Photography tips for selling your used car

16/01/12

One of the things we get asked most often at Motors HQ is exactly how to make the most of photographs of your car when selling. Too many times we’ll see a dusty or dirty car, photographed on a horrible grey day, with chip wrappers peeking up from the dashboard – and then people will wonder why it doesn’t sell! We’ve got some expert tips and advice on photographing your second hand car to make sure you get the best sale possible – just read on.

Prepare yourself (and your car)

It might sound obvious, but don’t skimp on preparing your car to be photographed; used cars tend to be a little rough around the edges so clean the interior and exterior fully before you photograph the car. Scratches, minor dents and bumps will show up very clearly when photographed, so repair these to the best of your ability, either at home or at a mechanic.

Get the light right

Photographing your car in very bright sunlight may seem like a good idea, but it can actually create a harsh look and intense reflections from the mirrors, windows and body work. Instead, try photographing your car in the early morning or evening, as the natural light at this time is much softer yet still illuminates the car well. A clear day is obviously better than a cloudy one, and don’t even bother when it’s raining!

Use a decent camera

Most phones now have great camera capabilities, with some even providing greater megapixels and zoom options than regular cameras. But the difference between a slightly fuzzy phone snapshot and a clear, crisp photo from a digital camera is obvious. Make sure you use the best camera you have available to photography your second hand car, and you’re more likely to get a sale (and the buyer won’t have any nasty surprises!)

Pick a good spot

Taking a photo of your car while it’s blocking a driveway, parked oddly across two parking spaces or generally somewhere pretty unpleasant isn’t a good idea. Ok, so it doesn’t affect the actual condition of your used car, but it will affect people’s perception of it! Choose a clean, attractive road or driveway and then snap away.

All about the details

Last but not least, always try and get more than one photo of your car. Ideally you should go for two external shots (back and front ends), one internal shot and photos of any particular details as a minimum. These photos might be the sticking point for your buyer so give them as much information as possible with some well-staged, attractive pictures of your used car.