Sell my car: 5 tips for getting the best price for your used motor

A few simple steps will make the sale process much less painful and net you a better price.

When selling your used car, it’s only natural to want to get the best possible price.

But that may not be as simple as it sounds.

First off, you’ll need to understand what’s a fair price for a car of its make and model, factoring in its condition and mileage.

Next, you need to decide on the right method for selling your vehicle.

If this all sounds like a massive headache, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ve rounded up five simple steps that can help you make your used car more attractive to potential buyers.

Sell My Car Guide tip 1: Research, research, research

Before you put your car on the market, the first step should be to understand how much it’s really worth.

The simplest way to do this is often to find similar cars for sale online and check their prices.

Although you may get a slightly higher price by selling your car privately through a site such as AutoTrader, this process typically involves more hassle than using a car-buying site.

While there is no right or wrong way to sell your vehicle, take the time to decide which approach best suits your needs and priorities.

Want to know which car-buying site pays the best price? Here’s what our research found

Sell My Car Guide tip 2: Get your paperwork in order

As with any major purchase, most used car buyers want to know exactly what they’re getting before agreeing on a price.

In some cases, not having the correct paperwork may be enough to derail your entire sale.

Examples of documents you’ll need when selling your car include:

• Your service history
• Details of any remaining warranty
• Your owner’s handbook
• MOT certificates
• Receipts for recent repairs
• Finance settlement details (if relevant)

If you’re using a car-buying site, you may find that you don’t get the price you were initially quoted if your paperwork isn’t all present and correct.

Also, remember to have your logbook with you if you’re meeting a potential buyer or dropping your car off at a service centre for a car-buying site.

See which carb-buying sites will collect your car and which require you to drop it off at theirs

Sell My Car Guide tip 3: Clean your car

Ensuring your vehicle is sparkling clean (or as near as possible) is crucial if you want to make a good impression on potential buyers.

You probably look at your car every day, but try to see it fresh through the eyes of a possible buyer.

Even if you’re selling your car through a car-buying site, the company may need to spend time and money having your car cleaned if it’s covered in dirt and grime.

This extra inconvenience could reduce the amount they’re prepared to pay.

As such, having your car professionally valeted (both inside and out) could be a worthwhile investment.

Sell My Car Guide tip 4: Take care of minor repairs

Before putting your car on the market, you should give it a thorough inspection to identify (and rectify) any maintenance issues.

For example, the condition of your tyres can significantly impact the price you get for your car as the law requires all tyres to have a tread of at least 1.6mm at the time of sale.

Likewise, a small chip in your windscreen will almost certainly reduce the amount an interested buyer is willing to offer.

Also don’t forget about any warning lights on your car dashboard.

Even if they’ve been flashing for months, you should find out what they mean and get the problem sorted.

Bear in mind, a fault that doesn’t impact your car’s driveability may still prompt a buyer to offer you a knocked-down price.

Sell My Car Guide tip 5: Don’t risk voiding your warranty

Make sure that you don’t do anything that could void any guarantee from the manufacturer.

Some examples of actions that may invalidate your warranty are obvious, such as tampering with the odometer or making modifications to your vehicle.

However, some other ways that you could void your warranty are less widely known.

These may include failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for servicing, or using ‘unapproved liquids’ in your car, such as poor-quality brake fluids.