Best way of selling Car

aldredd

Hello

I'm move overseas for 1+ years soon, so plan to sell my car, and was looking for some tip / pointers - first time actually selling a car - mine have always ended up on the scrap heap haha!

I have a fairly short windows in which to try and sell, so haven't (yet) ruled out using one of the online car buying companies - what are people's experiences of them? How much do they tend to give you v market value?

The car is worth probably no more that £4k (if selling private) as it's got pretty high millage, (lower millage cars the same are about 4.2k-5k) - but is otherwise in good condition etc

There is no finance attached to the car, though do still have a credit card balance to pay off on it - but I can afford for there to be (and do expect there to be) a shortfall.

that's for your tips and help!

Just to add: I intend to give it a full valet, as the seats are quite grubby (it's the family car!) and will have a fresh MOT / 6 months tax etc.

F_T_Buyer

aldredd wrote: »

online car buying companies

They will offer you peanuts.

Just sell it on Autotrader, that's the best website. Do two weeks in the mag, and 3weeks on the web deal. Then if you haven't sold it in a week, knock the price down, then again if not sold in the 2nd week.

You say you have a tight selling window, but you can hire basic cars very cheaply nowadays.

aldredd

Thanks - I do indeed plan to hire a car / find some sort of alternative transport - so the plan is to leave it as late as practical to sell it without risking not selling it before I leave (though plan B in for the inlaws to look after / sell it)

and do people still buy the mag as much as they used to?

Foxy-Stoat_3

I dont think people buy the autotrader any more due to the thickness of it now, I remember a few years ago the autotrader was nearly an inch thick, now its more like a leaflet with lots of other leaflets tucked inside selling loans and other rubbish!

I would look on ebay and autotrader for similar spec/age and condition cars as yours, the search filters allow you to narrow the results quite well, and pitch yours anywhere from 10-20% less than the cheapest one if you want to sell it quickly.

For a good money saving tip, advertise your car for £400 in the price field then say in the advert "price correction - should be £4000" that way you can do what everyone else does and half the cost of the advert on the autotrader.

Also if your car has high mileage, put that it has 10,000 miles in the mileage field and state in the advert that mileage should be 100,000 or what ever the true mileage is, again like everyone else does.

Good luck!

fivetide

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

IFor a good money saving tip, advertise your car for £400 in the price field then say in the advert "price correction - should be £4000" that way you can do what everyone else does and half the cost of the advert on the autotrader.

Also if your car has high mileage, put that it has 10,000 miles in the mileage field and state in the advert that mileage should be 100,000 or what ever the true mileage is, again like everyone else does.

Good luck!

And make yourself look like an absolute liar who can't be trusted. You do that, I'm not buying your car.

Plus, you'll get the ad taken off Autotrader with no refund. Terrible terrible advice.

5t.

aldredd

Thanks both - I'm happy to be honest & open about it all - nothing to hide & all that.

What is their pricing structure like then? Their headline price seems to be 9.99 for 2 weeks - can it vary from this then?

Any experience using say an eBay auction.

Also - how does it work re insurance if someone wants to test drive?

Foxy-Stoat_3

^^^ not tactics I have used in the past but the last time I looked on the trader it seems to be the norm !

fivetide

aldredd wrote: »

Thanks both - I'm happy to be honest & open about it all - nothing to hide & all that.

What is their pricing structure like then? Their headline price seems to be 9.99 for 2 weeks - can it vary from this then?

Any experience using say an eBay auction.

Also - how does it work re insurance if someone wants to test drive?

£9.99 is for cars under a grand hence the slightly dubious tactics of a number of sellers.

The trouble is, you annoy people searching for a bargin. Someone lookign for a car under a grand does not want to buy your 4k motor. If they report the Ad you lose the fee as it will get pulled.

eBay is £14.99 (basic) but for 28 days

pistonheads is a tenner for a couple of weeks. really depends on the car though. Good pics and an honest write up will do it.

foxy - point taken and i can see the scam in the pricing but to do it for the miles too just says 'do not trust this person' and again, is only going to wind most people up. there are plenty of properly advertised cars out there so I'd move on to one of those asap!

5t.

aldredd

I see - 9.99 only if price under £1k!
£36 for 2 weeks online feels steep mind you - I'm in the wrong business haha!

usignuolo

I sold mine via mechanic at local garage where I get it repaired. Asked mechanic who looked after it to look out for potential buyer which he was happy to do as he has maintained it and knows its condition.