Why should I sell my car at PV Auto Center?
It used to be that when you made the decision to sell your car, you had two choices: (1) sell the car to a dealer, which can be convenient but often results in a price that is 15-25% less than the private party value; or (2) take on the time consuming challenge of selling it on your own. PV Auto Center offers a third option – a physical marketplace that helps sellers get more money for their cars without the traditional hassles and risk of transacting in the private market.
What does it cost to sell my car at PV Auto Center?
We take an up front fee of $199, which covers the work we do to prepare and market your vehicle for sale, including a thorough visual inspection, state safety inspection, basic interior and exterior cleaning, a vehicle history report, professional photographs, ad copywriting, and various internet listings. If your car needs a full detail, we can take care of that for you for an additional $100 for sedans and $120 for trucks and SUVs. After we successfully sell your vehicle, we take a $699 success fee directly from the sales proceeds. Our incentives are completely aligned: If we don’t sell your car, we don’t get paid a success fee.
What services am I paying for?
When you list your car with PV Auto Center, you will receive all of the features and benefits of a best-in-class dealership working on your behalf to sell your car quickly and professionally. Our team will educate you on market conditions to help you price your car competitively, clean and prepare your car for sale to maximize its lot appeal, advertise and display your car effectively to maximize coverage, manage buyer inquiries and test drives, and provide you continuous updates to keep you informed. Once you are matched with a buyer, we will arrange any document processing on your behalf.
Why does PV Auto Center use a flat fee structure?
The team at PV Auto Center uses the best way to structure a fee for its service that encourages the Company’s standards of honesty and quality fair service. A flat fee encourages two important behaviors: i) it ensures that PV Auto Center is equally motivated to sell ANY of the cars consigned – in other words, all customers are treated equally; and ii) it ensures a positive buying experience by not creating an incentive to push a more expensive car on a buyer. Aside from motivating transparent and high-integrity behavior, the benefit to PV Auto Center sellers (the value that PV Auto Center provides) is typically $2,000 to $5,000 regardless of the cost of the car, and the PV Auto Center fee is designed to be a reasonable portion of the value added as opposed to being tied to the value of the car.
Where is my car listed?
We post all listings on our own inventory site, Craigslist, and many others major sites. If your car brand or model has an enthusiast following, we may post it on associated online forums where applicable. We may also feature your car through our Twitter and Facebook pages, leveraging the power of social networking to expose your car to hundreds of additional buyers. In addition, thousands of cars a day pass by each of our lot on the W. Waters Avenue, all of which generates a steady flow of walk-in traffic. Our team works extremely hard to maximize exposure to your vehicle during the marketing process.
What should I bring to list my car at PV Auto Center?
To get started, we will need a copy of your driver’s license, current registration, proof of insurance, title (or lienholder information, if applicable), any available service records, and a full tank of gas.
What do I do while waiting for an offer on my car?
Typically nothing at all. We will professionally handle all inquiries, test-drives, and inspections. We will also regularly update you on our progress and sales activity.
What happens when someone wants to buy my car?
Congratulations! Once a buyer makes an offer, we will present it to you in the manner you’ve specified (e.g., phone, text, e-mail). We will present you with all the offers we receive for your car…accepting them or rejecting them is up to you. If you accept the offer, we will make arrangements to finalize the deal, process all paperwork, and prepare the vehicle for delivery. Once the vehicle is delivered, we will cut you a check within 5 business days.
Do I have to leave my car with you?
While we recommend leaving your car with us to increase your chances of a quick sale, we offer a variety of flexible options that allow you to leave your car when it is convenient for you. Weekends, certain days of the week, or while you’re on vacation…whatever works best. We can help you come up with a plan that will maximize your exposure while minimizing any inconvenience.
What if I still owe money on the car?
Many of our sellers have outstanding loans on their vehicles, which is one of the reasons they are drawn to our service. We help them obtain more value for their vehicle to pay off their loan and maybe have a little left over. Once we sell your vehicle, we will pay the lienholder directly and write you a check for any difference.
What if I want to donate my car?
Through the PV Auto Center donation program, donors can choose their favorite charity, drop off their car, and let us take care of the rest. PV Auto Center will sell a donated car for private market value with no upfront cost to the donor or charity. In this way, we can cut a larger check to charities and provide donors with the greatest possible tax deduction. If you donate your car through PV Auto Center, we will maximize the donation amount and tax deduction, handle all of the DMV and IRS paperwork, and also send you a tax-ready deduction form.
What if I currently lease my car?
We can help. Many of our customers choose to sell their car towards the end of their lease or even with many months remaining until termination. It’s easy and is a great way to realize any equity value you may have built up in your lease. First, call your leasing company and have them provide you with the buyout value. Also have them give you a list of the charges you may be responsible for if you turn the car in (e.g., condition of tires, chips in the windshield, dings or scratches on the car, etc.). Then, give us some details about your car, and we can give you a sense for its value if sold in the private market. If the market value is greater than the buyout value, we will help you realize that value (and have helped customers realize thousands of dollars on their leases so far). You can call us anytime to discuss, or you can read more about extracting value from your car lease.
PV Auto Center 