Would you sell the car now?

[AlwaysaLittleBitTired]

I have a car, which is 9 years old this month. Currently, We Buy Any Car is offering £9,500 for the car. I suspect once the car's 'anniversary' passes later this month this number will decrease a bit.

I would have to break lockdown rules to get to the WBAC drop off place.

DH and I are both working from home, and I strongly suspect we will do so for the next few months at least. We have another car, which we will keep. Since the end of Jan 2020 I have added 1500 miles to the clock, which essentially is my commute to work through February and the first couple of weeks of March 2020. I have barely driven the car since then.

It is likely that I would trade in my car in spring/summer 2022 under normal circumstances. Bearing in mind it will be 10 years old then - and worth less than £9500 - and I am unlikely to use it much between now and then I think I should sell it now whilst the value is higher, and bank the cash for the next car purchase (which will be when I have to go back to commuting).

Is selling it now a 'no-brainer', or as it isn't currently costing me anything except insurance and tax should I keep it for convenience? I love the car, but having spent quite a bit on maintenance in 2019 realistically I would sell it next year anyway in the hope of avoiding any additional outlay.

The 10 year service (Jan '22) is a whopper and might cost around £900, so I have that in mind too.

What do you think? Please help me to decide. I love the car, but I can't decide if it is my heart or head which is making the decision tricky.

Selling sooner rather than later seems like a good idea, especially with the prospect of a big bill coming. Bear in mind wbac tend to knock down their prices when they inspect the car so be prepared to walk away if they are too cheeky

Ooh, that's useful advice. Thanks. I haven't used them before.

When they give you a quote it lasts for x number of days (can't remember how many). If you keep going back for quote after quote on their website the price gets lower and lower (as I found to my cost). If you are happy with the quote offered you should sell now while it is still valid. If you go back to them in a months time and need a new quote, the price they offer will certainly be lower.

Also, when you are at the office selling your car, they will inspect it and try to knock you down on price for every little fault/scuff. I managed to argue with them firmly but politely on each issue so that not as much money was knocked off the price.

I would imagine that for a car that you’re not using, and with a big bill of 10% of its value coming up, it’s definitely time to sell.

From its value (almost £10k at 9 years old is pretty high) and you saying you love the car, I’m assuming it’s a luxury or “fun” car? How easy would it be to replace it with something equal when the time comes, if that’s what you’re looking to do? How much is the peace of mind of keeping a car whose maintenance and service history etc you know, over buying another car when the time comes where you don’t know this personally?

WBAC aren’t the best to sell to, regardless. They offer much less than market value - that’s how they make money when they sell it on - and invariably find faults when they come to collect the car and knock money off their offer.

If you look at reviews of WBAC you see most people get a lot less than what they offer online. There are other similar companies that will actually guarantee the price. Go with one of them.

Yes I’d agree sell up now but look at some of the other companies - I used evans halshaw and got 2k more than wbac (my car was worth 20k) . I’m thinking of doing the same with one of our cars as one car goes to the supermarket once a week and that’s it!

You won't get anything like the amount they tell you online

If you want to sell your car I'd look at all the opens. Garages near me seem to be open at the moment (England) and you can certainly stll buy and sell privately.

Thanks all. I have queries out now with other dealers, to see if there is any interest. I have limited options due to its age, despite low mileage.

Really helpful to hear your experiences of WBAC thanks.

DH now thinks I should keep it...

WBAC ripped me off. Avoid.

If you keep it without really using it, you have nearly £10k sitting there depreciating, plus you have the big bill coming up next year.

Do you think realistically you will go back to commuting when things are more normal, or are you one of the many who might be able to WFH either some or all of the time so don't really need a second car or can get away with a much cheaper one?

Are you very well off, such that the £10k wouldn't be better spent elsewhere? If you have a mortgage, or your pension needs topping up, or you don't have much of an emergency fund, if you sold the car, you could send a good chunk of money one of those ways, a real boost!

Then if you need a car later, maybe look at one that's cheaper and costs less to run, as a car that's worth nearly £10k at 9 YO is likely to also cost a lot to run. I've just bought an 11 YO car and it was under £2k and that's for a type of car that's a bit expensive for what it is, I could have spent less than that.

All very good points, which help. Thank you.
@BarbaraofSeville - yes, it uses a lot of fuel, so when I change it will be to something less than I have now (in terms of running cost and spec). Selling it now would mean that I could put that money aside to use on a newer vehicle when I do start the commute again (which I am sure will happen at some point, but possibly only 3 days per week max).
DH thinks I should keep it, and that it won't massively depreciate over the next 12 months. He thinks that it will cause inconvenience at some point if we have only one car (despite the fact that we're going nowhere at the moment, and I have driven my car only once in the last 4 weeks which was to take it for an MOT!) - we're both fully WFH and the children walk to school (when they're there).
Nice problem to have I guess, but I'm so indecisive

We have an appointment to sell our second car with WBAC this Saturday.

We just don't use it. And the bank loan is coming to an end.

I have used WBAC twice to sell cars. Expect them to knock a few hundred off for scratches. Apart from that I found it to be a really good way to sell and was happy with the price.

If there’s a situation within 12 months when you need a second car, you can hire one, get a taxi, or just organise something differently. We’ve had one car for years with a school run by car - ironically we now need 2 at a time when most people are WFH as my job has changed. But it’s completely feasible and you just adapt. Sell the car, bank the cash, buy a cheaper car when you need it.

I'd sell it, however I've never known wbac offer the quoted amount on seeing the car.

@GintyMcGinty how did you get on with WBAC on Saturday?

I'm still (over)thinking the car thing...

Evans Halshaw online quote was pretty good, but I haven't pursued that. They're nearer to me too, as WBAC is a good half hour drive away (which probably isn't allowed really).

@AlwaysaLittleBitTired

We went ahead with the sale.

They knocked it down from £6.5K to £6K for some scratches and that we had replaced a door (due to a dent). I'd have liked another £200 but was willing to go with it.