How to Sell Your Car in Savannah, GA
While at first glance, selling a car may seem straightforward, there are many pitfalls an individual can make in the process of doing so. That’s why we at Chatham Subaru in Savannah have put together this detailed overview to help walk you through each step of the journey.
Gather Your Paperwork First
Before you do anything else, track down your title, registration, and maintenance records. If you still owe money on the car, get your loan payoff amount from your lender so you know exactly what you're working with. Having these documents ready saves time and helps the whole process move along without delays.
Get a Real Sense of Your Car's Value
Look up your car's value using a few different pricing guides so you have a realistic number in mind. Pay attention to mileage, condition, and any extra features that might add value. This gives you a solid starting point when you bring the car in for an appraisal, and it helps you understand where the offer you receive is coming from.
Clean the Car Inside and Out
A clean car makes a strong first impression, and it can genuinely affect the offer you're given. Wash the exterior, vacuum the interior, wipe down the dashboard, and clear out any personal items from the glovebox and trunk. Small details like these show that the car has been cared for during its many visits to Forsyth Park, which reflects well during the appraisal.
Bring It In for an Appraisal
Once your car is clean and your paperwork is together, bring it in for an appraisal. A trained appraiser will inspect the car, take it for a test drive, and check things like tire wear, brakes, and overall mechanical condition. This process usually only takes a short amount of time, and you'll walk away with a firm offer rather than a rough estimate. We’d like to add that our website is host to a Value Your Trade tool, so you can see roughly how much we’re willing to offer in advance.
Handle Any Outstanding Loan Balance
If you still owe money on your car, the payoff amount gets factored directly into the offer. A member of our team can often coordinate directly with your lender to settle the loan, which takes that step off your plate entirely. This is one of the parts of the process that tends to surprise people with how straightforward it is.
Review the Offer and Ask Questions
Take your time looking over the offer. Ask how the number was calculated, what condition factors played into it, and whether there's any room for negotiation. We will walk you through their reasoning so you understand the full picture before you decide anything.
Complete the Transaction
Once you're comfortable with the offer, the paperwork side moves quickly. You'll sign over the title, provide your ID, and we will handle the rest, including any lien payoff and DMV notifications in states that require it. Many sellers walk out with payment the same day, which makes the whole experience feel efficient from start to finish.
Consider What You Do With the Proceeds
Once the deal is done, think about how you want to use the funds, whether that means rolling them into a new vehicle purchase or simply pocketing the cash. Either way, you've turned a car you once drove across I-16 into money in your hands, with far less hassle than you might have expected. Consider giving us a call if you have any more questions about this process!
Speak With Our Finance Team Today!
Dealership Information
Testimonials
“ Collin (our sales rep) was absolutely amazing! We love our new Forester! ”
“ Great service! ”
“ Wonderful service! Above and beyond! We were visiting Savannah in the middle of a road trip from out of state. As we were leaving our hotel we noticed the Check Engine along with a bunch of other warning lights. Found this nearby Subaru Dealer and although they were very busy, managed to squeeze us in but were upfront about the amount of time it could take. With nothing to gain in future business from us, they treated us like a long time customer. Took 5 hours as it was a complex repair but they got us safely back on the road! Can’t say enough positive things about these folks! Thank you!! ”
My experience with CP Subaru was top notch—from beginning
“ My experience with CP Subaru was top notch—from beginning to end. I would highly recommend them! Tyler was the best! ”
Bought our daughter’s Subaru last summer.
“ Bought our daughter’s Subaru last summer. She loved it so much, I came back this summer and bought my wife one. I recommend this dealership and Subaru to anyone and Jimmy is the person to talk to. ”
I kid you not when I say I’ve bought over two dozen new
“ I kid you not when I say I’ve bought over two dozen new vehicles but this was my first time going to a Subaru dealership. I was very impressed with the dealership building and how it was set up. When I first walked in I saw two French Bulldogs and since I’m a dog guy that was fun. I dealt with Jesse online and met him at the dealership, Collin greeted us when we first arrived and he became our sales guy throughout and Hezekiah was our finance guy. Without turning this review into a novel I will simply say that this was my BEST experience at any new car dealership ! I got the car that I wanted, the color I wanted and all the options that I wanted. Now I have high expectations for the service department and will review that when the time comes. ”
Jimmy was very helpful and helped me accomplish my
“ Jimmy was very helpful and helped me accomplish my objective promptly. Garret was also nice to work with. ”
Sales stakk especially Collin made the purchase
“ Sales stakk especially Collin made the purchase experience extremely easy. No pressure, will definitely recommend. ”
The team was pleasant and explained everything.
“ The team was pleasant and explained everything.to me and made me feel comfortable with my choice. ”
Amazing experience!
