Blog

Car guides & valuation

Value, buy, sell: our guides to make the right calls, backed by real prices.

Valuation

How Much Is My Car Worth? Free UK Valuation

Find out how much your car is worth in the UK right now: what really moves the price, a free way to check it, and how to get an exact figure fast.

5 min
Valuation

Free Car Valuation Without Giving Your Personal Details

Get a real car valuation range without handing over your email or phone number first. What a tool actually needs, and when giving details is worth it.

5 min
Valuation

Does Mileage Affect Car Value? The Real Numbers

Mileage moves a used car's price more than almost any other factor. Here are the real percentage bands, high vs low mileage, and how to spot a clocked car.

5 min
Valuation

Private Sale or Part Exchange: Where's the Real Price Gap?

Part exchange is faster but usually pays less than a private sale. Here's the real percentage gap, when part exchange still wins, and how to work out your own numbers.

6 min
Selling

Sell My Car Privately: The Full Checklist

Get the V5C and a real valuation ready first. The checklist for selling privately: safe viewings, safe payment, and closing the paperwork with the DVLA.

6 min
Selling

The V5C Logbook When Selling a Car: What to Fill In, What to Keep

Tear off the V5C/2 new keeper slip for the buyer, notify the DVLA the same day, and keep a copy of the details before you post or upload the rest of the V5C.

6 min
Selling

Car Tax Refund When You Sell Your Car: How the DVLA Refund Works

Sell your car and the DVLA automatically refunds any full months left on your tax, sent by cheque to the address on the V5C, usually within 6 to 8 weeks.

5 min
Selling

Used Car Selling Scams: How to Sell Safely

The used car selling scams that catch out UK sellers most, from fake transfers to overpayment traps, and the one habit that stops nearly all of them.

5 min
Buying

Used Car Checklist Before Buying: The Walkaround and Test Drive

The used car checks that actually catch problems before you buy: a panel by panel walkaround, the documents to verify, and what to test on the drive itself.

6 min
Buying

Free HPI Check: What It Shows, and What Stays Paid

A full HPI check isn't free, it usually runs a few pounds to around twenty. Here's what gov.uk gives you at no cost, and the two things only a paid check can confirm.

6 min
Buying

How to Negotiate a Used Car Price: What Actually Works

Negotiating a used car price works best with numbers, not charm. Here's the method: a target price set in advance, faults costed out, and what to say when the seller won't move.

6 min
Buying

Best First Cars With Cheap Insurance in the UK

Low insurance group picks under budget for new drivers: which cars actually cost less to insure, and the group numbers that matter more than the badge.

6 min
Buying

Cat N and Cat S Cars: Are They Worth Buying?

A Cat N or Cat S write off can sell for 20 to 40% under market. Here's the real risk buyers miss, and how to spot a genuine bargain before you commit.

6 min
Selling

SORN and Scrap Car Certificate of Destruction UK

You don't need a SORN to scrap a car through an authorised ATF, but skip the Certificate of Destruction and you're still liable for tax and fines.

6 min
Selling

Selling a Car With an Old Address on Your V5C

An old address on the V5C doesn't stop a private sale. The new keeper still gets registered, but your tax refund and any DVLA post can go missing.

5 min
Selling

Selling a Car With Outstanding Finance: What's Actually Legal

You don't legally own a financed car until it's settled. Here's how to sell it anyway, either by clearing the balance first or as part of the sale.

5 min
Buying

Buying an Ex-Lease or Ex-Fleet Car: Is It Worth It

Ex-fleet cars come with strict servicing and full history, and high motorway mileage often beats low urban mileage. Here's what to check before buying.

6 min
Selling

Can I Sell a Car Without an MOT? The Rules Explained

Selling a car with no valid MOT is legal if you advertise it clearly, but the buyer can't legally drive it home. Here's how to do it right.

5 min
Buying

Free Recall Check Before Buying a Used Car (UK Guide)

Run a free DVSA recall check by registration or VIN before you buy. A recall follows the car, not the previous owner, so it becomes your problem on day one.

6 min
Buying

Cloned Number Plate Check Before Buying a Used Car

A cloned car wears a genuine plate that hides a different vehicle underneath. Here's the five minute VIN and DVLA check that catches it before you pay.

6 min