Tips for selling cars privately. Get more money for your car

Ordered a new car; now it's time to say goodbye to the dear old. For many owners, selling a car is a troublesome and unpleasant business. On the one hand, you don't want to invest in a car. On the other hand, you would like to make at least a small profit. This is where most mistakes are made. With a few tricks, selling your car can become much more profitable without the need for excessive outlays. Read the best tips for selling private cars in this article.

Safety first when selling cars

Never sell a car without a contract . Standard car sales contracts can be downloaded from the insurance company website or from the AA website. . Take a photo of the buyer's driver's license and ID . This will at least to some extent protect you from possible legal consequences: now you can prove that you have done your due diligence.

Recent Maintenance - Multiple Values

Looking for a used car , check have a valid maintenance certificate . A recent MOT check is itself a guarantee of approval that brings in money: MOT check costs about 54 euros and the cost increases by at least 350 euros.

Even if it doesn't pass inspection , the official check is still worth it: with an official defect report, the buyer knows exactly what needs to be repaired in order to receive a certificate . A flaw report may not increase the value of the car, although it does make it easier to sell.

Car cleaning: the decisive effect

After inspection, the appearance needs attention . Investing on a Saturday afternoon can bring significant additional profit.

• To sell a car, it must look perfect. It means: without crumbs and stains, with a polished paintwork .

• For vehicles manufactured in 1995 and later, another factor applies - headlights. It makes a big difference if the headlights are dull, scratched and yellow or shiny freshly polished and clear. For a few dollars, the accessory store offers headlight polishing kits. Those who do not want to spend money can try a home remedy. The cheapest option is a kitchen towel and toothpaste. . If you're lucky, this method gives adequate results.

• Car polishing requires a professional approach. As a layman, refrain from using a grinder. Polishing must be done by hand.

• After polishing, the paintwork is sealed so that it does not fade again after the first rain. Salon, bumpers and plastic decorative trims are treated with a plastic cleaner . Wheels and tires wash thoroughly with a dish brush with soapy foam.

• The engine deserves a flush too. . In your home garage, a brake cleaner and compressed air are the quickest and cheapest solution. Non-specialists are not recommended to wash the engine with a high pressure cleaner . This can easily damage your machine. So invest a little in extra manual work and avoid risk.
• A washed, vacuumed and polished used car raises its value by £250-350 .

Another tip: remove all decals from the car before polishing. The new owner is unlikely to appreciate your idea of ​​what is funny or interesting.

Small investment - big impact

A car with worn tires is hard to sell .

• With a set of suitable used tires, you can significantly increase sale value.

• New brake pads always make a good impression on the car.

• Recent oil change and replacement of windshield wipers, air filters and brake fluid have a positive impact on sales .

Especially when it was done in the garage. Even if it's a gas station around the corner, showing the new owner a recent maintenance bill will give you a new selling point.

Providing a complete service book is best . In the case of an older machine, this could mean a big investment. If the car has always been properly maintained, the inspection should not be too expensive.

Selling Cars: Free Marketing Tips

When the car is technically and externally ready for sale, it's marketing time. . No need for expensive ads in the local newspaper. You are currently selling your vehicle in the Internet. It's free and much more convenient and practical, since you can contact the buyer through different channels. Well-known sites for the sale of used cars are autoscout24.com and others. Also, small listings on e-bay are standard for used goods as well as for cars. All of these trading platforms have their advantages and disadvantages, but they all have one thing in common: they are free for private users . The procedure is always the same, which allows you to reuse the same content, saving a lot of time.

1. Pictures

Always photograph the car in bright sunlight and from an unceremonious perspective, that is, at an oblique angle. , allowing the buyer to see the front and side.

The first picture was taken from the front right, and then from all other angles. It is important that the car can be viewed from all sides. Otherwise, buyers may think that you have something to hide. On older vehicles, it is also necessary to photograph critical areas: front and rear wheel arches, as well as door sills. If they have rust, it should be noticeable. Honesty is a must; otherwise, you risk quarreling at the time of viewing. Salon and mileage on the odometer are also photographed.

Tip: add maintenance and mileage comments to the main picture, providing the buyer with information about the most important data.

2. Text

Refrain from inappropriate small talk. No one is interested in nonsense like "this good bucket's name is Johnny."

• Start by mentioning hard facts: mileage, year of construction, type, engine power, equipment and maintenance status.

As mentioned earlier, a recent MOT makes a car much more attractive and easier to sell than a vehicle with an overdue MOT.

• Now comes the description . A few soft facts are in order. "Sale to buy new" suggests that you want to sell the car, not just get rid of it. The most recent investments can also be mentioned.

It is recommended to make a bulleted list of positive aspects and one with disadvantages.

• Be as honest as possible ; as a private owner, you are under no obligation to give any warranty, although serious defects can have unpleasant legal consequences, such as filing a police report for fraud.

3. Video

Surprisingly few private sellers use the free video clip option.

The better for you: make a video.

For the first - a smartphone is perfect - take a walk in the car. For the second keep the camera pointed at the engine for a minute with the hood open. Leave the coolant reservoir cap open and record its contents. Have an assistant give the engine a few turns. In the third video drive a few yards in the car and have your assistant take a frame outside and take a picture of the odometer.

During filming, the radio is turned off and no conversations should be heard. . Buyers want to hear driving sounds . Especially informative driving on the motorway at high speed.

Buyer necessarily interested in the temperature record of the engine. Ultimately, the last clip is made from a passing car.

Upload all four YouTube clips and link to your ad .

Super Tips

Sell ​​your car registered , which will allow the buyer to drive the car home.

Usually this is not a problem. . Do not forget to notify the insurer in advance of your intention to sell the registered car .

• In this case, take a photo of the driver's license and buyer's ID and send this data to your insurer . Make an addition to the sales contract that the car must be deregistered within three days,
• Required add a clause stating that non-compliance will result in a police notification. An honest buyer will understand this.

If the buyer makes a dishonest impression, agree to the following: keep the registration document until the buyer sends you new numbers. Deregister the car yourself and send the registration document to the buyer. If the buyer does not agree with this, just wait for another potential buyer .

A very simple but improving investment is a fuel tank: selling a car with a full tank is a plus in negotiations .

These simple steps are sure to lead to car sales success and add a few hundred pounds to your bottom line!