Used Golf Cart....trade it in or sell it in the classifieds?
 

We have a 2021 Yamaha quiet tech 2 golf cart with the typical villages stuff on it like bucket seats… Except not the really fancy ones.
We have decided to purchase a Star EV lithium ion cart this fall when we return from the lake. Question is do I do a trade-in with the Star dealer here in the villages or do I sell it on the open market. Usually dealers only give you wholesale for trade-ins but in this hot market I am wondering if it might be just as easy to go to the dealer who is desperately looking for clean trades? Also do I sell it now or wait until the fall when the snowbirds return?
(please try to stay on topic and let's not get into a discussion of gas versus electric… Thank you!)

What are you asking for it?

Sell it here in the fall privately. If it's prized reasonably, you'll sell it in a few days or less and get well over $1000 more than what a trade-in will get you.

SELL IT NOW Prices are high now Dont know what the fall will be

Yes, please! How much? I have cash!

The dealer is going to offer a price that ensures they can then resell it at a substantial profit. You can easily sell a cart on classified right now at premium price.

Sell it now while new ones are hard to get with shipping difficulties. OR rent it, rentals are scarce.

Appears that supply issue is now down. Several months ago Villages Golf Carts had 0 carts outiside. Yesterday at least 20 outside. Suspect that demand will be less of a concern in the future.

Just an observation. Several golf courses up north have recently started offering substantial discounts on mid-week t times. Apparently demand is way down from the previous couple of years. Speculation is that two factors are resulting in way less play. First, most companies are now requiring employees to physically go back into work and other activities that were previously closed have reopened. Secondly, and probably most importantly, after spending money on necessities like food and gas, many people now don’t have any money remaining for leisure activities like golf or vacations. Last week we played 18 with a cart for $25 and on Monday we are playing 18 with a cart at a high end course for $32. We also just got notified by the owner of a pet friendly cottage on the beach in Maine that the place we have been unsuccessful trying to rent for years now suddenly has multiple weeks available during both the prime months of July and August. She said long time repeat renters are sadly canceling their vacations because they just can’t afford it because of hyper inflation.

This relates to this thread in that it appears future demand for fleet golf carts from golf courses will decline, leading to more production capacity for the personal transportation golf carts used in the Villages. If that is indeed the case, sell now while there is still a shortage and people are willing to pay a premium for a used cart.

It simply depends on whether or not you want to go through the trouble of selling it yourself or are willing to give up some money for the convenience of trading it in at the dealer. Obviously, you're going to get more money if you sell it on your own. A dealer is going to offer you a wholesale price.

During the last 6-7 months I’ve sold two used golf carts. I listed them in the TOTV classifieds. It is currently a sellers market and both carts sold in about a week for decent $$$$$.
If you place an ad, take and post many photos, and price it inline with the market.
Selling a golf cart is not difficult, much simpler than selling a car!

when you buy your new cart you could give the dealer a chance to give you an offer on the old one. then see if you can get more selling it yourself. You probably can get more selling it yourself without much hassle, but at least you'll have an idea of what it's worth. You could also see what a new one costs, and if you can find one, what a dealer wants for a model of approximately the same age and options etc.

IMO either way going to take beating. I’ve got around $5200 in my 2012.5 listed $13,995 cart. Plan on it outlasting me.

Sold a two year old golf cart for more than I paid new for it.

Sell it now market hot, who knows about the fall. Also check other Star dealer Crown Carts in Wildwood, family owned and more flexible than Villages.

I’m looking to buy a golf cart.I live in the villages. If interested in selling, email me at andybesco@aol.com.
Thanks

I’m interested if you want to sell it now!!

Sales tax
 

Not one person has mentioned the difference in sales taxes by trading in versus out right sale. Would be a good idea to compare the total costs of selling vs. the value of the cart being used as a trade-in.

In May 2021 I bought an EZgo Elite with the biggest Lithium Ion battery package, the fanciest reclining $2,000 seats, Bluetooth stereo, auto-cancelling turn signals, a special fan, extra lights, etc., for $21,000. Pretty much silent except for the noise of the tires on the road. I was new here and thought I’d use a golf cart all the time. But I don’t play golf, and it turns out that in 13 months I’ve only put 50 miles on it! I’d sell it for $17,000. Sold.

Not sure about that - I believe they were all-electric carts.

Congratulations!
 

You have come up with the most clever classified ad for a golf cart.

I bet you have a lot of "cash-in-hand" buyers lined up and eagerly waiting.

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

Remember if you are trading in a car or golf cart and buying another car or golf cart, you don’t have to pay sales tax on the whole purchase, only the amount above the trade in price to the purchase price. For example, if the dealer will give you $15,000 trade in value, you will save $1000 in sales tax if it’s a 7% tax. If you can get a lot more for your cart than the dealer will give you, make sure you take this trade in/tax evasion amount in perspective.

What did they say when you talked with the dealer - and after you researched used cart prices and what they are selling for? I am assuming you have done some research instead of waiting for info from this site!!

why would you assume that?

Sell cart now or later
 

As someone said, trading it in is the simplest so you won't have to haggle with buyers. Another thing to consider is you will see a tax break by trading in your cart.

Trade-ins usually get a higher price if staying with the same manufacturer. I would sell it outright.

Supply and demand.

Main pet friendly cottage on the lake
 

Main pet friendly cottage on the lake

We may be interested in staying at a pet friendly cottage in Maine. Can you give us the information for the place that has vacancies now?