If you’re looking to raise some cash, maybe you just need to look in the driveway.

Used cars are in demand by dealers, who are scouring want ads, craigslist and eBay for vehicles to fill their lots or flip at an auction.

“A good used car is bringing virtually a ton of money,” said Art Spinella, president of CNW Research in Bandon, Ore.

More dealers across the country, Spinella said, are advertising that they will buy your car for cash. And actually want your trade-in.

“We need trade-ins!!!” says one ad from Jay Chevrolet in Highland Township, Mich. The dealership also will buy your used car, even if you’re not buying a new one.

“We buy cars,” proclaims a huge black-and-white sign at the Jack Demmer Automotive Group Lincoln Mercury lot on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, Mich.

“Cash for your car,” says a smaller green sign across the street at the Les Stanford Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership.

Why the surging interest?

“There’s a shortage,” Spinella said. “They’re just scrambling for used cars.”

Used-car prices are higher than they were a year ago, which is odd since a used car by definition declines in value.

“Traditionally, you don’t look at a used car as an appreciating asset,” said Alec Gutierrez, lead analyst for vehicle evaluation for Kelley Blue Book. But prices could be up about 7 percent for some cars from last year, Gutierrez said.

Some of it is supply and demand. Cash-for-clunkers, which ran in July and August 2009, took nearly 700,000 used cars out of circulation. The federal program — which offered up to $4,500 for a clunker — gave consumers an incentive to turn in their old cars and trucks to buy more fuel-efficient new models. Program rules required that clunkers be crushed or shredded.

Before you consider spinning off a car, do some prep work.

This isn’t like selling gold. You need the paperwork proving ownership and documents on any loans. Obviously, if the car’s not paid off, you want to net more than you owe from the sale. The lender will have to be paid off before you get any money.

In general, experts say the better prices are being offered for cars or trucks that are 2 to 5 years old and have less than 80,000 miles.

“They’re not going to buy your car if they’re not going to make any profit” from reselling it, Gutierrez said.

I did a short, nonscientific test using my 2004 white Chrysler Pacifica with 77,000 miles, heated leather seats, DVD player and tires replaced in 2008.

Two dealers looked it over, took it for a drive and wrote down my Vehicle Identification Number. One noted the dent in the back bumper, as well as a smaller ding on a front fender.

One dealer commented that the miles are low for 2004. For a 6-year-old car, about 90,000 would be average, he said. Lower miles mean higher price.

One dealer offered $4,500 and another $6,800.

If that’s not proof that you should shop around, I don’t know what is.

Gutierrez said that the dealers could offer vastly different prices in part because they might have different needs.

One may want the car for the lot while another is only interested in flipping it quickly at an auction.

Before you bargain, it’s essential to get an idea of what your car might be worth. Prices are easy enough to research online. See http:// www.kbb.com/ or http:// www.Edmunds.com/ .

At Edmunds.com, based on my ZIP code and the car’s features, the value ranged from $6,120 as a trade-in to $7,305 if I tried to sell it on my own.

Edmunds.com said the price would be $8,355 for the “dealer at retail” — meaning what customers are willing to pay a franchised dealer for similar vehicles in my area. The dealer retail value would be higher than a private party sale because of inspection, reconditioning and holding costs a dealer must incur before selling the vehicle, according to Edmunds.com.

Was I tempted to sell? Sure. But I’m not pulling the trigger.

Not while my child still needs a chauffeur with wheels.