How to Sell Your Used Car in UAE: A Comprehensive Guide

A car owner’s journey is a gradual blend of a mélange of emotions. It commences with the excitement of searching for the ideal everyday companion, negotiating with the seller for the most efficient bargain, and ending with the satisfaction of driving it for a few years, finally planning to part ways with it for the best value in return.

To avail the best monetary value in return for selling your used car in the UAE, here is a checklist that can help you achieve that.

1. Body Condition

Opposed to the popular statement, ‘Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover,’ buyers are likely to spur a robust prima facie simply by looking at the car. Hence, it is indispensable to ensure that your car is almost in the identical shape and form when it was bought. Minor cracks and scratches are expected, but:

• Poorly maintained bumpers
• Inconsistent window plastic lines
• Repainting the pre-owned car with a color that discriminates from the original

These are immediate signs of poor maintenance and may reveal that the car was involved in major accidents.

2. Interior Quality

As essential as its exterior, a car’s interior also speaks volumes about its condition. While it doesn’t have to be as immaculate as it was on the first day of your ownership, keeping a check on the:

• Seat fabric or leather
• Switches
• Dashboard plastic
• Door handles
• Squeaks and rattles

will go a long way in ensuring a peaceful ownership experience, and will guarantee a faster sale and a better price when bidding adieu.

3. Mechanicals

The recent deluge in Dubai caused several cars’ mechanicals to malfunction. Serious problems were faced by those cars that had sophisticated mechanisms for complex features installed. Regardless, it is important to spare time to appraise the mechanicals of any car. One can begin by testing:

• AC and infotainment system
• Sun blind and steering-mounted controls
• Bluetooth and cruise control
• Wipers and radio

Then move on to assessing engine aspects such as Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) levels, smoothness of transmission shifting, and checking the levels of:

• Engine oil
• Radiator fluid
• Steering oil
• Other lubricants

Ensuring that these essential functions are in order will attract a higher resale value when you put up an ad to sell your car online in UAE.

4. Keeping the Car Stock

Dubai, being home to some of the most exotic cars and best paved roads, incentivizes people to modify their cars. Many are often blinded by the additional power, torque, and tantalizing look of the car but may be oblivious to the extremely high depreciated value of their prized possession. At the time of selling such models, it can be difficult to find buyers as many would be dubious about their reliability and service costs. Moreover, certain aftermarket modifications can attract substantial penalties. However, if the used car is kept stock to GCC standards, there will be less anxiety for both the seller and the buyer. A generous asking price will seal the deal.

5. Preserving the Necessary Documents

Documents of a vehicle validate its details and justify its worth. Hence, maintaining records of service, accidents (if any), and insurance claims will help a buyer ascertain a car’s value. A complete account of its lifecycle can be revealed from these documents. Moreover, when a seller provides such documents readily to a buyer, a tangible sense of faith and care is established in the buyer’s mind for the seller and his car. This increases the chances to sell your used car without frustration and for a more profitable sum of money.

6. Providing a Detailed Description of the Car and Including Many Pictures for the Online Ad

A neat advertisement to sell your car in Dubai online will attract a larger audience. Having a structured ad with comprehensive detail under each heading such as:

• Regional Specification
• Powertrain
• Features
• Documents Available
• Price

This will make it easier to read your ad and save valuable time for serious buyers. It will also convey the notion of a genuine ad. Moreover, closely captured pictures of each section of the car will allow buyers to make a complete analysis of its condition and help them make informed decisions. It's advisable to provide pictures taken during daylight as aspects such as the car’s color and appearance will be more legible. It may take more time to perform all of this, but it’s the price one pays for a better financial payoff.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is it a Good Time to Invest in a Used Car?

Taking into account the dismal state of cars after incessant rains in the UAE, it is recommended to carry out a complete inspection of the car by taking it to a professional mechanic or your trusted garage. With their instruments, they will be able to assess the car’s chassis, engine components, and check for faults. It is also advisable to pay special attention to the car’s odometer reading as it may have been altered to attract a higher resale value. Expert professionals will provide a complete inspection of the car. If the report claims that the car is in mint condition, it should be purchased. Ensure that the car complies with GCC specifications.

• Which Used Cars are Considered to be Reliable?

Japanese and Korean cars have earned a deservedly high reputation for reliability in the UAE. Hence, cars such as Toyota Fortuner, RAV-4, Hyundai Accent, Mazda CX-30, and Kia Sportage are among the top in this category.