Sell your car: Seal the deal

We’ve already shown you how to set the price of your car – the next step is to ensure it sells.

View our step-by-step picture guide to selling your car

Before the viewing

Try and make appointments to view in daylight hours. It’s a good idea to make sure your bank will be open to receive payment.

Make buyers aware they will need to bring a driving license and proof of insurance if they want a test drive. You might want to have someone with you during the appointment, for extra security and peace of mind.

1. Checking your car

Ensure you’ve prepared your car for sale – all the cleaning and repairing will pay off when the buyer notices its immaculate condition.

• Allow the buyer to take their time and view the car properly
• Avoid distracting the seller from carrying out their own checks
• Many car buyers are willing to pay for used car inspections. If you're serious about selling the car, you shouldn't have any objections – especially if the buyer has paid a deposit

Find out what exactly buyers will check for with our guide on how to check a car before buying.

2. The test drive

Check the buyer has adequate insurance cover before allowing them to drive your car, otherwise you could be liable for any damage they cause.

• Avoid letting the buyer go out alone – there's a risk they won't come back
• Let the buyers follow their own route, or suggest a variety of roads with different speed limits. Be prepared for people to drive your car hard – but if they’re seriously abusing it, ask them to calm down
• NEVER leave your car keys in the ignition when swapping seats. Thieves may try to engineer such situations, so always be aware

3. The haggle

It’s likely buyers will try to haggle over the price – it’s all part of the car buying process. Try to be firm, without being unreasonable.

• Set a minimum price beforehand and remind yourself this during negotiations
• Avoid refusing all offers – the buyer may walk away
• Try not to decline a sale over £100 or so. It'll cost you far more in time and re-advertising fees
• Offering a free accessory with the car can sweeten the deal – if it’s specific to that model, you won’t need it anyway. A tank of fuel can also be tempting
• Avoid setting your car’s price too low. Read our advice on how to set a price for your car

4. Receiving payment

Try to get any money handed to you in a bank, so you can pay it in straight away and the cashier can check for fake notes.

• Ask to be paid in cash – this is the safest method of payment
• If you receive payment by cheque or electronic transfer, the money can take a few days to appear in your account – check with your bank to see when it does
• ALWAYS keep your car until the full amount is in your bank
• Ask the buyer for ID with an address and landline telephone number. If something goes wrong, you’ll know where to find them. If they are reluctant to give this information, you should be wary

5. Handling paperwork

<Write a receipt stating the date, amount paid, make, model, registration and names and addresses of both parties. Make two copies – one for you and one for the buyer.

• Fill out the slip at the bottom of the V5C registration document (or ‘logbook’) and send it to the DVLA, informing them of a change in owner
• Give the top part of the V5C to the new owner
• Hand over the car’s handbook, service book and MOT certificate (if it’s over three years old) any other useful manuals and documents

How do I advertise my car on Auto Trader?

Auto Trader is the best place to sell – simply because we have the most buyers.

Find out how to advertise your car now.

For more information read our complete guide to selling your car.

Video: Close the deal

Learn how to haggle with buyers and close the deal on your car with TV's used car expert Jason Dawe:

View our step-by-step picture guide to selling your car

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