Simple things that can add hundreds, sometimes thousands, to the value of your car before you advertise it.
Preparation Is Everything
Most people lose hundreds, sometimes even thousands of pounds when selling their car simply because they don't prepare it properly before advertising it.
The good news is you don't need to spend a fortune to make your car worth more. In most cases it's the small things that make the biggest difference.
After years in the motor trade, these are the things I'd focus on if I wanted to get the best possible price for my own car.
"People don't buy the cleanest car. They buy the car they have the most confidence in."
Should You Get An MOT?
The first thing I'd say would 100% be to consider getting a fresh MOT and a proper valet. In a lot of cases they pay for themselves because you can stand much firmer on your asking price knowing you're selling something that's clean and has 12 months MOT.
However, this does depend on the age and condition of the vehicle. If it's an older or higher mileage car, I'd sometimes recommend getting an MOT pre-check first. That way you know roughly what it needs before committing to an MOT.
For example, if your car only has four months MOT remaining but needs £500 spending to pass another test, you're often better off advertising it honestly with four months MOT rather than spending money you may never get back.
"Honesty sells cars far quicker than hiding problems ever will."
Presentation Sells Cars
Have the car properly cleaned inside and out. A good valet makes a massive first impression and immediately tells buyers you've looked after the car.
I'd also make sure you've got all the paperwork together before anybody comes to view it. Put the service history, MOT certificates, invoices and V5 into one folder.
Don't be one of those people who agrees a price and then spends twenty minutes turning the house upside down trying to find the logbook!
Take Better Photos
Good photos genuinely sell cars. Wash the car first, park somewhere clean with a simple background and take the photos during daylight rather than at night.
- Front and rear
- Both sides
- Interior
- Dashboard
- Boot
- Engine bay
- Service history
- Any damage you mention in the advert
Showing any scratches or dents in the photos actually builds trust because buyers know you're not trying to hide anything.
Be Honest
As I mentioned before, honesty is key. If you know about a fault, either get it repaired or mention it in the advert.
It saves people travelling to see the car only to find something they weren't expecting, and it massively reduces the chances of arguments after the sale.
If you're selling privately, it's important to describe the car accurately and not deliberately hide faults or misrepresent its condition.
If you're selling as a business or motor trader, buyers have much stronger legal protection under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Being upfront and honest from the beginning protects both you and the buyer.
Write A Good Advert
Don't just write 'Good runner' and expect top money. Tell people why your car is worth buying.
- Service history
- Recent maintenance
- Number of keys
- MOT length
- Good points
- Any faults
- Reason for selling
The more confidence you give a buyer before they arrive, the easier it is to achieve your asking price.
My Honest Opinion
The people who get the best money for their cars usually aren't the people with the nicest cars. They're the people who've prepared them properly.
Spend a little bit of time cleaning the car, organising the paperwork, taking good photos and writing an honest advert. Those small jobs can easily add hundreds of pounds to what somebody is willing to pay.
Remember, buyers don't mind honest faults. What puts people off is finding problems that weren't mentioned.
Alfie has over 11 years of experience in the motor trade and founded Alfa Prestige to give buyers the insider knowledge that was previously only available to professionals.
