It's an inevitable fact of life that all good things must come to an end, and your relationship with your car is no different. Whether due to age, maintenance, cost or an infinite host of other factors, eventually it's time for you and your car to part ways. Of course, you're going to want to do everything you can to make sure that you get the most out of your car when it comes time to see it off, either by trading it in or opting to sell it yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

What can you sell?
There are lots of theories on when it's OK to sell a used car and when it isn't. Depending on whom you ask, you'll get different age and mileage limits that may differ wildly. Edmunds breaks out the general lifecycle of most cars into a few mileage-based landmarks, and while not a golden rule, such information can help you get a sense of what you may be in for when it's time to sell. For example, selling at or around 30,000 miles is preferable, as most cars will still be covered by a manufacturer's warranty and will likely have yet to see their first major service visit. Even at 100,000 miles, which Edmunds bills as the third landmark in a car's life, your car may still be in great shape, though you may have some extra work to do to fight the old perception that a well-traveled a car isn't worth buying.

Getting it ready
Once you've established that you're going to sell your car, it's time to take a couple steps to help your cause. If you're listing the car yourself, you'll definitely want to take pictures that are flattering to your vehicle, but also honest. Edmunds recommends photographing your car during what is called the golden hour – the time just before the sun rises or sets – to create a warm backdrop and really bring out your car's colors.

You'll also need to have some sort of idea what your car is worth, especially if you're planning on selling it yourself. This can be like trying to hit a moving target, but fortunately there are tools that can help. Kelley Blue Book provides an excellent online resource for estimating the value of a used car based on year, make, model, mileage, features and more.

Whether you're looking to trade in for another vehicle or just offload your current one, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help you get approved for a loan.