STEP 1 - In order to sell your used vehicle in a competitive market you need to know who your competition is. Namely what are other vehicles of the same make, model and year going for? You want to make sure the asking price stands out from the rest, while still leaving room for negotiation.

STEP 2 - Before you even think of getting pictures taken you should make sure that both the inside and the outside of your vehicle is immaculate. It is definitely worth the added cost to get your vehicle detailed just before the pictures are taken. Just make sure you keep the vehicle in the same condition before potential buyers come by to view the vehicle.

STEP 3 - One of the easiest and most cost effective places to advertise is on the Internet, however if you have a little money to spend it isn't a bad idea to use other sources as well. Here are the top 5 places:

(1) Online classifieds such as MonsterAuto.ca and AutoTrader.ca
(2) Free online classifieds such as Kijiji and CraigsList
(3) Social Bookmarking classifieds such as Facebook's Marketplace
(4) Local newspaper classified ads
(5) Place a "For Sale" sign in your vehicle's window.

STEP 4 - Once you have decided where your ads are going to be placed the next step is to design an ad that will be an attention grabber. It is best to start with the basics - make, model, year, colour, etc. But to really grab a potential buyer's attention you need to include a list of the best attributes of your used vehicle. Such as low mileage, highway driven, new parts such as tires, etc. making sure every statement is true of course. If you are going to price you vehicle with room to negotiate, as suggested earlier, then make sure you also mention that.

STEP 5 - Once your ads have been placed your next step will be to show your used vehicle to potential buyers. Here are a couple of tips to help this process go smoothly:

(1) Make an appointment with each potential buyer - this way if they are late you don't have to feel bad for not waiting for them
(2) As mentioned earlier make sure your vehicle is always clean
(3) If you have all the service records make sure you have them available for the buyer along with any reports you have on your vehicle
(4) Pre-plan a test drive route that you can take potential buyers on. The route should be one that shows your vehicle in a good light. You should of course ask for proof of a license and accompany the buyer on the test drive. Not only will this give you an opportunity to answer any questions but you will also get a feel for how motivated they are to buy.

STEP 6 - When it comes time to sell the vehicle you may be faced with people who want to haggle for the asking price. But don't worry as the majority of people are not very skilled when it comes to negotiating, many people actually feel really uncomfortable asking a seller to come down on their price. Just understand that everyone wants to pay less than the asking price, but some people don't know how to do it. If you've built in room for negotiation you should have no problem handling any potential buyers negotiating skills. If their offer is too low you can always move on to the next potential buyer.