How long does it take to sell a car to a dealership?

Selling your car to a dealership typically takes 1-3 hours from walk-in to payment, depending on how busy the dealer is and whether they need to process a lien payoff. The appraisal itself usually takes 15-30 minutes. Negotiation, paperwork, and waiting for a check or electronic transfer adds another 30-60 minutes. If there is an outstanding loan on the vehicle, dealers often mail the payoff to your lender within a few business days rather than issuing instant payment on the net equity, which can extend the final settlement timeline by 3-7 business days.