SELL WITH CONFIDENCE
A practical guide to selling your vehicle
Follow these steps to prepare a strong advert, meet genuine buyers and complete a safer handover.
ARTICLE 1
Prepare your vehicle and paperwork
Clean the vehicle inside and out, remove personal belongings and deal with simple faults such as failed bulbs or low fluid levels. A tidy vehicle gives buyers confidence and makes photographs clearer.
- Gather the V5C, service history, MOT records, manuals, locking-wheel key and every vehicle key.
- Check the exact mileage, trim, engine, fuel type and equipment before writing the advert.
- Be open about known damage, warning lights, missing history or outstanding work.
ARTICLE 2
Create an advert buyers can trust
Use a factual title and describe ownership, condition, servicing, recent maintenance and useful options. Avoid vague claims that cannot be supported.
- Photograph every side in daylight, plus the interior, dashboard, wheels, boot and any damage.
- Do not display documents, home addresses or other personal information in photographs.
- Answer reasonable questions consistently and update the advert if circumstances change.
ARTICLE 3
Set and negotiate a realistic price
Compare vehicles of a similar age, mileage, engine, trim and condition. Asking prices are not the same as completed sale prices, so leave only a sensible margin for negotiation.
- Consider remaining MOT, service history, tyres, cosmetic condition and recent mechanical work.
- Decide your lowest acceptable price privately before speaking to buyers.
- Be cautious when someone agrees to pay more than the asking price or requests a refund of an overpayment.
ARTICLE 4
Manage viewings, payment and handover safely
Meet in daylight, have another person present and check a buyer’s driving licence and insurance before any test drive. Keep control of the keys until you are satisfied payment has cleared.
- Never rely only on a screenshot, email or app notification as proof of payment.
- Write a receipt for both parties recording the vehicle, price, date, time and names.
- Complete the DVLA keeper change promptly and remove the vehicle from your insurance when appropriate.
Ready to create your advert?
Add your vehicle details and photographs from the MotorHarbour selling page.