Skip advert
Advertisement
Articles

Car selling guide: everything you need to value, advertise and sell your car

When the time comes to part with your car, we’ve got the best advice on how to sell it and achieve the best price

The car seller has almost as many options before them as the car buyer these days. When there time comes to sell your car, there are no shortage of companies offering to take it off your hands for a ‘competitive’ price. Beyond that there’s part-exchange, a private sale or even a visit to the local scrap yard to consider.

Our guide to selling your car aims to help you make the right decision on how to sell and then go about executing it in the best way, which essentially means getting the best price for your vehicle as quickly and easily as possible.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In the pages below we cover everything from choosing the best way to sell, whether you’re after a quick sale or willing to wait for the right offer, to taking a good set of pictures and composing an irresistible classified car ad. We also explain how to work out how much your car is worth in the first place and complete the paperwork when the sale is agreed. 

Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Find a car
Value your car with Auto Express

Find a car

Find a great car deal with the help of our experts
25 Nov 2024
Car scams and frauds: a safety guide for buyers and sellers
Laptop displaying a warning symbol

Car scams and frauds: a safety guide for buyers and sellers

Buying or selling a car? Here’s everything you need to know about staying safe
Tips & advice
20 Nov 2024
Can you part-exchange a car on finance?
Car keys being handed over to a car buyer

Can you part-exchange a car on finance?

Want to get out of your car finance deal early and part-exchange the car for a new one? Here’s how to go about it…
Tips & advice
22 Oct 2024
What car types are best for resale value?
Mercedes C 220 d Estate vs BMW 330e Touring vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 - header

What car types are best for resale value?

The latest data shows it’s good news for sports car and SUV fans, less so if you’ve just bought an S-Class
News
7 Oct 2024

More on Car selling guides

Find a car
Value your car with Auto Express

Find a car

Find a great car deal with the help of our experts
25 Nov 2024
Car scams and frauds: a safety guide for buyers and sellers
Laptop displaying a warning symbol

Car scams and frauds: a safety guide for buyers and sellers

Buying or selling a car? Here’s everything you need to know about staying safe
Tips & advice
20 Nov 2024
Can you part-exchange a car on finance?
Car keys being handed over to a car buyer

Can you part-exchange a car on finance?

Want to get out of your car finance deal early and part-exchange the car for a new one? Here’s how to go about it…
Tips & advice
22 Oct 2024
What car types are best for resale value?
Mercedes C 220 d Estate vs BMW 330e Touring vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 - header

What car types are best for resale value?

The latest data shows it’s good news for sports car and SUV fans, less so if you’ve just bought an S-Class
News
7 Oct 2024
Transferring a private number plate: a guide to moving registration plates from car to car online
MINI number plate change

Transferring a private number plate: a guide to moving registration plates from car to car online

Need to know how to transfer a private number plate between vehicles? Our step-by-step guide breaks it down
Tips & advice
26 Sep 2024
Can you sell a SORN car?
SORN car sat in the garage

Can you sell a SORN car?

If your car is SORN you can still sell it but there are some important things to bear in mind when you do.
Tips & advice
25 Sep 2024
Private sale or part-exchange: which gets car sellers the best price?
Car keys changing hands

Private sale or part-exchange: which gets car sellers the best price?

If you’re torn between selling privately or trading-in, new data suggests that how you’ll get the best price depends what you drive
News
24 Sep 2024
Do you have to pay tax when selling a car?
Car keys changing hands

Do you have to pay tax when selling a car?

We know cars and fuel are heavily taxed but are there any other hidden taxation issues when selling a car?
Tips & advice
24 Sep 2024
How to sell a deceased person’s car: step-by-step process explained
Car key and gavel

How to sell a deceased person’s car: step-by-step process explained

If you’re looking to sell a car after the death of its owner, our guide will help you through the process
Tips & advice
20 Sep 2024
How to tell the DVLA you’ve sold your car
'For sale' sign on car windscreen

How to tell the DVLA you’ve sold your car

You must tell the DVLA if your car's off to a new owner, and here's how...
Tips & advice
19 Sep 2024
When is the best time to sell a car?
Car keys being handed over to a car buyer

When is the best time to sell a car?

When selling your car, timing is crucial! We take a look at the best and worst times to sell your car...
Tips & advice
19 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement
Can you sell a car without a V5C logbook?
V5C document with car key

Can you sell a car without a V5C logbook?

The V5C logbook is a crucial piece of paperwork when you’re selling a car but you can sell a car without one, under certain circumstances
Tips & advice
17 Sep 2024
How does mileage affect car value?
Volkswagen Golf Mk4 odometer

How does mileage affect car value?

Mileage is a big factor in car depreciation so let’s explain the effect that the miles on the clock have on the value of a car
Tips & advice
11 Sep 2024
Haggling, time wasters and disputes over condition: the most common private car sale pitfalls
Person inspecting a car's bodywork

Haggling, time wasters and disputes over condition: the most common private car sale pitfalls

Selling a car privately can yield a better price than part-exchange, but our survey underlines that there are potential risks
News
10 Sep 2024
Car photography: how to take great pics of your car
How to photograph your car for sale - header

Car photography: how to take great pics of your car

Follow our car photography top tips to make your car presentable when selling it on an online marketplace or just showing it of on social media
Tips & advice
10 Sep 2024
Can I cancel my car insurance if I sell my car?
Car insurance documents, car key and pen

Can I cancel my car insurance if I sell my car?

If you’ve sold your car, you no longer need to insure it but it’s easy to forget to cancel that policy
Tips & advice
9 Sep 2024
Which car colour has the best resale value?
Range Rover paint colour swatches

Which car colour has the best resale value?

You’ve no doubt heard the adage that silver cars are easiest to sell, which is why there are so many on the roads today
Tips & advice
9 Sep 2024
How to write a killer car advert for a quick sale and a high price
"Used car" graphic on laptop

How to write a killer car advert for a quick sale and a high price

A great ad can net you an equally great price for your car if you do it right
Tips & advice
6 Sep 2024
How to SORN your car with the DVLA and avoid hefty fines
Rusty Toyota Corolla

How to SORN your car with the DVLA and avoid hefty fines

Taking your car off the road? You’ll need to abide by the 'SORN’ laws. Our guide explains all
Tips & advice
6 Sep 2024
How to sell your car: your car selling options explained
Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG rear action

How to sell your car: your car selling options explained

Need to sell your car? We look at the various options open to you from part-exchange to private sales, auctions and online car buying services
Tips & advice
6 Sep 2024
What paperwork do I need to sell my car in the UK?
Person pointing at documents with car keys on top of them

What paperwork do I need to sell my car in the UK?

Our checklist of the documents you need to sell your car will help you make sure that you don’t miss anything when making that sale
Tips & advice
6 Sep 2024
Where and how to advertise your car for free
Classified advertisement listings

Where and how to advertise your car for free

Do you want to list and sell your car for free? We give our top tips on where and how to do so
Tips & advice
6 Sep 2024
Free car valuation: how much is my car worth?
Auto Express car valuation tool

Free car valuation: how much is my car worth?

Enter a UK car registration number below and get your free valuation in seconds
6 Sep 2024