How to sell my car in Surrey
1. Sell my car to an online cash car buyer;
Selling your car to an online cash car buyer can be quick and stress free if you choose a company that comes directly to you at a time and place to suit you. Many companies however, require you to go to them, usually during normal business hours, once you have been offered a quote. This might mean you have to ask someone to accompany you as the return transport provider, and may put you at a disadvantage should the buyer, upon seeing your car, decide that it is not as described and can result in a lower offer being made, leaving you with the choice of accepting less for your car or taking it away with you again unsold. You are in a much stronger position if the car buyer comes to you at a time and place convenient to you, the onus is then firmly on the buyer to buy your car, or to leave empty handed with a wasted journey on their hands to boot.
By entering phrases such as; sell my car in Surrey, cash for cars in Surrey, best cash car buyer in Surrey etc you will achieve a list of the most relevant companies for your needs.
Regardless of which company you decide upon, the advice is the same when it comes to accepting payment for your car. Cleared funds in the form of either a direct cash transfer into to your account, which you can confirm with your bank, or a banker’s draft are probably the most secure options.
Once a deal has been reached, paperwork needs to be completed, you should expect to receive a receipt with the company name and details and VAT registration number. You are also required to complete the yellow “notification of sale to a motor trader” section of the V5 logbook and it is advisable to send this to the DVLA yourself so that you know that they have been informed as to the change of ownership. This will prevent any speeding fines, parking penalties etc that were committed after you sold the car, being sent to you in error. You also need to date and sign the main part of the V5 as the registered keeper/seller, which the buyer will retain, for when the car is sold on.
2. Advertise and sell my car to a private buyer;
Choosing to sell your car privately in the current economic market might prove to be costly, time consuming and more hassle than the higher selling price you may achieve, is worth. Should you decide this to be your preferred method of sale, we offer this advice to help guide you through the process to achieve the best results.
A good valet is essential, you can do this yourself or you may find that the cost of a professional valet is money well spent. Taking good quality photos of the inside and outside of the car, once valeted are key to attracting potential buyers, many of which will enlarge the pictures to full screen size. When ready to advertise, you need to complete research into what price is realistic and achievable. A suggestion is to look on sites such as www.autotrader.co.uk or www.exchange&mart.co.uk to see what similar cars are priced at and are actually selling for – this is the best indication of the current market value of your car as opposed to some of the online calculator guides which may quickly become out of date.
Now you have your pictures and idea of price, you should write a detailed description of your car, indicating mileage, condition, service history details, ownership and any good selling points the car has etc. It is a good idea to have a new MOT completed on your car if there is not long to run on the current one. Once you have placed your advert, prepare yourself for any calls you may get, it is a good idea to take a contact number whilst making an appointment, and to request that they bring some form of photographic ID with them when they come. Don’t be afraid to ask this, after all you are inviting a stranger to your home to possibly drive your car. We strongly advise you stay with your car and go with your potential buyer if they request a test drive, having first established that they are insured. Be aware that even if they have fully comprehensive insurance, they may only have third party cover to drive your car, also remember that if you hand over your keys and your car is stolen, your insurance company will not be very sympathetic!
Finally once the price has been haggled over and an agreement has been reached, accept payment only by cleared funds ie. bankers draft or transfer into your bank account, as a personal cheque can be cancelled and cash may pose a security risk. The V5 logbook needs to be completed with the new owners details, you both need to date and sign it and the new owner takes the green new keeper supplement section as proof of ownership, the remainder needs to be sent by you to the DVLA informing them of the changes, they will in turn send it to the new owner complete with the new details. A good idea is to provide your buyer with a receipt, signed and dated by you both detailing the transaction – keeping a copy for yourself, if possible, you should also take a photocopy of the photo ID.
3. Sell my car to my local car dealer.
This is only really a viable option if you are wanting to use your car in part exchange against a car the dealer has for sale, even then you may find that when you weigh the deal up, it would be better to sell your car separately, as in realistic terms what counts is the cost to you to change cars. If the dealer is low on stock and specialises in your type of car, you may find that you are offered a good price, but more typically, the dealer will trade you car on to a cash car buyer/ another trader, taking a profit as he does, so that the price you are paid will reflect that. If you decide this is your best option, make sure that you are paid with cleared funds ie. A banker’s draft or transfer into your account and that you complete the relevant documents. As you are selling your car to a dealer, you are required to complete the yellow section of the V5 with the dealers company details and VAT registration number, and you need to send this to the DVLA to inform them of the change of ownership. This will prevent any speeding fines, parking penalties that are committed after you have sold the car, being sent to you in error. You also need to date and sign the remainder of the V5 as the registered keeper/seller – the dealer will retain this part to enable the car to be sold on.
We wish you every success in selling your car and hope this advice has been helpful.
