!

Valid! They may just buy it outright for a fair price…especially if it is a Toyota dealer that needs some good inventory. Trading it towards a new vehicle is what I was recommending not to do…unless a last resort

Rickochet

VigilanteTrail Valid! They may just buy it outright for a fair price…especially if it is a Toyota dealer that needs some good inventory. Trading it towards a new vehicle is what I was recommending not to do…unless a last resort

I was at the dealer yesterday to get some air in my spare tire. I had just come from the car wash so it was nice and shiny. It was mid afternoon and they weren't busy. Nobody came up and asked if I was interested in selling. Perhaps it is too old or their inventory was ok.

sdandrea1

Rickochet

Ask them?

Baaab

Rickochet

Go back to the dealership and ask, I’d be stunned if they wouldn’t want buy your car with the low miles and it’s condition.

The Toyota dealership I used to work at was always looking to buy cars outright without any trade-ins, especially if they were in great shape and low miles, and older.

[deleted]

The only thing you might have going against you is that it's a 2012...,but the mileage is definitely a plus. It will lack a little on modern conveniences and safety features. What have you got to lose? It costs you nothing to keep it as well, just yearly registration and insurance. With both of those there is a good chance you may never have to buy another car again.

Rickochet

[deleted] With both of those there is a good chance you may never have to buy another car again.

I am pretty sure I won't need another with the small amount of driving I do anymore. I had to drive the Highlander out of town the other day due to my Tacoma needing repair which I will take to the dealer Monday. Once fixed the Highlander will just be my grocery hauler. For grins I got an online quote from Carvana and they offered me $17,200.

sdandrea1

Rickochet For grins I got an online quote from Carvana and they offered me $17,200.

Now you've got a number, see if the Toyota dealership will beat it 👍

Rickochet

Baaab The Toyota dealership I used to work at was always looking to buy cars outright without any trade-ins, especially if they were in great shape and low miles, and older.

I know a trade in is usually not the best value but if I found a small vehicle I liked why would they not offer me the same amount they would buy it out right for on a trade in? I don't want to buy used and I don't know if I want to spend what I am seeing the new ones list at. Also being a larger person and 6'2" not every car has enough room for me. I like the looks and size of the Rav4 but never sat in one.

jsippy73

Rickochet
If it's like my state when you trade you'll only pay sales tax on the difference if you trade, versus selling it yourself and buying outright.

[deleted]

Rickochet Rav4s are a generally a good vehicle. Last year when we were car shopping it seems to be the one vehicle that Toyota dealers had plenty of. You would have to sit in one of those. I'm 6'1" and they're fine.
We were looking at the Corolla Cross (smaller) which were as scarce as hen's teeth.

fatshot

Rickochet Also being a larger person and 6'2" not every car has enough room for me. I like the looks and size of the Rav4 but never sat in one.

I’m 6’6” and I found both the Rav4 and the Honda CRV had plenty of room….wound up buying the Honda.

Bravopilot

Rickochet Rav4 is the most popular Toyota sales wise. Dimensions are slightly smaller in all areas of the Highlander. When I was traveling a lot, I always got a Rav 4 to drive it as I was looking to buy a car. ended up getting a 2015 Highlander XLE from my ex-wife, easily better than the Rav 4. If I could make it work, I'd offer to buy your Highlander and get rid of my 2007 Prius. The AWD is handing here in New Mexico, oddly enough.

I'd keep it.

Eguller

sdandrea1 Rickochet For grins I got an online quote from Carvana and they offered me $17,200.

If you only need one vehicle, you'd have an extra $17.2 K in the bank with Carvana. That's a lot of Ho-ing. 🤑

jsippy73

After checking around that seems like a great offer.

Rickochet

Eguller If you only need one vehicle, you'd have an extra $17.2 K in the bank with Carvana.

I only need one at a time. 😜 I just drove it to the grocery and having the powered hatch and cargo area is handy. Consideration of getting rid of it is not a money issue. It has new tires and battery also. I kind of got cold feet driving it back from the grocery. I like having two vehicles for different tasks. I actually like my Tacoma best. With the access cab it has lots of legroom for the bucket seat to slide way back. It is 2wd and handling and braking is so much easier than with the Highlander.