How to sell your car privately in the UK — pricing, photos, paperwork and payment

Selling privately usually gets you more money than part-exchange or an instant online offer, because you are not paying for someone else's margin. The trade-off is a few hours of effort. Here is how to spend them well.

1. Price it properly

Look at what similar cars (same make, model, year, mileage, spec and condition) are actually advertised for. Price near the middle of that range and leave a little room for negotiation, because almost every buyer will try. Motofly's listing tool suggests a market price from live UK data when you enter your registration.

Things that move the price up: full service history, one or two owners, a long MOT, good tyres, a spare key, a clean interior. Things that move it down: advisories on the last MOT, cosmetic damage, a short MOT, missing history.

2. Get the car ready

• Wash and vacuum it. A clean car photographs better and signals it has been cared for.
• Fix cheap things: a blown bulb, a worn wiper, low screenwash.
• Gather the paperwork: V5C logbook, MOT certificate, service book and invoices, both keys, the owner's manual.
• If the MOT has less than three months left, consider putting a fresh one on it. Buyers pay more for a long MOT.

3. Take photos that sell

• Daylight, not dusk. A quiet car park or clean driveway, not a busy street.
• 15 to 20 photos: front three-quarter, rear three-quarter, both sides, all four wheels, dashboard with the mileage showing, front and rear seats, boot, engine bay, and any damage close up.
• Do not hide scratches. Buyers who find an undisclosed dent at the viewing rarely pay the asking price.

4. Write an honest description

State the make, model, year, trim, mileage, fuel, gearbox, number of owners, MOT expiry, service history and any known faults. Mention recent work such as tyres, brakes or a cambelt. Keep it factual. "Drives lovely" means nothing; "new front tyres in June, cambelt done at 78,000 miles with invoice" sells cars.

5. Handle viewings safely

• Meet at your home address (the one on the V5C) in daylight, and have someone with you.
• Ask to see the buyer's driving licence and check they are insured before a test drive. Your own policy may not cover other drivers.
• Go with them on the test drive. Never hand over the keys and wait.

6. Take payment safely

• Bank transfer is best. Wait until the money shows as cleared in your account, not just "sent".
• Avoid cheques and bankers' drafts unless you can verify them at the bank.
• Never accept overpayment "by mistake" with a request to refund the difference. It is a scam.
• Write two copies of a receipt with the date, price, registration, mileage, both names and addresses, and "sold as seen, tried and tested" if you both agree to that. Both sign, each keeps one.

7. Do the DVLA paperwork

• Tell the DVLA you have sold the car. Online is quickest: you need the 11-digit reference from the V5C. Your tax is cancelled and any full months are refunded automatically.
• Give the buyer the green V5C/2 "new keeper" slip. Keep the rest of the V5C until the DVLA confirms the change.
• Cancel or transfer your insurance once the car is gone.

Until the DVLA has recorded the sale, you are still the registered keeper and any fines come to you, so do this the same day.

Listing on Motofly

Enter your registration, and Motofly pulls the make, model, MOT history and a market price guide automatically. Add your photos and description and the listing goes live to buyers across the UK with no listing fee and no commission. Start your listing.