How to sell your car yourself

A well-prepared car is easy to show. These 16 points cover what a buyer asks — before they ask it.

Which papers do you gather first?
- Find the registration certificate and check that its details match the car.
- Gather the service book and service receipts. A stamped service history is the single most important fact for a buyer.
- Get out the latest inspection report and see when the next inspection is due.
- Find all keys, manuals and a second set of tyres if they come with the car. Mention them in the listing.
How do you photograph the car?
- Wash and vacuum the car before photographing it. A clean car looks cared for.
- Photograph in daylight against a calm background. Avoid direct midday sun and reflections.
- Photograph the car from every side, plus the interior, boot, instrument cluster and tyres.
- Photograph the faults too. The buyer will see them anyway, and a fault named in the listing builds trust.
What goes in the listing?
- Write the make, model, model year, mileage, engine and gearbox exactly as the registration certificate states them.
- Describe the service history and repairs concretely: what, when and at what mileage.
- State known faults plainly. A precise description raises fewer questions than a vague mention.
- Compare the price with similar cars for sale: same model, model year, equipment and mileage.
How do viewings and test drives go?
- Arrange the viewing in daylight, somewhere the car is easy to see from every side.
- Ask the test driver to show their driving licence before the drive, and go along yourself.
- Keep the papers at hand. The buyer wants to see the service book and inspection records on the spot.
- Note what buyers ask and add the answers to the listing. The next person gets the answer up front.