Somerset cars and motors in Taunton, Wellington, Minehead and West Somerset by the County Gazette

• What is it worth?
• Part exchange or private sale?
• Selling privately
• Wording a private ad
• Preparing your car for sale
• Sell your car safely

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What is it worth? back to top

How much your car is worth depends on the market and what a buyer is prepared to pay. Demand for certain models can change during the year - the summer is a good time to sell a convertible , while most off roaders are purchased in the winter months.

To get an idea of what your car is worth check our price guide and be realistic. It's also worth checking our website to see what other local sellers are hoping to get for similar cars. There's no point paying for an ad which puts people off before they have even seen the car. Price your car to generate interest but allow a margin for haggling.

Part exchange or private sale? back to top

If you are offering your old car in part exchange, a franchised or independent dealer will make things easy but will try to give you as little as possible for it. Make sure you know what your car is worth before you start negotiating.

Selling privately means you will have to deal with the potential buyer. Nevertheless, if you follow our advice, you will avoid many common pitfalls and should get a better price for your car.

Selling privately back to top

• When selling your vehicle, be aware that thieves can pose as potential buyers. They may ask up front for details of the vehicle, such as the VRM (Number plate) or the VIN, or the V5C (Log book), or for your personal details and could use this information to create their own fake 'cloned' ad. If they're a genuine buyer, they will come and see the vehicle.
• Beware of emails from abroad, offering to buy your vehicle without seeing it and offering to make over-payments. Also beware of bogus shipping or ESCROW companies recommended by the buyer.
• When somebody wants to make an appointment, make sure you get a name, address and telephone number. You can then call them back to be certain that they are who they say they are.
• Agree to meet at your address and not at a location where you are vulnerable - write down the car's registration when the potential buyer arrives and keep it safe. For extra security, it's a good idea if you have a friend or family member with you at all times - even if they know nothing about cars.
• Never hand over the keys and, if they want to hear the engine running, make sure you are in the driver's seat.
• If they insist on a test drive check their insurance first and accompany them. Alternatively see if you can change your insurance to provide adequate cover.
• Only hand over the keys when you are sat in the passenger seat. Allow the potential buyer a reasonable amount of time for the test drive and allow them to drive on a variety of roads.
• Let the buyer inspect the documents but do not let them make copies or take photos of them. Be aware that mobile phones often contain a camera!
• Never hand over the car until you have been paid. Make sure that funds have cleared and that the money is in your bank account (electronic transfers are the best mechanism). Prepare a simple written sales agreement that both you and the buyer sign and date.
• If the buyer offers more than the advertised price, be wary. Do not accept an overpayment especially where you then have to refund the difference or make a payment via a money transfer company such as Western Union or Moneygram. Be careful when using ESCROW or shipping services as many are bogus and set up by fraudsters. If you do use ESCROW, make sure it's verified by the Fiancial Services Authority (FSA) and is based in the UK. See the Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert web pages about money transfer, criminal cashback fraud and bogus ESCROW sites.
• There are different ways people can pay for a vehicle - cash, cheque, banker's draft or bank transfer. An immediate bank transfer to you can be made using the CHAPS system for a nominal fee, (£20-£30), CHAPS payments are irrevocable. Consider meeting the buyer at their bank and completing the transaction there. Choose the method that works best for you but be aware of the potential issues. Cash could be counterfeit so double check it. If accepting cash, consider meeting the buyer at your bank and paying the money straight in to your account. Cheques and banker's drafts can be fraudulent or counterfeit and you may not find this out until after your car has gone, even if your bank has told you that the funds have cleared.
• It is your legal responsibility to inform the DVLA of a change of ownership by completing the form on the V5C and posting it to them. You should give section 10 of the V5C to the new owner.
• You should also give all related documents to the new owner e.g. service books, MOT certificate together with the spare keys and stereo security code.

We do not work with companies, or endorse any services run by companies, that:

• offer to put car sellers in touch with car buyers for a fee; or
• offer the car seller financing products that make funds available to the buyer to purchase the car.

If you are approached by one of these companies, we recommend you proceed with caution and do not give your credit card details over the telephone or in an email, unless you are absolutely sure about the service being offered.

Wording a private ad back to top

What you say about your car is all a potential buyer has to go on, along with the photographs you provide. Your ad could also appear in a search listing with other vehicles exactly the same as your own - so you need to get as much positive information in as possible.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Prepare the car properly and take several good pictures of your car highlighting key features. Potential buyers are much more likely to show interest if they can see what they could buy.

Be honest if the car is damaged in any way. If you're not explicit and honest you could waste time with fruitless test drive visits.

If you have a good reason for selling the car, for example, you're moving abroad, include this in the advert.

Preparing your car for sale back to top

Be honest if the car is damaged in any way. If you're not explicit and honest you could waste time with fruitless test drive visits.

If you have a good reason for selling the car, for example, you're moving abroad, include this in the advert.

It's worth spending time preparing your car for sale - research has shown that sellers consistently get a higher price for a well prepared car. Give it a good clean and polish, or get it professionally cleaned, inside and out.

Get rid of any clutter, touch up any stone chips (paint touch up sticks are cheap and readily available) and get an air freshener.

Replace dented or damaged wheel trims, fix minor faults and replace missing badges, check the oil level and tyre pressures.

Finally gather together all related paper work in readiness: MOT certificate, service book and V5C. If you have any old receipts for work done it's worth collecting these together as well - they help reassure the buyer that you are an organised individual who has taken care of the vehicle.

Sell your car safely back to top

We support the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG), a new industry forum created to combat vehicle related fraud.

For further information visit the VSTAG website: www.vstag.co.uk

Other useful websites

• For advice on criminal cashback and other frauds that may be attempted against vehicle sellers and buyers, and how to report spam emails go to: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert.
• Office of Fair Trading (OFT): http://www.oft.gov.uk/oft_and_cd
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles.aspx
• Direct.Gov web page: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring
• The basic details of a vehicle can be checked on the web site: http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/
• MOT test certificates can be checked at: http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/ or by phoning 0870 330 044
• Bank payments advice (CHAPS): http://www.apacs.org.uk/payment_options
• Financial Services Authority: http://www.fsa.gov.uk/. Go to the FSA Register or click here
• Escrow information: http://www.escrow-fraud.com/
• Get Safe On Line: http://www.getsafeonline.org/ Search for Escrow or click here
• Trading Standards: http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ Consumer Direct: 08454 040506