Classic cars have appreciated tremendously in value in recent days, and they are in high demand. Your first inclination may be to sell your car outright and cash in on your investment, but a look at the capital gains tax rates might change your mind.

The rates for the sale of collectible property are much higher than those on the sale of real estate. So, is there any way to avoid paying inflated capital gains rates on the sale of your collector car? The answer is to make a 1031 exchange. This is a tactic that is often used by real estate investors, but that can be particularly helpful in the sale of collectible property.

Imagine, for example, that you have a 1967 Ferrari that you bought for $270,000 but which has since appreciated in value to $800,000. At this point, you're likely quite pleased with your investment. But you might balk at the 28 percent capital gains rate on the sale of this car, and you'd be right to do so, because a 1031 exchange could save you that 28 percent and let you reinvest that money instead of losing it to taxes.

In this sort of situation, a 1031 exchange is a very good idea, but you must keep in mind that the requirements for like-kind exchanges on personal property are much more stringent than the like-kind requirements for real estate. This means that if you have a car, you can only exchange it for another car, not a crane or a backhoe. In addition, your car must be held for the purpose of investment or business, as must your replacement.

With the demand for collector cars at an all time high, how can you afford to lose that 28% of your profits? The smart collector will opt to make a 1031 exchange instead of paying the exorbitant capital gains rates.

Now is the time to reap the benefits of your collectible car investment, but why sell outright and watch 28% of your profits go down the drain? A 1031 exchange gives you the opportunity to put the money that would have been lost to capital gains taxes towards a new investment, keeping your money working for you.

United States property investors can save a lot of money by using a 1031 exchange to defer all of their capital gains tax on the sale of investment property. A 1031 tax exchange is almost like getting an interest free loan from Uncle Sam!