Before you list it: paperwork and price
- V5C logbook, in your name, with no outstanding finance showing against it.
- Full service history, MOT certificates, and receipts for any recent work.
- A settlement figure from your finance company if the car isn't fully paid off yet.
- A real valuation for your exact reg, mileage and condition, not a guess based on what a similar car sold for last year.
Get the valuation first. It sets your asking price, gives you room to negotiate, and stops you underselling a car with a clean history or low mileage. Start with how much is my car worth for a free instant figure.
Value, compare and close with DriveMe
Exact price, verified sellers and an AI assistant, right in the app.
Writing the ad and taking calls
Photograph the car in daylight, outside, from all four corners, plus the dashboard, mileage reading and any damage. Hiding a scratch in a photo just means an awkward conversation at the viewing instead. List the mileage, MOT expiry and service history upfront: buyers searching seriously filter on exactly these three things, and a listing missing them gets fewer real enquiries, not more interest.
A caller who won't give a name, wants to pay by an unusual method, or offers to buy without seeing the car is not a serious buyer. Real buyers ask about the car. Move on.
Viewings: keep control of the keys
- Meet in daylight, ideally somewhere with other people around, not an empty car park after dark.
- Bring a second person if you can. It's safer, and it's an extra pair of eyes during the test drive.
- Check the buyer holds a valid driving licence before any test drive, and stay in the car.
- Keep the V5C and the keys with you until payment has actually cleared, not just been sent.
Getting paid without getting caught out
| Payment method | Risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Fake confirmation screenshots are common | Check your own banking app shows the funds, not a screenshot the buyer sends you |
| Cash | Counterfeit notes, and risky to carry a large sum | Count it together, consider a bank's counting machine for large amounts |
| Banker's draft or cheque | Can bounce days later even after appearing to clear | Wait for the bank to confirm it's genuinely cleared, not just presented |
The pattern behind most private car sale scams is the same: pressure to hand over the keys before the money has actually landed. A transfer showing as "pending" or a screenshot of a payment confirmation is not the same as funds in your account. Wait for the real balance to update, even if that means the buyer waits an extra ten minutes.
Closing the paperwork
- Fill in the New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2) and hand it to the buyer.
- Send the rest of the V5C to the DVLA yourself, online or by post, the same day if possible.
- Give the buyer a signed receipt with the date, price, mileage and both names.
- Cancel or transfer your insurance once the car has actually left your possession, not before.
Notifying the DVLA promptly matters for more than tidiness. Until the change of keeper is logged, any speeding ticket, congestion charge or parking fine on the car still lands on you. It takes a few minutes online and closes the loop properly.
Value, compare and close with DriveMe
Exact price, verified sellers and an AI assistant, right in the app.