- March 31, 2009
- Selling a Car
Selling Your Used Car to Get Top Dollars
Following some simple step-by-step process, you will be able sell your car and get top dollars instead of trading it in at the dealership.
Do...
- Talk to your local franchised dealer or professional used car specialist in the first instance.
- Take as much advice as you can and do as much research as possible on the value of your car.
- Make sure the car looks its best for sale – it should be clean and ideally any small dents and scratches removed.
- Make sure your description of the car on any classified or online advertising is fair and accurate and set a sensible price.
- Provide only your mobile phone number for buyers to contact you.
- Check the buyer is insured to test drive the car. Accompany the potential buyer on the test drive and take a friend if possible.
- Provide as much documentation as possible with the car.
- Provide a ‘Sold as Seen’, tried and approved without guarantee’ receipt.
- Detach and send off the V5 change of ownership slip. Due to a recent change in the law, this is the seller’s responsibility.
- Use your common sense.
Don’t…
- Publish your address if you advertise your car in a classified ad or online.
- Invite strangers to your home if you are on your own.
- Arrange a meeting with a potential buyer without either getting someone to accompany you or at the very least letting someone know where you are.
- Allow strangers to test-drive your car on their own.
- Hand over the ignition keys until you are sitting in the passenger seat.
- Take a personal cheque as payment.
- Release your car before a cheque clears – a Bankers draft or Building Society (Savings Account) cheque is better – but beware forgeries. And large amounts of cash present their own security problems.