How To Sell Your Car Quickly In Kenya

There will be a time in life when you need to sell your car. Selling your car in normal circumstances is quite challenging, and to be honest, it can be downright stressful if you’re trying to sell your car quickly. The secret to selling your car quickly and for the right price is to know exactly what the buyer is looking for and provide that information even before they ask for it. Car buyers want to feel secure and confident that they’re making the right decision, especially if they’re buying a locally used car.

In this article, we’ll share simple tips on how to sell your car quickly in Kenya. Read on.

Where to Sell Your Car in Kenya

There are many things to consider when selling your car. Arguably, the biggest question car owners ask after making the decision to sell their car is, “Where do I sell my car?” You have probably seen a ‘for sale’ sign posted on the windows of many cars in Nairobi. It works for some sellers, but it’s hardly an effective way to sell your car. There are more efficient ways to sell your car.

These are some of the platforms for selling your car when the time comes to let it go:

• Personal Networks: This is, ideally, the fastest way to sell your car. Your friends, family, and colleagues always know someone who’s looking exactly for the type of car you’re selling. It also eliminates the question of trust as you may know the buyer personally (though people still get scammed by friends and family). But people who know you personally may know why you’re selling your car and take advantage of your “desperation” to offer you much less than your car’s worth.  
• Car Bazaar: Every Sunday, individuals and car dealers gather at the Jamhuri Showgrounds, along Ngong Road, to sell their cars. You simply drive to the showground, pay a 100bob fee, pick a spot, and wait for potential buyers. The good thing about the Bazaar is that it attracts buyers with a high purchasing intent. The bad part? There are more sellers than buyers. At times, it looks more like a networking event for car sellers. 
• Social Media: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok have evolved into instant marketplaces for buying and selling almost anything. You can simply post your car on your profile or page and interested buyers will contact you directly. Selling your car on social media doesn’t cost any money but can be quite slow, especially if you don’t have a wide network of followers. 
• Online Marketplaces: eCommerce has grown tremendously in Kenya in recent years. There has been an influx of online marketplaces such as Jiji, Facebook Marketplaces, and PigiaMe among others. You can advertise your car on these platforms and potential buyers will reach out to you. However, selling on these platforms requires due diligence when engaging buyers. Jiji recommends meeting buyers in a safe public space. 
• Offline Platforms: You can also advertise your car on offline platforms such as newspapers, magazines, and bulletin boards in malls and other high-traffic areas. This is the most expensive way to sell your car and it could also take time to find a buyer. 
• Car Yards and Showrooms: Selling your car through car yards and showrooms is the most effective way to sell your car. They have tens of ready buyers who walk into their premises daily, giving your car the marketing visibility it needs. Additionally, they handle the advertising, negotiations, and paperwork on your behalf. All you have to do is agree on a price with the dealer.  The obvious disadvantage to selling with a yard is that you have to leave the car with them. This can be inconvenient if you don’t have another car (Peach Cars solves this by allowing you to drive your car while we look for buyers). There’s also the risk that you may be dealing with an unscrupulous dealer who’ll you will bump into at a funeral the next weekend driving your car as their own (true story). 

There are several ways to sell your car in Kenya. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages which you should consider before settling on one. You can also use a combination of two or more of these strategies to sell your car. For example, you can take it to the Bazaar and still market it on social media.

Tips for Selling Your Car in Kenya

So you’ve told yourself, “I want to sell my car”. Now what? Is simply letting the world know you’re selling your car enough to get buyers calling? Definitely not! To help you out, here are some tips on how to sell your used car in Kenya:

1. Never show your desperation 

It is okay to be desperate. But it’s never okay to show desperation when selling your car. It’s the quickest way to lose your car or get short-changed, especially if you’re selling the car yourself and not through an intermediary. 

Scammers will prey on your desperation and appeal to your fears, particularly if you’re selling due to financial distress. They will lure you in with the offer of instant cash. It’s never the best time to sell your car when desperate. But if the situation dictates it, then the best option is to sell your car through a trusted dealer such as Peach Cars. 

2. Take your time, but don’t be indecisive 

Time is a scammer’s worst enemy. The longer you take to agree to a deal, the higher the chances of the scam getting exposed. But there’s a very thin line between letting the deal play out and coming across as indecisive. A serious buyer could take indecision as a waste of time and cause the loss of a good deal. 

Instead, use the time to do due diligence on the buyer and ensure everything checks out. 

3. Understand the market

I’ll admit, this is a stretch. Unless you’re a car salesperson, it’s nearly impossible to understand the car market in Kenya. However, understanding the basics of your car, how to improve its resale value, and the current market reception for your car’s make and model will help you to get a good deal. Basically, know your car’s unique selling points. Just like buyers, informed sellers get good deals. 

4. Prepare your car for a sale

In layman’s language, make your car pretty. A good first impression matters. Clean your car, make any minor repairs that you can (and inform buyers of the other issues the car has), and sort out any due servicing. Your car should scream “This car is well taken care of” without you having to lie about ‘lady-driven.’ If you have the car’s maintenance records, the better.

5. Organize the car’s paperwork

You don’t want to be scammed. Neither do the buyers. Just like you, they are also on the lookout for red flags. There’s no bigger red flag to a genuine car buyer than a seller who doesn’t have the car’s proper documentation. No serious buyer will complete a deal if you don’t have the car’s logbook in your name. 

Pitfalls to Avoid When Selling Your Car

There are many things that can go sideways when selling your car. From scammers to buyers who want to lowball you into a bad deal and everything in between. Here are a few pitfalls you should watch out for:

1. Screening inquiries 

You’ll need to know how to weed out the scammers and timewasters. This is perhaps the most important skill to have when selling your car. Knowing what to look out for and the right questions to ask will save you a lot of time and stress (and maybe money). Some of the questions you can ask to qualify buyers when selling your car include:

• When are you planning to buy a car?
• What kind of car are you looking for? 
• Are you buying the car for yourself or someone else?
• How do you plan to pay for the car?

2. Meeting buyers

This is the biggest point of vulnerability when selling your car. You don’t want to invite strangers into your home. You need to know how to do these meetups safely. It’s always advisable to invite a witness, if possible a lawyer, to any meetings until the deal is completed. 

3. Accepting payments

You should also insist on bank transactions and not accept cash payments. 

It’s a huge relief to get to the point where you have a buyer who has made an acceptable offer and you’re ready to complete the deal. You need to be fully vigilant at this stage, as all your hopes and dreams can come crashing down in a second. It’s important to protect yourself when collecting payment. Never accept cash payments. 

There are a lot of other red flags to watch out for, including hasty buyers and dangerous or time-wasting test drivers. You can avoid all these red flags by selling your car with Peach Cars. 

Read our complete guide on how to sell your car- the Peach Way.

Sell Your Car In Nairobi With Peach Cars

Selling your car yourself will require some work, so you must be willing to put in the effort to succeed. We can make it much easier, more convenient, and more secure for you. We’ll handle buyer vetting, viewings, and negotiations so only serious buyers get through to you. Why deal with shady buyers and jokers when we can do all the hard work for you? 

Sell your car with Peach Cars today.