At mustard.co.uk, cheap car insurance is just a few clicks or a phone call away. But did you know, you can also find all sorts of helpful advice, not just about insurance but about cars in general. Here, the comparison site offers a step-by-step guide to selling your car. 

1. Ensure paperwork is in order

As obvious as it sounds, you must have the right to sell the car. So, if you’ve still got a finance contract in place, you’ll need to pay this off first or come to some sort of agreement with the lender. 

You’ll also need to have the car’s V5C logbook, any MOT certificates and service record. Plus, if you’ve had any work done to the car, you should provide relevant receipts. 

2. Decide how much to sell your car for

You can work out how much to sell your car for by comparing it to others of the same make, model, year, and transmission type (whether it’s manual or automatic).

It’s a good idea to add a little buffer into your asking price as buyers often like to haggle.

3. Prepare your car for sale

Having a professional clean your car inside and out can save you time and can increase your car’s saleability. It’s also worth sorting out minor repairs such as damaged paintwork or chips in the windscreen. 

Everything should also work as you’d expect them too, including lights and indicators, and wipers should leave the windscreen smear free. Ideally, tyres should be in good condition with a fair amount of tread depth, otherwise, it’s something buyers might pick up on and use to renegotiate the price. 

4. Advertise your car 

Provide as many facts as you can so that you don’t waste time dealing with dozens of enquiries. Buyers will usually want to know:

• Plate number or year of registration 
• Price
• Car make, model and colour
• Transmission type 
• Fuel type
• Mileage
• Overall condition
• Number of months left on its MOT (if applicable)

If your car has any features that you think are worth mentioning, be sure to include these too. For example, DVDs in the headrests, dog-guard, boot liner or Isofix fittings. 

5. Arrange a test drive

If a buyer does want to test drive the car, check they have a valid licence and appropriate car insurance. If they already have a policy, they may be covered if it includes ‘driving other cars’ (DOC). If not, they can arrange temporary cover for as little as an hour. 

To be on the safe side, always accompany buyers on test drives and never leave them in the car alone with the keys. If you can, it’s also advised that you take a friend or relative along, or at least let someone else know what you’re doing and where you’re going. 

6. Protecting sensitive information

You should ensure that no one takes copies or photographs of the V5C as the details can be used to clone or steal your car. You should also keep personal information to a minimum and keep a note of potential buyers’ contact details.

Asking that buyers come to you rather than you taking the car to them is also another sensible precaution. 

7. Arrange payment

Online transfers are the safest and most efficient way to make sure you get paid. Transactions are usually very quick and if you have online banking too, you’ll be able to check that the money has been deposited without any issues.

If a buyer chooses to pay by another method, for instance, with a cheque or banker’s draft, it’s best to wait until the money’s cleared before handing over the keys.  

8. Provide a receipt

You should provide the buyer with a receipt, noting down any relevant points – for example, that they’ve seen the car and taken it for a test drive. 

9. Let the DVLA know you’ve sold your car

When the sale is complete, you’ll need to give the buyer the green ‘new keeper’ section of the V5C. You can then let the DVLA know you’ve sold the car, this will trigger a refund of car tax if applicable (you only get a refund for any remaining full months). 

10. Cancel your car insurance

Don’t forget to cancel your car insurance, in most cases you should be able to do this by phone or by email. If you paid for your policy in one go, you may also be eligible for a refund but this is something your insurer will be able to arrange for you. 

Remember that you can also transfer your policy to another car – just speak with your insurer. But bear in mind that if your new car is more expensive or of a higher specification, your premium could increase.