When it’s time to say goodbye to the wheels that have served you so well, you want to get a good price. You also want to be sure you’re not setting yourself up for a swindle – or worse. When you sell your car, it doesn’t have to be stressful. If you do a little planning beforehand and stick to some safety rules you might even enjoy it. Some of us even like it so much we choose to sell cars as a side hustle!

Before you go taking snaps for your advert, there’s a little research and paperwork that need to get organised. Even though selling a car privately is likely to get you a better price, there’s plenty of competition out there. Great news if you’re buying a car and definitely worth keeping in mind when you sell your car.

Step 1 – Gather paperwork to sell your car

Knowledge is power, right? Your car’s history will influence the price you can ask for. Having all the paperwork to hand and going through it, is the best place to start. It’ll help you advertise your car honestly. There are also some bits you’ll legally need to ensure the car sale goes smoothly. Namely, the V5C or DVLA logbook.

You’ll also want your car’s complete history. Details of any major work or recent improvements can help your car stand out in the advert you create and build the buyer’s confidence and trust. Collate the following documents to prepare for your car sale:

  • A history of MOTs
  • A list of repairs and any receipts for parts and work
  • Details of any remaining warranty
  • A V317 if you have a personalised plate you intend to keep

All of these will be expected to be available when a buyer comes to check out your car, so it helps to have them ready at the outset when you prepare to sell your car.

The car owner’s manual will also need to go with the car. It’s usually kept in the glovebox, but if you’ve taken it out, hunt it down. If you don’t have one, you can contact your local dealership for your make of car and ask if they have any in stock. Failing that, you can contact the manufacturer direct or possibly download one online.

Step 2 – Research your asking price and platforms for selling a car online

You might have a figure in mind that you want to get for your wheels, but cars depreciate over time. What’s more car depreciation depends on a number of factors, not least of all how well you’ve taken care of it. It is worth checking around to see what other people are selling cars like yours for.

Give your car an honest appraisal, taking into consideration the history you gathered in the first step. When you settle on a price, make sure you leave some wriggle room for negotiating. Consider what you want and the lowest you’ll take for your car.

It’s not enough to only research your car’s value. You should be checking out car selling sites online too. It’s estimated there are more than one million online car ads every day and a small percentage of them will attract trouble. Hampshire police warned private car sellers of Facebook in late 2020 of a prospective buyer that was robbing sellers. They’d arrange to view cars on neutral ground and then rob sellers’ phones, wallets and whatever else they had of value.

Online sites with buyer ID verification can help to keep you safe when meeting buyers to test drive your car. At OWO, we make sure any buyers interested in buying a car from one of our private sellers, meet strict ID standards. Our robust verification process is quick and convenient while keeping both parties safe.

Step 3 – Get ready for your photos

Clean your car thoroughly, inside and out. You want her to look as beautiful as possible. You can do this yourself or take it in for a top-grade detailing service. Whatever you decide, ensure a meticulous job is done. It is essential you do this before you start taking snaps for your advert. Getting the best snaps for your advert means considering angles, time of day and a few other details. It may not seem like much, but great pictures create the first impression.

Once you’ve had your car all prettied up, keep it clean too. I know people who have successfully negotiated a few hundred from the price of a car just because it was so mucky. A dirty car creates the impression that it’s unloved and battered about. Not the kind of message you want to send to buyers.

Step 4 – The devil is in the detail; advertise effectively

Buyers want enough detail from your car advert to decide if it’s worth investigating further. Buying a car takes time. You can make it easier for buyers by providing all the key information and being honest in your advert. The following is a good guide for the detail you should include:

  • Describe the condition of the car straight up. Be concise and honest. Reliable runaround or great condition motor will need to be backed up with evidence when buyers come to view.
  • Year of registration, accurate mileage and colour.
  • Number of owners – particularly if it’s low for the car’s age. You can check this in your V5C logbook.
  • Any extra features or equipment. Stick to the facts that will interest buyers – new tyres? Replaced the cambelt? Reconditioned engine? Put it in.
  • Leave a little room in the asking price for the haggle.

Step 5 – Accept buyers’ enquiries safely

Even when you are using an online car sale site with ID verification, it makes sense to follow some safety rules when people get in touch about your ad. Chances are they’ll want to see the car in person and probably take it for a test drive – after all, it’s what we’d advise and getting an HPI check.

Safe transactions go beyond taking a friend along. You’ll need to watch you don’t put yourself in danger by being too trusting. Always…

  • Meet in a safe area. Well populated areas like supermarket car parks or parking lots with security cameras are a good suggestion.
  • Bring a friend or family member along. Don’t meet people alone. Have someone with you. If that just isn’t possible, at the very least make sure someone knows where you’ve gone and how long you plan to be.
  • Make sure the buyer is licenced and insured when you arrange the viewing. This will mean you’re prepared when they ask for a test drive – if they aren’t insured, the answer has to be a no. But you can drive with them riding shotgun (and your friend or family member in the back).
  • Never leave the buyer with the car and keys. This may sound obvious, but it can be easy to do. Accompany them on any test drive, make sure they hand the keys back when done and never, ever hand over keys or any paperwork until their payment has cleared.

When the sale is agreed upon, follow up with all the handover paperwork, create a receipt. Then you can start searching for your next dream car!

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