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Should I Trade or Sell Private?

1340 Views 20 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  Miked1
I had a question regarding my 04 SE KC Titan. Should I sell to a private party or trade to a non Nissan dealer? Dealer is offering 14K. What do you all think it is worth private party? Based on pics and facts. It isn't washed.

56K Miles,
4WD,
Power everything,
Tilt Wheel,
Crusie Control,
Muti Disc CD Changer,
Dual Front Air Bags,
ABS,
Power driver seat,
Sliding Rear Window
Bedliner,
Big tow package,
Allow Wheels

Non factory options,
OEM Bugshield
Extang Trifecta

Just Inspected...Oil Change...New Front Rotors and Pads, Rear rotor cut and new pads. There is a small dent in the hood under the bug deflector, slight dent in lower right front bumper and dent in rear bumper.

Land vehicle Tire Vehicle Car Pickup truck


Land vehicle Pickup truck Vehicle Tire Car


Mason jar Lid Cookware and bakeware Metal


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Motor vehicle Tire


Automotive exterior Vehicle door Bumper Vehicle Auto part
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Depends on what you want to do and in what timeframe. Always better to try to sell yourself if you have time, but if you have driven something and have the fever then work your best deal with the dealer.
Kelly Blue Book
Trade: $14,425
Private Party: $16,675

From my experience I would try to sell it privately first. If it doesn't get any bites after a decent amount of time, then I would trade it in. Personally, I can't stand selling vehicles by myself because everyone wants to look at it but nobody has the $ the buy it.

It can become a huge head ache in the end trying to sell it on your own.
You'd have to do the math. If you sell if privately, make sure you get enough to cover the tax advantage you get by trading. But if Billaj has the right numbers, I'd sell it privately.
If the truck is really in good shape and you don't mind messing with it a bit I'd try selling privately... if it has anything wrong with it or you just don't want the hassle go for the dealer...

I used to always sell private party and think guy that traded in were crazy.... as I get older and my time is a bit more valuable I realize how nice it is to just roll in and hand them the keys... If you trade in don't bother doing ANYTHING.... they don't care and won't give you a nickel more if it's clean, just had the oil changed, etc. Of course for full trade value the tires can't be totally bald and it must run, drive and stop.
HudsonValleyTitan said:
You'd have to do the math. If you sell if privately, make sure you get enough to cover the tax advantage you get by trading. But if Billaj has the right numbers, I'd sell it privately.

What tax advantage do you speak of? Teach me please!!!
Based on what I told you all, would you consider my truck in good condition? Thanks for all of your opinions as well.

2007 TITAN LE

The tax advantage I believe he speaks of is described below:

Trading-in may also offer a tax advantage if you are buying a vehicle at the same time. In most states, according to dealers and regional authorities contacted by MSN Autos, when your car is taken in trade you only pay sales tax on the difference in cost between its trade-in value and the price of the new car. For example, if a dealer gives you $10,000 on your trade-in and the purchase price of the car you are buying is $25,000, you'll only be required to pay sales tax on the $15,000 difference between the two amounts. In states with a high sales tax, this benefit can help narrow the difference between trade-in value and private party price.

i.e. 25K*6%=$1500 vs 15K*6%=$900 Diff = $600
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yours says SE on the tailgate, not LE

edit - sorry didn't notice the other username. funny.
I was responding to the previous users comment. The username is '2007 TITAN LE'.
I'd PP it if you think you can sell it in a few weeks. But if you wait longer the trade in value may go down in the eyes of the dealer.
Don't even consider trading. You'll get skinned alive by the dealer. They will NOT offer you anything close to BB for your truck. I saved $3000 by selling it myself. How could you give away $3000 in equity man????
2007 TITAN LE said:
What tax advantage do you speak of? Teach me please!!!
The dealers play with numbers on a trade....making it look like you put down more $$$ thus lowering the sales tax you pay. All dealers do this but it's only good for YOU if they're giving you a decent trade in price.
Obviously the dealer has the goal of taking your truck, putting a few hundred dollars in it, and selling it for slightly more than retail value. My guess is that the sales price will be around $17k. Or they may even write the trade value down with some of the profit from the new truck and sell it for even less.


Depending on what you owe (if anything), I'd consider researching all of my options including financing options on the new truck, maintenance, etc.
I know if I had to move my truck now I'd be much better off in the private sector. I treat my truck pretty rough and it has the scars to prove it.
Little different angle here - if you live within a reasonable drive of a CarMax, take it to them and see what they say. Based on the mileage and condition of your truck, they will definitely be interested in buying it. I've heard from several folks that CarMax offers closer to what you'd get from selling it yourself vs. trading it in at the dealer.
Go to Edmunds.com and build your truck using Edmunds TMV (True Market Value). It is a more accurate portrayal of the actual market value of your vehicle adjusted for your city/state.
My experience had been that when you get into selling higher value vehicles, it is tougher (i.e. takes longer) because it is a lot smaller market (people with the cash). Also, if you have a loan on the truck, you would have to pay it off first since, I (like most people) would not want to pay for the truck with the promise of a title coming. I would want to see the title.

The tax advantage is real - so if you can get an extra $2K over your $14K trade in offer, that is about 14%. If you are looking at a 6% tax rate, that leaves a return of 8% - is that worth your time and investment?

I would try and get another $500 for your trade and live with a "5%" cost of the conveinence of trading in. If you can't get it, is 8% worth it?
2007 TITAN LE said:
What tax advantage do you speak of? Teach me please!!!
Most of the states I've ever lived in tax on the 'net' sales price.
new car + stealer fees + addons/dealer installed options - trade-in = taxable price.
Rebates are never taken into consideration in figuring the taxable amount.

So, in Fl (6% sales tax) for example getting $14,000 for the trade really makes it worth $14,840.
I'd try the trade in route. I just traded in my 03 Dodge Ram on the titan. The KBB trade in was around $13K and I ended up getting 14K from them. I play'd two dealers on the trade and without hesitation they gave me $500 over the other dealer. I traded it in because the AC was about to go and the estimate I got was 2K to fix. I don't mind doing it to a dealer because the consumer who buys it will get it fixed by the dealer.
Titan Pete said:
I'd try the trade in route. I just traded in my 03 Dodge Ram on the titan. The KBB trade in was around $13K and I ended up getting 14K from them. I play'd two dealers on the trade and without hesitation they gave me $500 over the other dealer. I traded it in because the AC was about to go and the estimate I got was 2K to fix. I don't mind doing it to a dealer because the consumer who buys it will get it fixed by the dealer.
They all do that. They just don't give you as much of a discount on the new vehicle and make it look like you're getting a great trrade-in price. Salesman trickery.
Is the Invoice Base Price of a new vehicle (according to KBB) what the dealer pays for the vehicle?
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