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Car Selling Guide

There are a number of ways to maximise the selling price of your car. The first and most important is to make sure that the car is presented properly, make sure you have it professionally valeted by a company such as www.cleanmycar.com (or in the US find a detailer using www.cleanmyauto.com)

Spending a good amount of money having the car brought back to a good condition is well worth it, and it is more than likely that the final selling price will rise not only by the price of the valet but possibly even more.

"A clean car is far more likely to sell quicker and for a higher price"

If you are spending money on a full valet make sure that this includes most importantly:

• Acid cleaning the wheels,

• Restoring faded or scratched paintwork

• Shampooing out any marks on the seats

• Removal of any odours - not just covering them up with lots of air freshener

• Removal of greasy marks on steering wheel, indicator stalks and dashboard controls

• Interior plastics dressed

• Insides of the windows thoroughly cleaned

It might also make sense to get them to hoover in the spare wheel compartment - just to make sure that when any potential customers have a look its not full of mess and rubbish.

The next step is to get any minor faults checked out and fixed, this includes the removal of chips, scratches and dents from a company such as ChipsAway.

The Price

Make sure you set a price by spending a good amount of time reaserching what the market value of your car is, this allows you to make sure you are getting the best value you can for your car.

Ensure that you have all the documents ready to show any potential buyers: Vehicle Registration Document (V5), MOT certificate, owner's manual, last service date/service history, maintenance receipts etc. They may also want proof that the car has been insured

Think about factors that might affect the price of your car - for example a convertible might sell easier in the summer

MOT
A car with a long MOT will be an easier car to sell - the customer knows that this means a well maintained car that will not cause them any problems for some time. IF you do not have long left on your MOT, think about having one done early.

It is recommended to only accept cash or a bankers draft as payment. A personal cheque can be taken but make absolutely sure that it is clear before you release the car. A deposit is normally asked for to show good will from the buyer that they are serious about purchase. The amount should be at your discretion but normally at least £50.

Write a receipt for you and the buyer. It should include the full contact details of both parties (including address and telephone number), vehicle identification numbers, selling price, make, model and year.