For those of us who live a distance from our senior citizen loved ones, helping them to sell their vehicle can seem like an unwelcome and unwanted chore. Whether you are selling a senior loved one’s car because they have given up driving, or even after a loved one’s death, selling their vehicle might seem like an additional major stressor that you don’t need in your life. Thankfully, there are car consignment services that will do the work for you or your elderly loved one. These companies are experts at handling all of the work involved in selling a vehicle. All you have to do is provide them with information and they will get the best price possible for the vehicle (and take a fee or a modest percentage of the profits, of course). Here are some ways you can use a car consignment service to sell your senior loved one’s vehicle from a distance.
Why Consider Consignment Over Online Sales?
You might ask, why wouldn’t I just list my loved one’s vehicle myself online, on sites such as eBay Motors or Autotrader.com? The simple answer is because you don’t feel like doing all the work of selling the car yourself. Using a car consignment service takes the hassle out of selling your loved one’s vehicle, no matter where in the country you live in relation to them. It will also help you and your senior loved one, who might be more prone to fall for online or Craigslist scams, to avoid fraud. Security is another big reason many choose to use a car consignment service. The company that lists the car for you will take care of it all, including test drives. So you won’t have to worry about strangers visiting your senior loved one’s home with one person “casing the place” while the other is on the test drive.
Who Offers Vehicle Consignment Services?
If you are interested in using a car consignment service to sell your senior loved one’s vehicle, check with local car dealerships in their area first. Many dealerships may offer a consignment service, although it might not be widely advertised. Using a local dealership is easier and more effective for vehicle sales, as local dealers will know the market in the area and can likely get your loved one the most money for their car.
There is also a multi-state car consignment service that many people use:
CarLotz
CarLotz is a car consignment company founded in Richmond, Virginia in 2011 that works with sellers from many different states (see below). Simply have your senior loved one bring the vehicle in to one of their local stores, and they will provide an appraisal of its worth. If your loved one agrees with the appraisal, CarLotz will prepare the car for sale, market it nationwide on auto buying websites like Cars.com and Autotrader.com, and manage questions and test drives from potential buyers. They will also assist buyers with financing and paperwork (including DMV documents, which everyone knows can be a hassle for both buyer and seller). CarLotz will charge an up-front listing fee of $199, and if the car sells, will charge an additional $799 “success fee.” If they don’t sell the car, however, the success fee will not be charged. Many senior citizens (and their loved ones who may be helping them sell their vehicle) like the fact that CarLotz’ fees are straightforward with nothing hidden. Local CarLotz stores include:
· Richmond, VA
· Chesapeake, VA
· Midlothian, VA
· Greensboro, NC
· Monroe, NC
· Tampa, FL
· San Antonio, TX
· Downers Grove, IL
Retail My Ride
If you plan to help your senior citizen loved one sell his or her vehicle through a car consignment service, you’ll be happy to know that a national directory of car consignment dealerships is available online. RetailMyRide.com was created in 2018 and is, so far, the only national directory of vehicle consignment dealers (including RV and motorcycle consignment dealers) in the United States. It is a great way to find a reputable car consignment dealer in the area in which you are looking to sell the vehicle. Simply input the zip code of the area and whether you are looking to sell an automobile, classic or antique car, exotic car, vintage car, custom car, RV, or motorcycle. A listing of consignment dealerships closest to or in that area will display, along with the address and contact phone number for each dealership. You can choose to contact the dealer yourself or give the information to your senior loved one if they prefer to contact the dealership directly. Either way, you’ll be on the road to selling your senior loved one’s car using the fastest, most hassle-free method possible.