I am in Year 3 of a 7-year car lease, but want to get a new car. My
leasing company has told me that I can return the car to them, and
they will sell it on the market and use the proceeds to pay off the
lease. They indicate that the car is worth enough to pay off the lease
AND refund about $3K to me, but I think it's probably worth a fair bit
more than that. I don't have time to try to sell the car myself, so I
am looking for some kind of agent who will take a fee to sell the car
for me -- and presumably net me more than the leasing company would
give me. Can you tell me how to find someone who provides services
like this? I am in San Francisco.

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Clarification of Question by 3q3-ga on 11 Dec 2002 08:41 PST

I did a Google search on "used car broker," "used car consignment,"
"used car selling agent" and couldn't find what I'm looking for --
someone who knows cars and pricing and the market, and will (for a
fee) take the selling job off my hands. A "four star" answer would
tell me what search terms I should be using; a "five star" answer
would give me tips on how to select a good agent. Thanks.

I am thinking that you don't have much of a choice... the leasing
company probably officially owns the car.  Therefore you do not have
the right to sell it yourself.

Just speaking from some recent experience with leases.

krobert-ga

No, the leasing company has given me a figure of how much it would
cost to buy out the lease, and they were clear that I would own the
car after paying this amount.

That's not what I meant.

It's like selling your neighbor's house.  If you don't own it, you
can't sell it, unless your lease contract or other document gives you
the right to sell it and then do something with the proceeds.

If your talking about buying it out, THEN selling the car... that's
kosher.

Hmmm... I think we're on the same page.

krobert-ga

The used car market at this time is horrible. I just got done selling two
used cars and took a terrible beating. The dealers are offering such great
deals with 0% financing and rebates that individuals trying to sell cars
are in real trouble. If I were you I'd take the deal your lease company is
offering. In truth, it sounds too good to be true, you'll be lucky if it
is real. cath-ga