• Clean out the interior. Remove any and all trash, clothes, and loose items from the trunk, glove compartment, seats, and other small compartments. Since the buyer will most likely look through every nook and cranny, you don't want to leave your car looking like a mess.
• Get a car wash, a wax, top off all the fluids, wipe off dust inside, clean all the inside glass, polish the hubcaps, and clean the tires. Someone will give you thousands of dollars for your vehicle, so the least you can do is spend a little to get it into the best-looking shape possible.
• Clean the carpet and the upholstery. No one likes to see seats with stains or dirt ground into the carpet. Making sure that the carpet and upholstery is clean will also make your car smell clean, which is especially important in such a small, confined space.
• Do some minor repairs, such as getting small dings fixed, get the oil changed, and check the tire pressure. Taking care of these things can also give you an excuse to raise your asking price since you took care of it instead of leaving it for the buyer to do.

Once you've finished with the detailing, as a friend or relative to take the car for a test drive and give you their opinion. Sometimes they can point out things that you would never notice because you're so accustomed to driving the car yourself. Finally, gather all documents, receipts, service reports, etc. into a folder and keep them in the car's glove compartment. That way, they will always be at hand for an interested buyer to look through, and it also makes a good impression to display such attention to detail.