How to sell a car!

clear_as_mud

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I've been reading bits and pieces online and I'm already confused

I'm looking to sell my car privately, but I'm so worried.
I know very little about cars, even less about selling them. I have advertised my car online and someone has responded.

If/When they come to view it and if they agree to purchase what do I need to do/look out for?

I've read so many horror stories of fraud/ fake money etc, so I was thinking of asking the buyer to come to the bank with me to pay the money in, before handing over the keys. Does this sound reasonable?

The car is in lovely condition... as far as I am aware. My next worry is what happens if 10 days down the line, the engine blows up or something stupid goes wrong with it. Am I then at risk of being sued? How can I protect myself from things like that? (its recently been serviced and MOT'd and its in generally a good condition so hopefully this will not happen)

Sorry for these really stupid questions. Any advice/tips would be very much appreciated.

Stooby2

If you're worried about fake money, you could ask the buyer to meet you at your bank and pay the money straight in.

I always type out an agreement that I ask the buyer to sign. It states that there is no warranty or guarantee offered whatsoever and that the buyer has had adequate time to inspect the car - and that to the best of my knowledge there are no issues with the vehicle that I haven't disclosed.
I also add that the buyer is signing to declare that they have the correct licence and insurance to drive the vehicle on the road.

I've used this three times now and the buyers have always been happy to sign.

ButlerT

You could always accept mechanic check along with the perspective buyer so he could have an expert opinion too! After you sell it, I don't think you could be considered as responsible anymore!

clear_as_mud

Thanks Stooby2.

Yes I will go with that plan and take the buyer to my bank with me.

As for the agreement/declaration part, I have been looking online at templates etc. What you have suggested sounds great I'm sure nothing will go wrong with it, but sods law it would happen to me.
I will ask for a family member to be present with me, if they come to view it. He knows more about cars than I do anyway.

I know you have to fill out the forms and send to the DVLA straight away, but what happens if I recieve speeding fines or tickets after the sale? How do I prove when it was sold/ I wasn't driving at the time?

I just want to be prepared for the worst.

clear_as_mud

ButlerT wrote: »

You could always accept mechanic check along with the perspective buyer so he could have an expert opinion too! After you sell it, I don't think you could be considered as responsible anymore!

Good idea. I would be happy to have a mechanic check over it. As long as they don't expect me to pay for it :cool:

colino

What value of car are we talkng about? Unless its in the several thousands, no sane buyer is going to bother with someone who cant tell monopoly money and wants a trip to the bank. Additionally someone who doesn't check the car over is the one to worry about.

RichardD1970

colino wrote: »

What value of car are we talkng about? Unless its in the several thousands, no sane buyer is going to bother with someone who cant tell monopoly money and wants a trip to the bank. Additionally someone who doesn't check the car over is the one to worry about.

Sorry, but I would not have a clue about how to tell if money was a forgery (unless it was really obvious) and would be rather annoyed to lose out on a few hundred pounds. If you can afford to write off up to several thousand pounds then good for you, I can't.

If the buyer didn't want to go to the bank, that would set off alarm bells for me, what have they got to hide if they are legitimate?

clear_as_mud

colino wrote: »

What value of car are we talkng about? Unless its in the several thousands, no sane buyer is going to bother with someone who cant tell monopoly money and wants a trip to the bank. Additionally someone who doesn't check the car over is the one to worry about.

Looking at around £6500.

Additionally someone who doesn't check the car over is the one to worry about.... what do you mean by this part please? I expect the guy to want to test drive it and look it over etc, but what would I need to worry about?

Sorry to sound thick

mark5

clear_as_mud wrote: »

Looking at around £6500.

Additionally someone who doesn't check the car over is the one to worry about.... what do you mean by this part please? I expect the guy to want to test drive it and look it over etc, but what would I need to worry about?

Sorry to sound thick

If I give you £6500 of my hard earned cash then i want to see the car is worth it.
If i'm paying you with some sort of dodgy payment or fake notes then I dont care to much about the car, i'm more or less getting it for free anyway.

artbaron

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Sorry, but I would not have a clue about how to tell if money was a forgery (unless it was really obvious) and would be rather annoyed to lose out on a few hundred pounds. If you can afford to writer off up to several thousand pounds then good for you, I can't.

If the buyer didn't want to go to the bank, that would set off alarm bells for me, what have they got to hide if they are legitimate?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=uv%20note%20checker&sprefix=uv+no%2Celectronics&rh=n:560798%2Ck%3Auv%20note%20checker

Cost £5 - £10

I would see visiting the bank when buying a car as an inconvenience (depending where the bank was, of course). I guess it's one way, though.

edit: also, private sales are "sold as seen". If the car blows up on the return journey it's entirely the buyer's responsibility unless they can prove you deliberately misrepresented it in a significant and contributory way.

forgotmyname

Watch for....

I will give you £10,000 if you ship it for me. Pay the shipping costs and keep the change. I am religious and honest you can trust me.

The car is for my brothers husbands 2nd aunts dog and its a present. I will pay by papal secure, or yahoo finance or ripyouoff where i pay them and when i get the car they pay you.

Or people who come and test drive it and then vanish with the keys and the car.

So many scams, You wont notice until its too late.