Selling your car may seem a relatively simple proposition, and it can be if you don’t care how much it goes for. But if you want to achieve a good price, and don’t want to be messed around by time-wasters, there are various ways to ensure you’ve got the best possible chance of getting a good result.
From presenting the car properly to working out its value and putting together a killer car ad, we've got everything you need to know to sell a car well below. We'll also touch on possible scams and underhand tactics by buyers and tips on how to keep yourself and your money safe when doing the deal.
Scroll down the page for everything you need to know when selling your car...
Top tips for selling your car privately
1. Prepare your car for sale
It may seem like obvious that you need to present your car at its best, but it’s surprising how many people don’t bother washing or polishing the exterior, or giving the inside a good vacuuming and cleaning the glass. If you’re one of those sellers who thinks buyers will see past the grime, you’re kidding yourself – there’ll be another car just like yours for sale nearby, and if its owner takes the trouble to make it presentable it will attract the pick of the buyers.
Repairing any cosmetic faults will obviously help you sell your car too. Cracked lights or mirrors and nasty parking scuffs can all be repaired relatively cheaply, and will help to make sure you don’t get silly low offers on your asking price.
The same applies to any mechanical faults. If you leave repairs to the next owner, they’ll want to knock big money off your asking price.
If there’s less than three months left on your MoT, consider renewing it early - buyers always respond well to the reassurance a long MoT provides
2. Have the correct documents ready
You’ve kept all the documentation associated with your period of ownership, haven't you? Your car’s next owner will be reassured to see old MoTs, plus receipts for repairs, consumable items like tyres, clutches or cam belts, and anything else that proves you’ve been a careful owner.
A fully stamped-up service book is a vital sales tool too, and even if your car is too old to justify main dealer service prices, you can ask your local garage to provide a stamp with your annual oil change.
The V5 official logbook must be present when viewers come to look at the car too – but don’t let anyone photograph the V5 or copy details down until the car is theirs.
3. Work out a fair asking price
Forget how much you paid for your car when you come to sell it, because it’s only worth what someone else will pay for it now. The best way of finding out how much people are likely to want to pay is by doing a bit of simple research in the classifieds and online auctions. Look for cars of the same make and model, with similar mileage and in similar condition, and check out the asking prices.
• Car valuations: how much is your car worth?
You can back this up by referencing a valuation service online, but watch out for supposedly ‘free’ valuations from companies collecting your personal data to sell on, and those that ask for payment if you want to include mileage and condition to make your valuation relevant.
Don’t use websites that promise to ‘buy any car’ to get your initial valuation either, as they offer trade prices that’s are significantly below the retail or private sale value.
Once you’ve determined how much you think you should get for your car, add a little bit on top so you can offer a discount when buyers want to haggle. If you decide to sell your car into the trade or via a website, it’s reasonable to take a lower price in exchange for a quick sale. You should certainly shop around for the best deal, as offers will vary surprisingly widely between different traders.
4. Advertise your car effectively
If you’re selling privately, there are still a few print publications taking classified ads, but you’re far more likely to be selling via a classified ads website or auction site.
This often gives you the freedom to be expressive when extolling the virtues of your car, as well as giving prospective buyers a feel for what a reasonable and well-intentioned seller you are. The more detail you give, and the more care you take over your description, the more potential buyers will be reassured.
Choose your pictures carefully too. Make sure they show off the car to its best effect, and that your chosen background looks as attractive as possible. Take detail shots of the interior, the engine bay and wheels, so buyers can really get a feel for the car.
When it comes to the description, remember to include important facts like the length of MoT, age of the vehicle/registration year, and your location.
Be honest. Include information about any significant known faults, and don’t make statements that are not entirely truthful – you will be breaking the law. If you know your car is in an unroadworthy state but don't make that clear, that is illegal too.
5. Don’t get ripped off by scams or thieves
Most responses to your advert will be honest, but it only takes one bad apple to turn a potential sale into a disaster. However you can protect yourself with some basic measures without risk of offending genuine buyers.
When buyers phone asking to look at or test drive the car, take their name, address and phone number, and call back to confirm any viewings you arrange.
Make sure anyone who wants to test drive your car shows you their driving licence and proof of insurance. If they can’t, then demonstrate the car by driving it yourself.
Never let a potential buyer test drive your car on their own, and if you get out of the driving seat at any point, remove the keys until you get back in the car. It may even be sensible to take a friend or relative on test-drives if you can.
6. Make sure you get paid before handing over the car
Never hand over the car keys or documents until the money from the buyer is safely in your hands. Whether that means counting cash in an envelope, or your own bank confirming by telephone that funds from online transfers, personal or building society cheques, or bankers drafts have cleared into your account, the principle is the same.
Avoid overseas buyers at all costs. There are so many cases of fraud involving buyers claiming to want to ship your car overseas or conduct complicated money transfers, that it’s not even worth entertaining the idea for a moment. Just say no, or don’t bother replying to the emails.
7. Completing the sale
Once the money has been handed over, you’ll need to draw up some simple paperwork to keep things clear and above board for both parties.
At the very least you’ll need to provide a written receipt, and it makes sense to get the wording right. For maximum protection the AA recommends including the following statement on the receipt: “sold as seen, tried and approved without guarantee.” In fact you can download a simple one page contract from the AA website which does the job perfectly. Just print off a couple of copies, get the buyer to add their dated signature next to yours on both of them, and keep one copy each.
You’ll also need to complete the ‘new keeper’ section of the V5 logbook and sign the declaration, as will the buyer who should keep the small V5C/2 section of the form as proof of the change of ownership until their new V5 arrives.
8. Notify the DVLA that your car has been sold
With your old car speeding off home with its happy new owner, your only remaining task is to notify the DVLA of the change of ownership. You no longer need to post your V5 to Swansea as you can do it all online – check out our guide to the new V5 logbook rules .
What are your top tips for selling a car? Let us know in the comments section below...