Has anyone sold their car by sticking it on the road with a "For Sale" sign?

[AnnaQuayRules]

We need to sell our ancient car. It runs really well, has done less than 100k but is nearly 20 years old. Garages aren't interested and we've already bought another (ancient!) car so we don't need a part exchange.

We live on quite a busy road but with loads of on-street parking as all the houses are detached with large driveways, so there are very rarely any cars parked near our house. I've suggested to DH that we stick it outside with a sign in the windscreen but he thinks that's a waste of time. He wants to advertise it on FB market place instead

Has anyone ever stuck their car on the road with a "For Sale" sign, and if so did you get a sale that way?

The problem is that some people could think you’re one of those rogue traders that put for sale signs in cars pretending to be Joe Public. Assuming they still do that. Have you tried we buy any car or Facebook? If you’re not bothered about money, I’d go to wbac. They’re easy enough.

I know it's not what you asked, but have you tried We Buy Any Car? They make the the process very easy and I've always found them fair.

Thanks, I think that the "rogue trader" thing applies to FB as well. You sometimes see people claiming to sell their family car and then find them selling umpteen other cars.

I don't think WBAC is the right route for this particular car. We've sold a car that way previously and they offered a price then haggled us down over minor imperfections that we'd declared through photos etc before they saw it.

Personally I think FB market place is a lot of hassle - people say they will come and see it and then don't turn up. I thought my suggestion would be easier, plus people could park and take a proper look at it - it's a lovely convertible car that looks much better irl than in photos.

We have sold several cars that way. Much easier and less hassle that FB Marketplace. People can walk round it, decide if the price/condition is of interest and ring the number on the card. My old car is still in the village where I live, and the buyers are happy with it. Only really an option if it's fairly low priced though.

Thanks @Papyrophile . It will be low priced - it's 19 years old - but I think will attract some interest. It's a beautiful car. DH took it to the car wash to get it looking at its best and the car wash guy offered to buy it there and then. Sadly DH thought the offer was too low. Personally I'd have bitten his hand off!

Beautiful cars retain their value surprisingly well! Good luck with getting a quick sale and a proper price.

Please go careful printing your number on anything car related, I advertised my Fiesta in the late 90's and some twat phoned me at 1 in the morning asking for a jump start

I haven't sold a car this way but I've bought several from seeing them for sale on the side of the road 🤣 I think it taps in to my impulsivity. I've probably been lucky but never had a dud!

@ShakyBake that's awful! It's DH's number that would go on it, and we both put our phones into "Do not disturb" mode overnight, but I take your point!

Is it a classic where there could be a Facebook group of buyers waiting? Otherwise, yes, you’re absolutely right - fb is the worst place for selling or buying cars. I don’t know if gumtree is even still a h thing but I put a car on there once and just got “lowest price?” Messages ad nauseam. Not even hello! Then the tyre kickers. Argh.

Not a classic car, but it's unusual.

It could technically be illegal, you need to check your local council. It may come under street trading laws.

I’d put it on Autotrader. It’s worth paying for the ad on there.

I sold my old Fiat Punto, parked on side of road in front of our house. Someone pulled over & purchased within an hour, it was a great sound little car. Also sold my Jeep quickly on side of road, I used that money to pay 1/2 of our first house deposit. No issues, I’ve purchased cars this way & DH has to.

We parked our car we were selling at nearby retail park (without parking restrictions) - put a sign in the windscreen with our phone number and sold it the same day.

Their offers are lower, though

I bought my car from a neighbour because he put a sign in the window advertising it as For Sale! I'd had my eye on it for ages so when I saw the sign, I pounced! You never know, one of your neighbours could be interested and you'll get a quick sale. You could try a sign in the window over the weekend, just to see if any interest?

Fb marketplace worked well for me selling an old banger for £500, auto trader for a much better car was fab

Newly passed drivers are always looking for a first car, hopefully it will sell quickly.

I sold my little car on the side of the road many years ago.
It was an ideal 1st car for someone and it had a long mot.
When I tried to sell a more expensive car at a knock down price as we were absolutely desperate for money and in massive debt we had zero interest. We had no choice but to take it to we buy any car and we got £5000 for a £9000 car. Lessons learnt..... Never get married....

I actually got flagged down on the A4 (in.slow traffic!) whilst driving my old ambulance with a "For Sale" sign in the window. It was a couple of guys, the spitting image of Steptoe and Son (they were indeed father and son) who lived on a narrow boat, needed something mobile to provide extra storage, and quite liked ambulances.

We ended up following them to their boat, they paid us in cash on the spot, then drove us the two hour journey back to our home town in their Vauxhall Astra at about 100mph 😬

I was dead pleased, I'd been trying to get rid of that ambulance for ages. I then spent an entire day slogging all round the outskirts of Bristol by bus looking at unsuitable estate cars I'd found in the back of the paper (this was over 20 years ago), only to see the perfect car parked on someone's drive as the bus pulled back into my home town- with a "For Sale" sign stuck in the window!

It must work for one of our neighbours. Over the many years I have lived here I've seen about 5 different cars in his drive with a for sale sign.

It always amazes me what we consider bangers here compared with the likes of Australia. I saw someone there post a 15+ year old car with 200km on it for $5000 !! Have faith, yours has very low mileage. Age is secondary. Particularly in these tough times!

Thanks but it's really not a first car! It's very much going to appeal to mid-life men I think, which is why DH got it in the first place!

I’d put the sign on and FB marketplace, we sold a similar sounding car via MP, the guy flew from Ireland and took it home on the ferry! We were stunned, shows there’s a market for everything.
Also, I joined FB groups for that brand of car , maximise your audience.