Selling your car: 19 questions you must ask a buyer

21/10/08

Key things you need to remember to ensure that selling your car is safe and worry-free

Where did you see the car advertised?
If the caller dsn’t know, be on your guard: a genuine would-be buyer would know where they’d looked.

Are you planning to buy the car for yourself?
Try to establish that the caller is the decision-maker and is intent on buying. That way, you’ll dismiss browsers and other time-wasters

When do you intend to come and see it?
Keep a diary of callers and buyer visits.

Shall we meet at my home?
Beware any buyer who insists on meeting either at their home or in at a pub, or in a car park: their motives may be suspect. Always make sure that you have a friend, partner or relative around when they visit you.

Can you bring your licence and insurance documents?
These are vital. You don’t want anyone test-driving your car unless they are legally entitled to.

Are you willing to buy the car immediately?
You've no wish to sound pushy. But you do need to establish that they’ve a real interest in buying.

Will you come alone, or will you be bringing someone else?
Most buyers are honest. But burglars do pose as car buyers. They work in two and threes, slipping into the house while the kept is distracted. Guard against this by ensuring you’re not home alone when they turn up.

Can I have your full name, address, and a landline telephone number?
Useful, should you need to re-arrange a viewing. And, again, it’s another way to protect yourself against crooks posing as buyers. Ring the number you’re given and also check the name and address, using directory enquiries.

Do you want to see the paperwork?
Showing past and present MoT certificates, service records and recent bills help create a positive impression of a cared-for car.

Would you like a test drive?
The key to a sale. Check (as above) that the buyer has a licence and is insured for your car. Stay in charge. Keep to roads you know and remove the ignition keys whenever you leave the car – to swap drivers, for instance. If you think, they keen to buy, let them drive a reasonable distance.

Will you buy my car?
The crunch question: but too often sales falter because the sellers are too nervous to ask. Don’t be. Keep the tone matter-of-fact and smile. It may just tip the sale your way.

Will you pay the full asking price?
Most buyers will want to haggle. And, in anticipation, you may have advertised at a higher price. Enter negotiations with a minimum in mind. If the buyer won’t settle, have some print-offs ready to show of similar but dearer cars advertised on the web.

Can you leave a deposit in cash right now?
This secures the sale. £100 is sufficient unless the car is selling for over £10k. But if the buyer offers more, we wouldn’t object. Write a receipt and sign it.

Can you complete the sale and collect the car within a week?
It’s best to be business-like. If you let things drag on, there’s more chance that the buyer will have second thoughts.
Will you collect it from my home?
As we said earlier, it’s safer to hand the car over at your address, preferably with a friend, partner or relative present. We’d advise against meeting in a car park, pub or other place, particularly if the buyer plans to pay using cash.

Will you make the payment from your bank account into mine, using the CHAPs system?
This is a method of electronic payment that guarantees same-day transfer of money from the buyer’s account and into yours, provided that you do it before 3pm. It’s the easiest and most secure way to move large sums. The buyer needs to contact his bank and pay a fee, typically £20-£30. You should then go together to his bank branch and make the transfer. The bank should give you a receipt to show that they have moved the money.
Once it’s in your account, the buyer cannot recall it.

Alternatively, will you pay in cash?
The next best method, particularly if you car is old and cheap. To keep safe, ask the buyer to bring the cash to your bank branch. Give him or her your account paying-in book and ask them to pay the money across the counter.

I’ll give you a receipt, which I’d like you to sign. Is that OK?
Draft a brief note, describing the car, giving its registration number and Vehicle Identification Number. Give your name and address and that of your buyer. State that the car is sold ‘as seen, with no guarantee to its condition given or implied’. Make two copies, which you and the buyer should each sign and date.

Will you fill in the registration document with me?
It’s your responsibility to fill in the V5C document and send it to the DVLA. If you don’t you will remain liable for any parking tickets or worse that the new owner collects. You should both in sections of the form, following the instructions on it. You keep all of the form except the new keeper’s section, which you give to the buyer. Post it to the DVLA immediately. Within a month, you should receive a letter confirming transfer of ownership.

Can I take a photo of you with my car?
Not really necessary. But it’s an extra precaution to take, just in case anything later gs wrong with the payment or the transfer of owner details.