If You're Already Thinking About Selling, Waiting for January Doesn't Automatically Mean More Money It's a question plenty of pickup owners start asking as the end of the year gets closer: Should I sell my truck now, or would I be better off waiting until after January 1?

It sounds logical that a new year might bring a fresh market, more buyers and possibly a better price. But here's the problem: while the calendar is waiting to flip, your truck isn't getting any newer.

It's gaining mileage. Another model year is arriving. You may have another registration renewal, insurance payment, maintenance bill or repair coming. And the used-truck market can move in either direction. So before deciding to wait, it's worth looking at what you're actually waiting for.

January Doesn't Make Your Truck a Year Younger

Once the new model year is firmly on the market, buyers naturally start comparing older trucks against newer inventory. Your 2021 pickup doesn't suddenly become undesirable on January 1, but its age isn't moving in your favor either.

Mileage matters, too. If you're sitting at 78,000 miles now and expect to put another 5,000 or 8,000 miles on the truck over the next several months, waiting could affect what a buyer is willing to pay. And if you're approaching a major mileage milestone — 75,000, 100,000, 150,000 or beyond — that can become another reason to at least find out what the truck is worth before you cross it.

What Are You Hoping Will Happen After January 1?

That's really the question! If you need the truck through the holidays or for winter work, waiting may make perfect sense. If you're planning to replace it early next year, keeping it a little longer may also be the practical choice.

But if you're waiting simply because you assume trucks will automatically be worth more after New Year's Day, that's a gamble.

Don't Try to Predict the Market — Get a Number

Here's where the decision gets much easier. You don't have to sell your truck today just because you're thinking about it. Find out what it's worth today!

Once you have an actual number in front of you, you can make a much smarter decision. Maybe the current value is high enough that selling now makes sense. Maybe you decide you'd rather keep driving it for another few months. Either way, you're making the decision with information instead of guessing what January might bring.

That's especially important with pickups because value can vary dramatically depending on the truck. A diesel HD work truck, half-ton crew cab, older high-mileage pickup and late-model luxury truck aren't necessarily going to behave the same way in the resale market.

So, Should You Sell Now or Wait Until After the First of the Year?

If you're still using and enjoying your truck, there's no reason to rush simply because the calendar is changing. But if you've already been thinking about selling, waiting for January just because it's January may not accomplish anything.

Your truck will be older. It may have more miles. You may spend more money maintaining, insuring and financing it. And there's no guarantee the market will reward you for waiting. Before you roll the dice on next year's value, see what your truck could bring right now.

Visit TruckBuyerUSA.com and get a price for your pickup. You might discover that the best time to sell isn't after the first of the year.

It might be before everybody starts singing “Auld Lang Syne.”