How to sell my current car?

[snakehips]

A little off topic but in the next couple of months I'm going to have to sell my GTi to make room for my A3. After a succession of company cars I haven't actually sold a car privately for 12 years! Any advice on the best way to do it? Autotrader? Local rag? Other? Any pitfalls to look out for? How best to take payment?
I am doing this as I should be able to get a good £2K more than Audi will offer me PX but I am pretty clueless where (and when) to start.

 

[manor13]

advertise on Pistonheads or autotrader

 

[Karl Alesbury]

I had luck with eBay and setting a reserve below which I wouldn't let the car go for.

I advertised on every free platform for a whole month without a sniff of interest, so unless you're selling cheap, I would go with paid-for websites like AutoTrader or PistonHeads, as Manor13 says.

 

[snakehips]

It's £12K worth of Golf GTi so I'll use one of these sites. Many thanks.

 

[cemerson]

I sold mine on autotrader. To be honest, it was a complete PITA, and I'd seriously consider just part-exing it next time, even though they offered a low price.

 

[JohnM100]

AutoTrader also.

They have the option of "Telesafe" numbers to hide your real number from scammers. Whilst a nice idea they are premium rate and expensive for buyers to call, and mine did not work first time I called it to test it (which I tested as I hadn't had any calls).

Would recommend either calling the buyer right back or, as an alternative to Telesafe: get a cheap PAYG sim for an old phone instead and publish that rather than giving your main everyday mobile. That way, once sold just change your voicemail message to "car has been sold - thanks for calling".

You do have to go for the added extras on the adverts as everyone else does it, and your advert will be buried next to the others if you don't.

One thing I need to follow up with AutoTrader is their "buyers free valuation service" as it consistently came in 800 GBP lower than Glass or even AutoTraders own paid for CAP valuation of "expect to pay". This puts the seller (AutoTraders paying customer who paid for the advert and also the valuation) at a disadvantage before the buyer has even finished clicking on the advert.

All said, it gives stats on page views in last x days which is great, and mine sold in a week, even though was sorry to part with it.

Not used PistonHeads for adverts but heard good feedback.

John.

 

[M_D_O_London]

I originally listed my MkVI Golf 5dr GT TSI DSG (2010) on Autotrader only. Had only one enquiry a day after listing - guy then came to view the car but didn't take it further. Decided to list it on Pistonheads and Exchange & Mart too for greater visibility. Had a call a few days later from a gentleman from Newport who bought a one-way ticket down the next day. He purchased my vehicle, (payment made via online banking) and drove off a happy man! Funnily enough, he'd seen the car on Autotrader after all.

Interestingly, despite the payment being made on a Sunday afternoon, funds transferred within seconds - hence he could take the vehicle that day.

 

[cemerson]

Yeh, banks tend to make payments instantly under the Faster Payments scheme when they can, but there are limits to the system.

 

[cemerson]

AutoTrader also.

They have the option of "Telesafe" numbers to hide your real number from scammers. Whilst a nice idea they are premium rate and expensive for buyers to call, and mine did not work first time I called it to test it (which I tested as I hadn't had any calls).

Are they premium rate? They are 07- numbers, so should cost the same. I think all premium rate numbers have to start 08. I called mine as well to check it and seemed to work fine. Some people moaned about it when they rung up, but I didn't see the issue. I always gave my real number out to the real buyers anyway.

 

[M_D_O_London]

Yeh, banks tend to make payments instantly under the Faster Payments scheme when they can, but there are limits to the system.

I believe standard limits range from between £10K to £15K for most personal accounts, or £20K upwards for business accounts.

Def worth informing your buyer to check with their bank what limits apply to them (if relevent) prior to agreeing to do an online transfer.

 

[JohnM100]

Are they premium rate? They are 07- numbers, so should cost the same. I think all premium rate numbers have to start 08. I called mine as well to check it and seemed to work fine. Some people moaned about it when they rung up, but I didn't see the issue. I always gave my real number out to the real buyers anyway.

If they link to a landline number then minimum 10p/min.
If they link to a mobile number then minimum 37p/min.

For a one off call it is a small inconvenience for the buyer, but they don't know whether you'll keep them on the line or drop the call and phone them straight back. Anything that is a disincentive for that first contact is going to risk that first call not happening.

 

[smk82]

Yeh, banks tend to make payments instantly under the Faster Payments scheme when they can, but there are limits to the system.

Very True.. When I was sending over the final payment for my car I would have had to do it in 3 sections by BACS due to the amounts (and each would have taken up to 3 days to clear). The bank would allow for a larger lump sum to be paid, but they charged for the privilege.. £30! I know its not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but its the principle..

 

[cemerson]

Yeh, the buyer of my old car put a £1 test transaction through to make sure it would, then the rest after we saw it in my account

 

[jimladallen]

go to we buy any car.com,you may be surprised,they topped my dealers quote.

 

[cemerson]

Yeh, but when they look at your car they will find an excuse to drop their quote massively. There are other car buying sites out there that are better.

 

[cuke2u]

ok which?

 

[StefRobinson]

go to we buy any car.com,you may be surprised,they topped my dealers quote.

Same with me. They actually offered me a fair valuation for my old car, and were very friendly and easy to deal with.

I haven't actually sold it to them yet, but the quote was better than the dealer was offering me for a trade-in. I'm just waiting for the DVLA to sort out the log book etc, then I'll be selling to them.

 

[cemerson]

Same with me. They actually offered me a fair valuation for my old car, and were very friendly and easy to deal with.

I haven't actually sold it to them yet, but the quote was better than the dealer was offering me for a trade-in. I'm just waiting for the DVLA to sort out the log book etc, then I'll be selling to them.

Have they looked at the car? The value they give you on the site is 'subject to inspection' or something, and that's when they'll drop the price...

 

[StefRobinson]

Yes, they've seen and inspected the car, and agreed on the price.

 

[cemerson]

Fair enough - heard lots of stories from people I know who tried to use them!