Chapter 3 · Selling · by HBi Auto
Selling your Porsche
Sell outright, trade in, consign or sell it yourself: the honest trade-offs, and what each one leaves you with.
There are four ways to sell a Porsche. Each one trades money against time, effort and risk. Here is how they compare, honestly, and a calculator to see what each one leaves you with.
The four ways to sell
| Sell to 911 Buyers | Trade in | Consign | Private sale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to sold | Days | Same day as your next car | Weeks to months | Weeks to months |
| Your effort | One call, we pick it up | Low | Low, but you wait | High: listings, calls, test drives |
| Fees | None | None | Commission or flat fee | Listing fees |
| Risk | None: a firm number, paid by wire | Low | The car stays on your insurance and title | Payment fraud, strangers driving your car |
| Tax effect | None | Can lower the sales tax on your next car* | None | None |
What you net
What you net, four ways
Put in your own numbers; nothing is sent anywhere.
- Sell to us
- –
- Trade in, with the tax credit*
- –
- Consign
- –
- Private sale
- –
Each line is what you keep after the loan, fees and holding costs, at the same sale price. A firm offer and a private sale do not always land on the same price; this shows what the method itself costs you.
Selling to us
We give you one firm number, priced on the same VIN-checked sales you can see on 911 Tracker. We pay up to top dollar for the right car, pay by wire, handle the payoff if there is a loan, and pick the car up in an enclosed trailer anywhere in the US. Get a firm offer in 1 business hour.
Trading in
Trading in is the easiest way to change cars, and in many states it is also the cheapest: sales tax is charged only on the difference between the new car's price and your trade-in, which can be worth thousands of dollars on a Porsche.*
When consignment makes sense, and when it doesn't
It can work
Rare, high-dollar cars where a few months on the market can find the one buyer who pays the most, and you do not need the money soon.
It usually doesn't
Common models, cars with a loan, or when you need to sell. You pay the fee, keep insuring the car, and the price often drops while you wait.
What your car is really worth
Start with what the same model actually sold for, not what others are asking. Find your model in chapter 1 for its sales chart and prices by mileage, or look it up on 911 Tracker.
Getting the most for it
Gather the file
Every record, the window sticker, both keys, the books. Buyers pay for certainty.
Fix the small things
Warning lights, worn tires, a chipped windshield. They cost little and change how the car is valued.
Be honest about history
Accidents and paint come out on any inspection; saying it first keeps the deal together.
Price it on sales
Ask what the market pays, not what you paid or what others ask.
*State laws may apply. Sales tax rules depend on your state, and the trade-in credit does not apply everywhere. Check with your state or ask us.
Written by the 911 Buyers and HBi Auto team in Mocksville, NC. Market numbers come from 911 Tracker's VIN-checked US sales and say what they are based on; maintenance intervals say where each one comes from. This course is general information, not an inspection, an appraisal or legal or tax advice.