Selling car on Autotrader
- Thread starter Elsa TLC
- Start date
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First things first, If they want to take it for a test drive, they need to be insured.
Don't let a gang of people turn up to "inspect" the car, one of them will distract you while the other does something to the car and then uses that "fault" to argue the price down.
Once a sale is agreed, payment must be in cash or by direct bank transfer into your account. Don't let the car go until payment is cleared and you can see it in your own banking app. They may show you their own phone and say the payment is "pending", but that's a bluff. And cheques can bounce weeks after they have "cleared" in your account. Don't accept payment methods that can be reversed. Don't accept paypal because they can appeal and paypal usually favours the buyer in disputes.
Don't let a gang of people turn up to "inspect" the car, one of them will distract you while the other does something to the car and then uses that "fault" to argue the price down.
Once a sale is agreed, payment must be in cash or by direct bank transfer into your account. Don't let the car go until payment is cleared and you can see it in your own banking app. They may show you their own phone and say the payment is "pending", but that's a bluff. And cheques can bounce weeks after they have "cleared" in your account. Don't accept payment methods that can be reversed. Don't accept paypal because they can appeal and paypal usually favours the buyer in disputes.
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If the car is reasonably new it may be worth trying carwow. Carwow send details to dealers who bid for your car. You can set a reserve and the highest bidder gets to buy it if you agree to sell for that price. Easier than it sounds, transactions are completed before the car leaves your property. I got £2.5k greater than the trade in offer.
If its a well used second hand car then Autotrader is the place and the advice by Jurassicspark is sound.
If its a well used second hand car then Autotrader is the place and the advice by Jurassicspark is sound.
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Age and value of car?
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1 never allow anybody to test drive the car without insurance and YOU in the passenger seat
Allow new owner to pay by transfer - check its in your account AND immediately move the money to another account you have.
Then do the DVLA ownership transfer online before you give them the keys
Allow new owner to pay by transfer - check its in your account AND immediately move the money to another account you have.
Then do the DVLA ownership transfer online before you give them the keys
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Are you buying a new(er) car/vehicle ?
See what value you can get for trade in if so. Or visit a few 2nd hand sales sites. They are always looking for good 2nd hand cars to sell.
You might (might not) "lose" a few hundred but gain security and peace of mind. How much is your time worth to handle enquiries and visits for it ?
See what value you can get for trade in if so. Or visit a few 2nd hand sales sites. They are always looking for good 2nd hand cars to sell.
You might (might not) "lose" a few hundred but gain security and peace of mind. How much is your time worth to handle enquiries and visits for it ?
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Ive got my dads car. I'll keep that for a few months then knock that along.
How many owners ? How much service history do you have ?
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That's neither here nor there. I have to sell and I'm only going to get what someone is willing to pay.
To add to others' advice, if anyone contacts you claiming to be from autotrader and asking if you want to upgrade your ad or they want to give you a refund for a random mistake, put the phone down and call autotrader yourself.
They tried this with me.
Regarding insurance: most comprehensive insurance companies include occasional use of other vehicles on third party cover basis.
So if they smash your car on the test drive, their insurance company will only pay third party damage/injury, not your own car.
Bear this in mind if a teenager shows up.
Always get to see their driving licence before a test drive and note their name and address.
If you can, take a copy.
And most importantly, on the test drive get in the passenger seat with keys in your hand and do not leave that seat until you have the keys back.
As others said, accept only hard cash or bank transfer.
Genuine buyer will have no objection to these conditions.
They tried this with me.
Regarding insurance: most comprehensive insurance companies include occasional use of other vehicles on third party cover basis.
So if they smash your car on the test drive, their insurance company will only pay third party damage/injury, not your own car.
Bear this in mind if a teenager shows up.
Always get to see their driving licence before a test drive and note their name and address.
If you can, take a copy.
And most importantly, on the test drive get in the passenger seat with keys in your hand and do not leave that seat until you have the keys back.
As others said, accept only hard cash or bank transfer.
Genuine buyer will have no objection to these conditions.
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It's a lot of money for cash. If the notes turn out to be fake, then that's another problem
Well, if you can't tell a real note from a fake one, get yourself one of them checking markers and a uv light.
Fiver at most.
Whilst I agree cash is king, checking 250 notes is a bit time consuming.
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