Anyone sold privately lately?
Discussion
I haven't sold a car privately for over 20 years. Before that it was the normal thing to do, counting out £20 notes on the kitchen table and handing over the V5 
Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?
I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
Moderator edit: no advertising
I sold our 2014 XC60 at the end of November for £9k via Autotrader, it took a bit of time as although £2k less than dealer stock some people are nervous about spending that sort of money on a 10 year old car without any come back.
Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
I tried a few times, always end up sending to Motorway/ Carwow etc. (This has been the case for 5 out of last 7 cars sold).
Last one was a <3 years old BMW, listed it at £28K, got offers at £23k to £25k (WBAC offer was £23k), ended up selling to Carwow for £25,500 - Dealer listed it for £29,950 and sold it within 2 weeks.
This was 3 or so months ago, similar cars that were listed (private sales) back then, still on AT.
Last one was a <3 years old BMW, listed it at £28K, got offers at £23k to £25k (WBAC offer was £23k), ended up selling to Carwow for £25,500 - Dealer listed it for £29,950 and sold it within 2 weeks.
This was 3 or so months ago, similar cars that were listed (private sales) back then, still on AT.
The lower the value the more likely a private sale will work for both parties.
Dealers don't really want old/low value cars as one problem eats the margin and so you get offered really low as a trade in.
Buy private buyers tend to be cash ones and so on average looking at lower value cars.
Autotrader sub £10K has nearly a third private sellers. £10-20K it's less than 10%, above that <5%
OP's at 3 years old will likely be a tricky/slow sale. If it's a bit niche/specialist perhaps ok if it's more mainstream/common not so much?
Dealers don't really want old/low value cars as one problem eats the margin and so you get offered really low as a trade in.
Buy private buyers tend to be cash ones and so on average looking at lower value cars.
Autotrader sub £10K has nearly a third private sellers. £10-20K it's less than 10%, above that <5%
OP's at 3 years old will likely be a tricky/slow sale. If it's a bit niche/specialist perhaps ok if it's more mainstream/common not so much?
66HFM said:
I sold our 2014 XC60 at the end of November for £9k via Autotrader, it took a bit of time as although £2k less than dealer stock some people are nervous about spending that sort of money on a 10 year old car without any come back.
Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
I'd seen Motorway, but it was a bit vague on whether the highest offer is binding or not. Is that correct, you can just decline if not happy, no strings attached?Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
blueST said:
I haven't sold a car privately for over 20 years. Before that it was the normal thing to do, counting out £20 notes on the kitchen table and handing over the V5 Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?
I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
If their drive up offer is just £1k less than main dealer retail id snap their hand off - it'll cost you £80 odd to advertise on auto trader and you will have to endure the calls and risk the romanian scam etc etc Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
Moderator edit: no advertising
bennno said:
blueST said:
I haven't sold a car privately for over 20 years. Before that it was the normal thing to do, counting out £20 notes on the kitchen table and handing over the V5 Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?
I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
If their drive up offer is just £1k less than main dealer retail id snap their hand off - it'll cost you £80 odd to advertise on auto trader and you will have to endure the calls and risk the romanian scam etc etc Is there still much of market for private sales for run of the mill non-sheds? There's very few private ads on AT these days it seems. I just wondered if anyone had sold a regular modernish car privately recently, and what sort of interest there was?I want the cash in the bank so I can take my time looking for something else and don't then have to guess what the p/x value might be. WBAC and the various alternatives are offering a little over £1k less than the very cheapest comparable car for sale on AT, and that's before they try and negotiate me down. The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty. I'm thinking I could privately advertise it slightly above the bottom of the market price and maybe still come out with a useful chunk more than if I p/x or WBAC. But AT ads aren't cheap so if it isn't going to sell then I'd rather not bother.
Moderator edit: no advertising
Where to advertise is the only problem, Facebook market place has been the most successful for me but you have to deal with some nonsense before someone genuine comes along. I dont bother with Ebay personally any more and im not sure Autotrader is much good either.
Everyone seems to use Facebook these days but there is some dodgy stuff on there whenever i look.
Everyone seems to use Facebook these days but there is some dodgy stuff on there whenever i look.
blueST said:
I just had another check and it's more like £1800 - £2000 different. If a private sale could net me half or more of that it might be worth a bit of hassle, but not if the time-wasting chancers will be the only ones knocking on my door
Depends if that’s on a 5k car or a 20k car.Personally if the gap is narrow then I’d take a dealer car as it’ll be serviced and with a warranty.
blueST said:
66HFM said:
I sold our 2014 XC60 at the end of November for £9k via Autotrader, it took a bit of time as although £2k less than dealer stock some people are nervous about spending that sort of money on a 10 year old car without any come back.
Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
I'd seen Motorway, but it was a bit vague on whether the highest offer is binding or not. Is that correct, you can just decline if not happy, no strings attached?Yours should be easier to sell, although you could try Motorway as could be the type of stock that dealers will be fighting over, you also don't have to sell it once the auction ends even if it meets the reserve price...
I told Motorway that I needed to keep the car for a few extra weeks due to a change in circumstances.
The painful bit was of taking 'live' photos to upload rather than ones you had already taken, I suppose the flip side being that they were photos taken today rather than months or years ago...
bennno said:
blueST said:
I just had another check and it's more like £1800 - £2000 different. If a private sale could net me half or more of that it might be worth a bit of hassle, but not if the time-wasting chancers will be the only ones knocking on my door
Depends if that’s on a 5k car or a 20k car.Personally if the gap is narrow then I’d take a dealer car as it’ll be serviced and with a warranty.
blueST said:
The car is mint, low miles and full main dealer history, but is 3 years old so just out of warranty.
If this is true, prep it well and there’s nothing they can knock you down on. Take it to WBAC and see what they say. There’s nothing to lose. It’s exactly the kind of car they want.I got good money, a smooth, safe transaction and money in the bank same day on a four year old car in excellent condition from WBAC.
It sounds like the kind of car people would prefer to buy from a dealer. There nothing to stop you advertising privately as well of course. I did this too for two weeks with no interest, which helped me feel the WBAC offer was fair.
blueST said:
I'd be happy to take somewhere between £10.5 and £11k for it, which would put it at £500 - £1000 cheaper than what dealers are asking. I don't know if that's enough to tempt people or not.
Probably not in my experience as the dealer car is fully inspected and with a warranty, half the buyers will just put the plate in wbac and offer you that plus £100.I have sold 3 cars privately on Facebook marketplace over 3 years. One for £2600, £680 and £4750. All cars sold within a month and went onto good homes.
I had a higher value car to sell last year and listed it on there but got no interest. It went to carwow with a reserve of £8500 and I got £8250. Agency driver paid the price and drove it away.
Give it a shot for a month or two and if no bites put it into carwows system.
I had a higher value car to sell last year and listed it on there but got no interest. It went to carwow with a reserve of £8500 and I got £8250. Agency driver paid the price and drove it away.
Give it a shot for a month or two and if no bites put it into carwows system.
I bought a 911 privately last year - the owner drove it to me, I took him to the train station to get him home. I didn't test drive it... low mileage, full history, Porsche warranty. I transferred the cash to him whilst we went through the paperwork. But then I'm easy to deal with.
I need to sell a car this year, it is a similar value. I'm dreading it!
Maybe I will take less money and do it through a dealer as I don't want to be giving test drives and nor do I want the risk of being scammed in some way.
I need to sell a car this year, it is a similar value. I'm dreading it!
Maybe I will take less money and do it through a dealer as I don't want to be giving test drives and nor do I want the risk of being scammed in some way.
blueST said:
I'd be happy to take somewhere between £10.5 and £11k for it, which would put it at £500 - £1000 cheaper than what dealers are asking. I don't know if that's enough to tempt people or not.
I can't imagine anyone will pay that much privately. The benefits of consumer rights, warranty, prep, px and finance facilities are more than worth the difference for most people.SFTWend said:
blueST said:
I'd be happy to take somewhere between £10.5 and £11k for it, which would put it at £500 - £1000 cheaper than what dealers are asking. I don't know if that's enough to tempt people or not.
I can't imagine anyone will pay that much privately. The benefits of consumer rights, warranty, prep, px and finance facilities are more than worth the difference for most people.Selling privately in 2025 is quite difficult and requires oodles of patience, keeping your wits about you and treating every lead as a sales opportunity. You will get all sorts of approaches, from those offering "cash" at a 30/40% discount to those that will ask "Is it still for sale" "Are you open to offers" or "Insert any stupid question here" and won't bother to respond after you've answered their query.
But you absolutely must keep your composure and ride it out, as your buyer will be the one you least expect.
Good luck.
But you absolutely must keep your composure and ride it out, as your buyer will be the one you least expect.
Good luck.
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