“ Amazing experience! Everyone was welcoming, kind and so friendly!! The manager and finance was so so good. They worked with me and made everything I needed happen! My only critique would be that my salesman wasn’t super knowledgeable but he was new so it was completely understandable!! 10/10 experience ”
“ We bought a 2026 outback the usual sales BS , but tolerable. There new car delivery person Nina is Awesome! She took her time explaining ALL the technology the car has. She put it in layman’s terms so we could understand stand it and made sure we knew how to use it. Just can’t say enough about this wonderful young lady Thank you Nina ! ”
Kay and everyone at CP Subaru is top notch!
“ Kay and everyone at CP Subaru is top notch! They are so friendly and professional, making the entire car buying process comfortable and easy!! ”
Kay rocks!
“ Kay rocks! She and Jermaine made the car buying process comfortable and easy. The dealership is beautiful and everyone takes amazing care of their customers! ”
This dealership is clearly managed properly, the way a
“ This dealership is clearly managed properly, the way a dealership should be run. All staff are educated in their roles and very friendly towards customers. The facility itself is clean, organized, and bright. They also have in place a process for customer communication and they use it to great effect. ”
“ I found me a 2020 f150 here and with the amazing help from Kay I walked out with my truck. New truck and some new friends. The whole team here is great, give them just a minute and they help, give them more then a minute and they'll treat you like family. ”
“ After an oil change (done elsewhere) gone disastrously wrong, I brought my Subaru in to make sure it would be safe to drive. Kassidy, my advisor, was kind, patient, clear, and truly felt like my advocate. She never pushed unnecessary services on me, but focused on my concerns and how she could best help me at this time. Kassidy kept me updated through the process. The work was done at the correct speed (it involved a process that should not be rushed!!) and seems perfect again. I left feeling comfortable driving my car again thanks to the entire staff who made a scary day much more pleasant. ”
Very friendly and helpful .
“ Very friendly and helpful . Property is nice and good services, drinks etc. one stop ahop ”
“ I leased a 2026 Subaru Forester in March from Chatham Subaru. Now that the dust has settled from a beginning bump, I can write a clear and objective review. I was in the unfortunate very small percentage of Subaru owners that experiences a mechanical malfunction (transmission wiring harness) in the first couple of weeks of ownership. To say that I was shocked is an understatement. This is my fourth Subaru and I had zero mechanical issues to date. I was confident in continuing with Subaru. I had just moved to Savannah when I leased the Forester so its issue added to the move stress. I have to say in retrospect that Chatham Subaru were pros in their dealing with me in my angriest moments, especially Austin in Service. Subaru of America was awesome in supporting their product and totally made it right. The repair seemingly did the trick and my Forester is back to being an awesome vehicle to drive. I will continue to be in the Subaru family! ”
I always dreaded going to a car dealership,the hassle
“ I always dreaded going to a car dealership,the hassle back and forth…Well today was an exceptional day, with little back and forth ,couldn’t be happier. Thank you Collin and manager ”
“ My husband went to "look" and returned with our new Suby! He could not stop talking about how easy and stress-free the whole process was! And this is a man that loves a good "haggle"! He raved about Tyler and Hezzy and how both deserved the highest reviews! So great Job Tyler and Hezzy and Chatham Subaru! We recommend Chatham Subaru and their team when considering any vehicle purchase! You will be thrilled! By the way, he went with the Forester with the Wilderness package - super sport! ”
I had a wonderful experience at Chatham Subaru!
“ I had a wonderful experience at Chatham Subaru! I appreciate the assistance I received from Terry and Alex in purchasing a particular vehicle. Although, I changed my mind I especially appreciated Terry for going the extra mile to find another vehicle to my liking. Great Job!!! ”
I want to give a huge shoutout to the team at Chatham
“ I want to give a huge shoutout to the team at Chatham Subaru ], especially the GM that From the moment I walked onto the lot, the customer service was absolutely top-notch. They were patient, never pressured me, and went above and beyond to make the buying process smooth and transparent. The Dealership: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Car: ⭐⭐⭐ To be completely honest, after driving the car for a bit, I’ve realized it isn't the 100% perfect fit for my lifestyle that I thought it would be. However, that is no fault of the dealership. They listened to what I wanted and helped me find a great deal. Vehicles are highly personal, and while this specific model isn't my absolute favorite, the experience of buying it here was exceptional. If you are looking for a Subaru, I highly recommend coming here. They treat you like family, and when I'm ready to trade this one in for a different model, ”
Very happy, they were not pushy and worked with me.
