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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if there is any way to sell a car quick

42 replies

Happiness2017 · 26/06/2017 10:54

I have been trying to sell my car for 3 weeks now but I have had absolutely no interest in it. It has been advertised on Gumtree, Facebook, Ebay etc (not autotrader due to the cost of selling on there). It's quite frustrating as it is worth more than I have it advertised at, and I'll be losing out if I take any less for it.

I've tried we buy any car etc, but they want something for nothing. Is there any tricks to make a car sell fast?

OP posts:
Dawnedlightly · 26/06/2017 10:56

It's hard- are you replacing it? Part exchange or selling to family are the most hassle free ways.

19lottie82 · 26/06/2017 10:59

I've never had any problems with We buy any car, their prices aren't too horrendous, realistically. The vehicle needs to be under ten years old though.

Apart from that if you want to sell it quick, it comes down to price. If it's priced well, it will sell.

19lottie82 · 26/06/2017 10:59

Realistically if your car has been on for 3 weeks, it's overpriced.

CremeFresh · 26/06/2017 11:00

My sister sold to We Buy Any Car. She was so fed up with people either not turning up or turning up and kicking the tyres and making a silly offer. It was hassle free and got a price she was happy with.

Are you going to replace it ? If so part exchange ? Although you still don't get as much as when selling privately.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/06/2017 11:02

Do you have any motor auctions near you?

But yes, if there's no interest, it's over priced. What makes you think it's worth more than it's being advertised at? If it was, it would have been snapped up by now.

Is there something unattractive about it? Short MOT, older diesel car, unpopular colour, expensive to run?

BarbaraofSeville · 26/06/2017 11:04

We've sold a few cars over the years and find ebay classified to be the cheapest reliable way to sell.

You do get a few idiots who expect the moon on a stick but not as many as Facebook and Gumtree seem to attract.

Original poster
Happiness2017 · 26/06/2017 11:13

We buy any car have offered a low price and don't they knock even more off when they view it?

I have had it valued by many different valuation sites as a private sale, and it's currently advertised at £800 less than that. I'm so surprised I have had no interest.

Has MOT until October and not too high mileage, there is nothing I can think of to make it seem unattractive.

I've had it on Ebay but it cost again £30 for the 3 weeks and I had no interest. Sad

I'm not looking to replace it until next year, can't afford to run a car at the moment.

OP posts:
araiwa · 26/06/2017 11:17

you have a choice- quick or a good price

if your car is worth what you say then it will sell eventually. if you want rid asap, youre not gonna get a good price for it

CremeFresh · 26/06/2017 11:17

I'd cut my losses , by the time you hang out for the price advertised, you could save some money by not having to insure it for another month.

Have you googled other similar cars to see what they're going for ?

thecolonelbumminganugget · 26/06/2017 11:18

I sold mine to Evans Halshaw. We buy any car were going to give me 50 quid for it, EH gave me 125. It depends whether you need the money or just want to get rid of the car. I was in the latter situation and really was just delighted someone took it off my hands at a moment's notice (MOT was due to expire)

LightastheBreeze · 26/06/2017 11:21

It might be because there is less than 6 months mot. When I was looking at trade in prices for my car a lot said it was dependent on having 6 months. This may also put off private buyers also

Abloodybigholeintheground · 26/06/2017 11:23

We sold mine to Motorhog. Got a good quote online and had it valeted so when they turned up the guy just snapped it up without an OK from his boss. Quick, easy, good price!

Original poster
Happiness2017 · 26/06/2017 11:24

Yeh CremeFresh, this is why I want to do it so quick to save on another months insurance and tax.

They are currently going for on average £3800-£4000, mine is advertised at £2700 (lowered every week due to no sale, started at £3500), we buy any car offered £1450. Shock

Maybe I don't have a choice but to cut my losses.

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 26/06/2017 11:26

I'd put it in Autotrader for a competive price. If you really want it gone the fees are worth it

Morifarty · 26/06/2017 11:28

It's not surprising them offered that much. They aren't buying the car to drive it around themselves, they are buying it to sell it on. You'll get less when you sell to the trade than you would if you sold privately, but it's less hassle. That's the trade off.

LightastheBreeze · 26/06/2017 11:28

My car is probably worth about what yours is and if I was buying privately I would want a longer MOT, is it worth getting a MOT on it as it would greatly improve your chances of a sale

Theromanempire · 26/06/2017 11:28

I am trying to sell my car - I went to We Buy Any Car this weekend and they knocked nearly £1k off the initial offer because of a couple of minor dents but mainly because I had said I had owned it from new (which I genuinely believed) but the dealers had registered it as theirs for one day before so it technically had 2 owners - the man said that had knocked about £800 off the price Hmm

Bloody ridiculous and no discretion regarding the circumstances - needless to say I didn't sell it to them Grin

I really need rid before 4 July as my insurance would be renewed at that point and I really don't want the hassle of that and then having to cancel it Hmm

BarbaraofSeville · 26/06/2017 11:29

Are the cars advertised at £4k actually selling for that price? Even an apparent sold at auction price of that on ebay isn't evidence because some twats ignore the whole point of ebay, bid high to ensure that they win the auction only to try to haggle on collection.

Where are you in the country - big centres of population within an hour or two's drive so big target audience, or somewhere fairly remote so far fewer people in range to come and buy?

Theromanempire · 26/06/2017 11:29

Apologies, it was We Want Any Car (although I assume that there is much difference in how they operate!)

EmmaC78 · 26/06/2017 11:30

I think the short MOT might be putting people off. I wouldn't consider a private sale with only 3 or 4 months left on the MOT.

Thebluedog · 26/06/2017 11:31

Take decent pictures... drive to somewhere picturesque, or even down a lane with some trees or a bush, make sure the suns out and make sure it's cleaned!

I worked in the motor trade for a number of years and the pictures are what reel people in. A crappy car with nice pictures will sell quicker than a decent car, that's got photos taken outside someone's house. I used to take my cars to an old industrial estate, park it in a layby with bushes as the backdrop and take the photos. Lots of them!

Be honest in the description, really honest, put it on eBay, your auction should end at around 8pm on an evening. That way people who are at work have a chance to bid. Put it up for 5 days with a really low starting price, £100, try not to put a reserve on it as that puts people off.

Good luck

Original poster
Happiness2017 · 26/06/2017 12:03

I've bitten the bullet and listed it on Ebay again, I've added the best offer part so people can offer me.

If its not sold by Thursday, I'll be off to say goodbye to my faithful little car for a lot less than its worth Sad

OP posts:
alltouchedout · 26/06/2017 12:04

Short MOT. We will never, ever buy a used car with fewer than 9 months on the MOT.

peachgreen · 26/06/2017 12:26

Agreed with PP - the MOT is too short. I'd want at least 9 months, ideally more.

19lottie82 · 26/06/2017 12:27

Unfortunately it's just "worth" what someone is willing to pay for it, not necessarily what you "think" it's worth.