How Can You Sell a Car? Top Five Ways to Sell
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 3 months ago
5 min read
- Car ownership
FixMyCar explores the different options available for selling a car.
The internet has made selling your car and getting a good price easier than ever. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which method of selling is the best for your situation. That’s where this guide comes in.
Read on to find out the top five ways to sell your car, including key information about the pros, cons and potential costs involved.
Contents
3. Sell your car at an auction
1. Sell your car privately
Although privately selling your car requires more time and effort on your part, it’s one of the best ways to ensure you get a reasonable price. Here’s what the process looks like:
Prepare your car for sale. Use the advice in this guide.
Decide a price. Use a free valuation tool or look at the price of other models for sale with a similar age and mileage.
Create an advert. Include high-quality photographs and detailed information, including the mileage, service & MOT history and any additional work done to it.
Arrange viewings. Potential buyers will want to see the car in person and give it a test drive. If they get behind the wheel, make sure they have insurance - otherwise, offer to take them for a drive.
Agree on a price. Having a minimum figure in your head that you’ll accept is a good idea since the potential buyer may try to negotiate.
Complete the sale. Fill out the relevant paperwork to finalise the sale, and ensure the money is in your account before handing over the keys.
Click here for a detailed step-by-step guide to selling your car privately.
Where to advertise your car for sale
Social media
Local advertising spaces
Using an online marketplace has been a popular choice with motorists for a while now. It usually results in a higher sale price, but a lot of work is involved. You have to create the advert, generate interest, handle viewings and test drives and conduct the final purchase transaction yourself.
Additionally, advertising often - but not always - comes with a cost that varies depending on your car’s value and your chosen advertising package.
Pros and cons of selling privately
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher selling price | Time consuming |
| Control over negotiations | Negotiating is a difficult skill |
| Private buyers may be more interested in modifications | Security and trust issues |
| Often easier to find a buyer for rare and classic cars | Can’t sell cars privately with outstanding finance |
2. Sell your car to a dealer
Going through a dealer is the quickest and easiest way to secure a sale. However, you will likely make less money than you would selling privately. The dealer will inspect your car to assess its value and condition before making an offer.
When selling to a dealership, we’d recommend brushing up on your negotiating skills. They are very well versed in the tricks of the trade and will be out to get the best possible deal by finding flaws with your vehicle to lower the price. That’s why knowing your car’s actual value is crucial.
Fixing cosmetic damage to the bodywork and other known problems is one way to ensure you get the best possible valuation.
You could also part-exchange your car for a new one, which typically results in a slightly higher valuation than if you sold it. It involves two deals in one transaction - you trade in your old car for a newer one and pay the difference. However, car dealers usually make more money through part exchange.
The process is straightforward when you sell to a dealership:
Get a valuation from the dealer.
Check you understand and agree with the details of the offer.
Agree to sell your car.
Sign the paperwork.
Receive payment.
Pros and cons of selling to a dealer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quick and easy | Lower price compared to selling privately |
| Receive cash up front | Limited negotiation power |
| No risk of scams | In-person transaction less convenient than online |
| Optional part exchange | . |
| Requires less knowledge | . |
3. Sell your car at an auction
Auctioning your car is another quick and reasonably hassle-free option. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that your vehicle will reach its reserve price, and if this happens, you’ll have to try again in another auction.
Most auction buyers are in the motor trade, so you could get a lower price for your car than using other selling methods. But if you’re lucky enough to attract a private buyer, they might be willing to pay more than a dealer would be. The major downside to selling via auction is that, unlike selling privately, you do not control anything other than the reserve price.
Several large auction companies have branches up and down the UK, including Manheim and British Car Auctions. Alternatively, you could find a local auctioneer.
Pros and cons of selling at an auction
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Paperwork completed by auction house | No guaranteed sale |
| Quick way to sell | May be no potential buyers present |
| No time wasters; the winning bidder must buy | Can’t use your car during auction process |
| You might get more money than expected | May involve additional fees |
4. Sell your car using a car buying site
Many car-buying websites provide an easy way to eliminate the hassle of selling your car. All you have to do is enter your car’s details, such as its mileage and age, receive a valuation and take it for an assessment before the sale is confirmed.
There are a few variations of this process depending on which website you use:
CarWow and Motorway - put your car in front of thousands of dealers who will compete with offers in an auction.
WeBuyAnyCar and Money4YourMotors - will buy your car directly after valuing it.
This guide explores the five best websites for selling your car in the UK.
Pros and cons of selling on a car buying site
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safe and reliable | You may get a lower amount compared to selling privately |
| Fast process | Additional fees |
| Guaranteed sale | Condition assessments required |
| No haggling | . |
CarWow Widget
5. Sell your car for scrap
Scrapping might be the only option if your car is old, has failed its MOT, or is broken beyond repair.
Scrap car buying websites
Using an instant scrap-buying website is the best way to get rid of your car quickly. You won’t get as much money as if you dismantled the vehicle for spares, but it’s a fast service, and they’ll collect the car for free from a location of your choice.
Scrappage schemes
Scrappage schemes have grown in popularity over the last decade, driven by concerns about climate change and the negative impact of diesel engines. This option is worth exploring if your vehicle is old but still fully functioning.
Scrappage schemes encourage drivers to trade old cars for newer, greener ones. They can be created by car manufacturers or the government and typically work by giving you the amount your current car is worth off the price of a new vehicle.
Not all cars are eligible for scrappage schemes. Vehicles that aren’t roadworthy are unlikely to be accepted.
Looking for affordable car repairs or maintenance? FixMyCar can help you find the right garage at the right price.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers in a language they understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.