“ Very happy, they were not pushy and worked with me. The whole experience was great!! ”
“ Great ”
“ The best, most professional, and considerate folk ever experienced in a car dealership. Simply unbelievable. ”
It was a great experience and we love are crosstrek and
“ It was a great experience and we love are crosstrek and Tyler Carr was great ”
“ We had such an amazing experience buying not one but two newish subaru's. First off Kendra is the best !!! She worked for days to take care of us, and made sure we got the cars we wanted at the best prices and rates. Both Kendra and the sales manager went above and beyond the day we made the sale, and had us out out the door and in our new rides before 2pm. I have dreaded having to buy a car and have had sleezy sales goblins try and take advantage of us. You will find none of that sillyness at chatham subaru. They treat us like friends and family, and I look forward to many more years of friendship and pleasent buisness. ❤️ ”
“ The service department is top notch! We worked with Austin and Dustin. They were so communicative and straight forward! The service techs were also fantastic! Thank you so much from the Fritz's ”
“ Austin, in the service department went well beyond the call when I had a major breakdown on a road. The repair bill was going to be huge and he made sure the extended warranty covered it. They provided a very nice courtesy loaner vehicle while mine was being repaired. When my car was returned to me, the outside looked just like new and the interior was as clean as it was when I purchased it. They are the best. ”
“ I had never purchased a Subaru before, but I decided to give it a try, and I’m very glad I did. We bought our vehicle last week from Chatham Subaru, and the experience was truly wonderful from start to finish. A special thank you to Finance Manager Hezekiah, Manager Terry, and Sales Consultant Kay for their outstanding service and professionalism. Kay did an excellent job delivering the vehicle and making the entire process smooth and enjoyable for us. We are very grateful for the care and support from the whole team. Thank you again for such a great experience! ”
“ Very helpful and always polite. The waiting area for service feels like a coffee shop. ”
I love Chatham Subaru!
“ I love Chatham Subaru! Thus dealership treats folks right and provides exceptional service. We've been buying from this dealership & Jimmy McConaughey for years & we are happy yo come back again & again! Thank you! ”
From the moment we walked in we were given a warm
“ From the moment we walked in we were given a warm welcome. Corey was our salesman and he was great. He explained everything about the vehicle in detail. We also went over the cost with the manager and then the finance manager. This was a great experience for us. ”
“ Sadly I had to retire my Crosstrek of 12 years.... she and I shared over 150,000 miles of adventures. Austin, my service manager, was excellent and always on top of things. I could contact him anytime and get the answer I needed. But when your service manager becomes part of your frequently dialed numbers on your phone, you know it's time for a change, as painful as it might be. I loathe the car buying process but the whole team at Chatham Subaru made the process as relaxed and stress free as it could be. Jimmy McConaghy, our sales associate, was friendly and laid back. He applied no sales pressure and didn't try talking us into anything we didn't want/need. He listened to what we wanted and, as promised, "made it happen". Jermaine in finance made that final stretch of dreaded paperwork run quickly and smoothly. We had the pleasure of dealing with George (the dealership manager or "the man with the final say") several times. We had several requests that needed manager approval and each time he addressed us personally and said Yes with a big smile. He seemed truly happy to just give us what we asked for... no negotiating or compromising, just Yes with a big smile and handshake. Bottom line is I walked out of the dealership with a new car and I felt like I got a great deal. And it happened effortlessly. I will definitely go back to this dealership for future purchases. ”
Everyone at the dealership is so friendly and
“ Everyone at the dealership is so friendly and professional. Jimmy is very knowledgeable and provides amazing service. Hez was awesome and helped us expedite the purchasing process. Thanks to Chatham Subaru, highly recommend! ”
“ My Forester broke down while visiting the area the day before we were supposed to make the 12 hour drive back home. Talk about a stressful situation. However, the team at Chatham Subaru made it the least stressful and was able to get me back on the road in perfect timing! Special thanks to Dustin for getting in the parts and being so great to work with. Thanks Billy for being the BEST and most friendly shuttle driver I’ve ever had. Thanks Jimmy in sales for helping me with potential solutions before I knew it was going to be a timely repair. Two words come to mind on my experience... Integrity and Service. ”
They were very helpful in providing me information about
“ They were very helpful in providing me information about my car and helping the buying process go smoothly. ”
I went in 5/2/26 to purchase a vehicle, I had an amazing
“ I went in 5/2/26 to purchase a vehicle, I had an amazing sales person name Nicholas. I was won over by George who made me feel so comfortable with my decision. Everyone I encountered was great! ”
I believe my sales guy is learning Collin.
“ I believe my sales guy is learning Collin. I believe George help make it work I believe Hez is your golden guy. I think the new dealership is monument to the past and you will regret building inside of 5 years maybe longer it will be converted to something else as AI will take over car sales and you did not plan ahead, you planned for the past and overbuilt. ”
“ Thank you Collin for giving me an excellent purchase experience. He listened and I drove away in the exact car that fit everything I wanted. My 3rd Subaru and I am one happy happy customer. If I could recommend anyone it would 100% be him!! ”