Selling a car
Selling a car might seem a rather intimidating prospect, but as long as you abide by some important criteria, then you will almost certainly get a good price for your vehicle.
There are many ways one can sell a car, including several online sites such as eBay, where customers can choose to bid on the vehicle or buy the car for a Buy It Now price. There are local newspapers, national magazines and some people opt to sell by posting a sign in the car with their phone number.
PRICING
Whichever way you decide to adopt for selling your vehicle, make sure you carry out a certain amount of research before deciding a price.
- Get an independent expert to value the car.
- Compare similar models of your car to see how much they are selling for.
- Take into consideration your car's mileage, features and condition.
- Make sure to factor in room for prospective customers to haggle over the price.
THE ADVERT
If you decide to sell the car privately using an advert, make your description is clear, concise and accurate.
- Be sure to emphasise the car's good points, without exaggerating them as you do not want to be accused of misleading the customer.
- Avoid jargon in the advert and include key features such as leather interior, CD player and air conditioning.
- Make sure you state how long the tax and MOT has to run and any recorded service history.
- Be honest about any work that you know needs to be done to the car.
- Photos are essential in an advert, before taking them make sure the car is clean inside and out and the photos are in focus and capture the entire vehicle.
SELLING PRIVATELY
- Prospective buyers will want to test drive and inspect your car thoroughly, but never agree to letting them take the car out by themselves and do not leave the buyer alone with the car and its keys.
- Remind the buyer they need to obtain insurance before driving your car and do not be afraid to ask for proof.
- Expect your buyer to negotiate slightly on the price of the car. Have a figure in your head that you want to sell the car for and do not be persuaded otherwise.
- Make sure any payment you are given is genuine. Do not hand over the car keys until bank orders and cheques have cleared and always make notes are not fake. Do not accept DVLA Payable Orders in private sales.
- Keep a separate note of the buyer's name and address and make sure you notify the DVLA immediately of the sale using the appropriate section of the registration certificate.
- Let your insurance company know you've sold the car.
- When DVLA have been told of the sale of the car, a letter should be sent to you acknowledging the exchange.