collaborative post | There could be a host of reasons why you’re choosing to sell your car, but it’s always essential to be well-informed to help you get the most out of your sale. The UK’s used car market saw a dip during the pandemic, but after three years, it jumped to a 20.2% increase.
Photo by Martin Katler on Unsplash
So the marketplace is definitely conducive for car sales. But selling a car in the UK can be challenging if it’s your first time, therefore, it’s important to have adequate knowledge of how to do it effectively. Rest assured, you can smoothly navigate the process when you learn the relevant basics. With that said, here are some useful tips to consider first.
- Prep the car first
Aesthetics play a critical role before putting your car up for sale. Everyone knows the unpredictability of the UK weather, but few consider what it means for a car. Every vehicle collects mud and grime after driving through heavy rains.
That messes up with the tyres and other external car parts in contact with the elements. It cannot be a good look for a car you want sold in the shortest possible time. That explains why a comprehensive clean is non-negotiable. Clean the interior and exterior to make it appealing to potential buyers.
Aside from the aesthetics, please focus on the car’s basic functions, such as the brakes, light projection, mirrors, and electronics. Remember to tackle any minor repairs as part of the prepping process.
Never assume a potential buyer will overlook these details to purchase your car. Car buyers are a group of discerning people who want value for money. Moreover, most buyers will request to see a recent copy of the car’s MOT certificate that proves its maintenance degree.
- Get your car’s documentation ready
Do not expect your car to be off the market with little or questionable documentation. In the UK, sellers must provide all proper documentation before selling a vehicle. The documents must include the V5C logbook, which proves car ownership and quashes any lingering doubts about who the rightful owner is.
Another noteworthy point is the availability of your car’s service records. These documents provide accurate and authentic information about the vehicle’s maintenance history. It’s also vital to include any documents about past or outstanding financial records regarding the vehicle.
These provide the potential buyer the peace of mind of knowing they wouldn’t ‘inherit’ any hidden costs. Your credibility as a seller will improve when you make these essential documents available.
- Set a realistic price
It is tempting to sell your car at an unreasonable price when you need money. However, this move will delay the possible purchase of the vehicle. The buyer will not give you the benefit of the doubt because anything above a realistic car price will portray you as a dishonest seller, whether you deliberately set a high price or not.
It all boils down to failing to research the current market conditions to know the going prices of similar pre-owned vehicles. Remember pricing factors like model, mileage, and the car’s physical state before selling.
Moreover, buyers will respond positively to any initiated negotiations. If you often sell pre-owned cars, people will see you as an honest seller with a fair pricing system.
- Create an attractive listing for your car
What elements prompt you to purchase something online or in person? Aside from the basic reason, what other factors contributed to settling on that single item? Thinking like buyers in these moments is important. An attractive car listing is the first to draw a potential buyer’s attention.
Give an honest description of the car’s features and condition. Avoid grammatical errors in your description, as that can put buyers off. The trick is to make your car listing stand out from the thousands of others selling their vehicles. Mention any recent maintenance works done on the car to give the impression of a cautious seller who values the safety of others.
It is a crucial marketing stage of the car-selling process. The chance of getting the vehicle off the market sooner increases when you put a lot of thought into creating an attractive listing.
- Sell a trusted model
Many car brands are popular in the United Kingdom, but a few stand out. One such is Toyota, which the UK market equates with reliability, efficiency, and longevity. You’re in luck if you’re selling a pre-owned Toyota because it tends to attract more buyers in a shorter time.
In a twist of events, selling a trusted model may have downsides due to intense market competition. You wouldn’t be the only one selling a pre-owned Toyota vehicle, making creating an attractive listing more crucial. Whatever popular car model you put up for sale must have that extra appeal factor.
Buyers are more inclined towards cars with reasonable mileage. It creates the impression of a fairly used vehicle, not one driven to the ends of the earth and back. As a precaution, never alter your car’s mileage before selling.
- Use trusted platforms to sell
The digital age makes it easy for social media to thrive. However, have you wondered why even social media is segmented? Segmentation considers many factors like preferences and behaviours to help tailor content for different social media platforms.
For example, LinkedIn is geared more toward working professionals, while Instagram favours brands, content creators, and entrepreneurs. That is what to consider when selling your car.
Although people sell their pre-owned cars on social media, it may not be wise to do the same. Focus on car-selling platforms like Autotrader, Gumtree, or eBay Motors for a wider but targeted market. Try using community notice boards if that is your preference.
- Be available and responsive
Be ready for countless calls and text messages enquiring about your car. You cannot afford to be upset over the many calls coming through to your phone. It could be why some sellers add ‘serious buyers only’ on their listing. However, whether or not this is indicated in yours, making yourself available and responsive is important.
Potential buyers may want to see the vehicle in person to assess its true condition. Sometimes, these arrangements can clash with your schedule, but there’s a way around it. Start by being respectful in your tone and communicate how an immediate meeting clashes with your schedule. Proceed to propose another meeting time, and you’ll be amazed at the positive response rates from serious buyers.
- Negotiate wisely
Good negotiation skills will come of immense use when selling your car. Everybody wants to pay less for a good product or item, but you must find a middle ground. Let them see why you’re selling at the set price while communicating your terms and conditions. A crucial thing to know about negotiation is being open to reasonable offers.
Being open to this includes having a bottom-line price in mind. Avoid taking an entrenched position during negotiations because it can portray you as unreasonable. Balance is key here, and when done right, you will be happy to hand over the car key to a worthy buyer.
- Complete the transaction legally
Some financial transactions require legal processes, and selling your car is one. A lawyer is not needed to sign off papers, but certain processes fulfil the legal aspects. That includes notifying the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of the ownership change. It is vital to avoid potential disputes in the future.
Moreover, the paperwork in a car sale captures the legality bit. That means the transaction is legally compliant when all your car documents and transaction papers are in order. Never overlook the importance of legal transactions when you sell the vehicle to a sibling, friend, or loved one.
- Follow up and seek feedback
This final point shows your honest personality as a seller. People usually want nothing to do with the buyer after the transaction. What’s the point in calling the buyer to follow up or seek feedback?
It all boils down to being courteous and honest. Clients will feel valued to be called about the car’s performance after the purchase. Doing this builds your reputation for future sales, especially where another car is involved.
