How do I go about selling my car?? If I look at autotrader it's worth about 9k, substantially more than I've been offered on a trade in for a convertible (summer's here and I 'just want one'). I'll get far more selling privately, I can place ad's in places like autotrader, but when it comes to a test drive or someone paying for it, nightmares are around every corner. I've got lots of paperwork and warranty left on the car, so I've no probs proving it's genuine.
Do I let someone drive it who has 3rd party insurance only, bearing in mind I could lose the car if they have an accident; or do I refuse a test drive until they have a means of payment?? Then when it comes to paying, do I take cash which could be fake or risk having it stolen?? How do you tell a geniune bankers draft from a fake one, I assume fake ones must exist!!
Pppuners out there who've sold cars privately, how've you done it and didi it all work smoothly????
Be very careful with the test drive side of things. I was selling my car earlier in the year and I'll be the first to admit it was a bit of a boy racers car (Honda Civic VTi hatch). I advertised it in the local paper. The first guy that turned up was about 20ish. He gave a semi interested glance over the outside then asked if he could take it for a test drive. I told him sure, gave him the keys and jumped in the passenger seat. He looked at me and said "Oh, you're coming with me are you?" That should have been a big warning..
The **** then jumped in the drivers seat, started the engine and planted his foot, spinning the wheels as we backed out the driveway. He then put it in first and planted his foot, launching the car from 6000 rpm (cold engine and all). Well, it must have been the shortest test drive in history. I told him to stop the car (we were about 100 metres up the road), get the f**k out of the car and walk back.
Later that afternoon, I got a phone call from the same guy. He wanted to come back with his mate and have another look. I reluctantly agreed. He and the mate turned up, gave the exterior another un-interested look and asked if they could take it for a test drive again. I told them this time I would be doing the driving. Their interest level declined very quickly. I was half expecting to come out and find it stolen one morning, but I sold it very quickly (I did ask for a bankers cheque, and the buyer was very happy to oblige.........and it was my test driving buddy!)
A bankers draft can be verified over the phone (banking hours only remember).
Cash is best really failing that. Dont think youll offend if you count it carefully and check notes at random, people expect it. Try to bank it that day as its not unheard of for 'buyers' to return to the address and steal it back later. If you cant bank it the same day get a friend to keep it overnight (they may even send you a card from the Carribean ) and bank it when you can.
Test drive is a tricky one. Not many people are insured fully comp. on any vehicle. Make a judgement, do they seem like a serious buyer and a responsible person? If you dont like how they drive tell them so. It may also give the imression the car has been carefully driven by you.
Good luck! Oh, and be d@mn hard when they start making offers bearing in mind most people view cars for which they can afford the full, or vey close to, asking price.
In the name of God.....Whatever you do....Never advertise your £120 scrapyard refugee Nova in London Loot. The phone didn't stop ringing.
Caller 1: "Hiya, is it a three door hatch mate?" N: "no......Hello??"
Caller 2: "Hello, is the car in good condition?" N: "Well, it's done 150,000 miles, there's some structural corrosion, it's got a couple of dents and the electrics are.... hello? Hello??"
eventually let it go for £90. should have scrapped it, it woulda been a lot less trouble.
I just sold my L reg Citroen ZX, excellent body work but with 230,000 miles on the clock (it was a diesel!)
Placed the add in Friday Ad in Sussex and couldn't believe it - on average got about 4 telephone calls a day - real market for bangers out there!!!
I took cash and let him drive it for a short trip round the block (he looked a respectable guy) Would also recommend a receipt of some kind with something like "Sold As Seen" etc etc so there is no comeback if any problems occur..
Noisy - You got a good deal, doesn't it cost £150 to scrap a car these days???
__________________ Regards JB007!
Flight Ops,Crewing and Dispatch Moderator
Selling a car at the cheaper end of the market needs a bit of common sense but when selling cars that start to get exotic in price and or performance then the lowlifes start to take an interest.
A colleague at work got out of his Mercedes SLK to allow the, apparently respectable, prospective purchaser to drive the vehicle, the doors were promptly locked, the crook slid over from the passenger seat to the drivers seat and drove off never to be seen again.
Feneris Auto Trader is the best shot by far for most private sales (with some exceptions) Expect to realise somewhere between what the trade will genuinely pay (not offers enhanced with 'over-allowance' - a term for discount on the new car being applied to the part exchange instead) and forecourt price. If you are not in a rush, you could try ebay, but take care.
Word the advert carefully, do a proper selling job, look at what makes other adverts stand out and apply to your own. Price realistically and be prepared to haggle to a modest degree.
Weigh up whether the premium you might make selling privately is worth the time and trouble. We find in our (commercial) business many are prepared to take our trade offer rather than sell privately with the hassle it can give.
I would always insist on driving myself on a test drive - might put some buyers off but, is it worth the risk?
I dunno diethelm, the owner probably wasn't covered. It sounds like recent cases of cars being nicked from petrol/gas stations while their owners were in the shop. No forced entry = No insurance payout, IIRC.
Solution to both situations: Legalise guns. [just kidding, but I'll duck]
Selling a car.
) and bank it when you can.
[just kidding, but I'll duck]
