Selling privately
The upside: a private sale can sometimes get you more money, because you’re selling straight to the next driver.
The downside: it takes your time. You write the advert (and pay for it on some sites), answer calls and messages, arrange viewings and test drives with strangers at your home, and deal with haggling. It can take days or weeks. You’re also responsible for making sure the buyer’s payment is genuine before you hand over the keys, and if there’s finance on the car, it has to be settled before the car can be sold.
It suits: people who have the time, don’t mind viewings, and want to try for a higher price.
Part-exchange
The upside: one visit, one deal. The dealer takes your old car as part of paying for the new one.
The downside: the value of your old car is wrapped up in the new deal, so it can be harder to see what you’re getting for it on its own.
It suits: people buying their next car from a dealer who want everything done in one go.
Selling to a car buying service
The upside: it’s quick, and there are no adverts, viewings or strangers at your door. With us, you get a price online in a couple of minutes for most cars. There’s free collection anywhere in the UK (or drop-off at our Bromsgrove site), and we settle any finance directly with your lender.
The downside: you’re selling to a business that has to prepare and resell the car, so a private buyer may sometimes pay more.
It suits: people who want the car sold quickly and simply, and paid for safely.
Side by side
| Private sale | Part-exchange | Selling to us | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money | Can sometimes be more | Part of the new-car deal | Your price online in a couple of minutes for most cars |
| Time and effort | Adverts, calls and viewings | One visit to the dealer | Type your reg, then free collection anywhere in the UK or drop-off |
| Strangers at your door | Yes, for viewings | No | No: only our own driver, if you choose collection |
| Finance on the car | Has to be settled before the car is sold | Has to be settled as part of the deal | We settle it directly with your lender |
| Payment | You check it’s genuine | Through the new-car deal | By bank transfer before the car leaves you |
How selling to us works
Type your reg
Type your reg on the number plate on our homepage and answer a few quick questions about your car, in four short steps.
See your price
For most cars your price appears in a couple of minutes, guaranteed for 7 days if the vehicle is as you described it. If one of our buyers needs a closer look, they call you within 30 minutes (9am–6pm Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat).
Collection or drop-off
Accept your price, then choose free collection anywhere in the UK or bring the car to us in Bromsgrove.
Checked and paid
We check the car against your description and pay you by bank transfer before the car leaves you. We only change the price if the car isn’t as you described, and we show you what and why before you decide.
You can sell to us and buy your next car wherever you like: the two are separate.
General information only, not advice about your own situation.