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Selling your car but don’t know the best way of doing so? We’ve analysed the best and most common ways to sell your, both online and offline. With so many providers out there, it can be a challenge to decide which one to use. So, let’s look at the four main methods of selling a car – and at the pros and cons of each…
Selling your car privately
Selling a car privately can involve anything from putting a car ad in a local newspaper to placing up a note on your dashboard. However, these days, sellers will typically use online platforms that will present their car advert to hundreds of thousands of people.
Despite this, there are no guarantees with this method – and it is usually one of the most time-consuming options for selling. For best results, you will need to craft an advert that will make your ad stand out in a crowded marketplace. If you find that you’re not getting any interest, there are usually options to get you more visibility – though these can be pricey.
When your car ad does get responses, you will need to take time to respond to calls and emails from potential buyers. Taking time out of your work day to do so, and then after work to show them your car – that’s if they show up!
Private sales are a very hands-on method. There’s also no guarantee that the sale will come off. If it does, however, you are more likely to get a better price for your car than with other means of selling.
- Pros: Usually a high price
- Cons: Time-consuming, no guarantees, paying for extra visibility
Part-exchange your car
This used to be the most common way of selling your existing car in order to trade up to a newer model. Car dealers were happy to take your unwanted car off your hands as long as you were paying for a new one at the same time. This was often seen as a better option than selling your car privately.
However, when you part-exchange a car, the price you will get for it will typically be much lower than you would usually get from a private sale.
As it is up to the dealer’s discretion whether or not to include your old car as partial payment towards a new one, it can be difficult to negotiate a better price.
- Pros: An easy and hassle-free option
- Cons: A low price that is hard to negotiate
Selling to an instant car-buyer
If you are keen to offload your car and aren’t really worried about the money, you can sell via a car-buying website. This is an easy option. After you’ve received your valuation online, you then need to take the car for an inspection at one of their drop off points.
Your valuation could be on the low side, and when you take the car to the inspection, you may find the price offered is further reduced.
Bodywork scratches and other minor damage will often impact the price at the last minute, especially if it was not previously disclosed online. Therefore, the valuation price will often be different to the price offered following the instant car-buyer’s inspection.
- Pros: Quick sale
- Cons: Can be a low price, which can be reduced upon inspection
Selling your car with Motorway
A simple way of ensuring that you get a competitive price for your car is using Motorway – a free online service that will put your car in front of thousands of verified dealers, who will compete to give you the best price for your car.
Simply enter your car’s reg on Motorway’s website and you will be provided with an instant valuation. They’ll then ask you a few easy questions about your car and guide you through the photos you need to take to complete your car profile. It can be done right from your phone – in a matter of minutes.
They will then enter your car into their daily sale, where over 5,000+ dealers compete to buy your car, offering you their best price. You will receive your best offer – and, if you choose to go ahead with the sale, your car will be collected for free by the dealer and the money will be quickly transferred to your bank account.
- Pros: A quick, easy, and free sale; giving you the highest price from a network of verified car dealers
- Cons: You might make more selling privately