Drivers must avoid these seven car selling mistakes or risk losing £2,000. It’s important to do so as you’d get the best price. Before you put your car up for sale, make sure you give it a good clean. Remember to check hidden spots like under the seats, doors, and glove compartments to remove any personal items and leftover rubbish.
Even though people know they’re buying a used car, no one wants a vehicle which looks used. Car detailing can cost between £80-£200 on average. New buyers might not want to buy a car if they have to get a spare set of keys themselves. This could end up lowering the value of your vehicle.
Having a spare set of keys is useful for many reasons, especially if you lose the original key. Even if you’re not selling your car, you should sort this out. But if they’re on when you’re trying to sell, they could knock a lot off your car’s value. Before you sell your car, take it for a full service.
This will let you fix any problems – like those warning lights – and make your car more valuable. It’ll also reassure anyone thinking of buying your car. How much a full service costs depends on how big your car is. Smaller cars usually cost around £170, but bigger ones can be up to £400.
Scratch repairs can cost between £90 and £300, depending on the size and location of the damage. Scuffed alloy refurbishments can set you back between £50 and £120. If you don’t fix these issues, you could lose more than £400 when selling your car. And if your car is in good condition otherwise, fixing these problems can boost its value.
If you don’t have a current service history or logbook for your car, it could stop the sale altogether. Buyers might think you haven’t maintained the car properly. They’ll want to know there aren’t any hidden problems with the car. They can check this by looking at the car’s service history.
A replacement logbook costs £25. If you’ve lost or misplaced yours, it’s worth getting a new one. If your car needs a service, we recommend booking it in. Choose a dry day with plenty of light, and snap lots of wide shots showing your car from all sides, including the inside.
Think about when you’re selling – a convertible looks best on a sunny spring or summer day. By taking great photos, you’ll not only get the best price for your car but also sell it quicker. *Want all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox?
