Sell your car

Why should I sell my car online?

Selling your car can be a real hassle. Showing it to potential purchasers is time-consuming. Then there are the no-shows, buyers backing out at the last minute and all that awkward hassle to contend with.

For a fast and fuss-free alternative, you can get Motorway to do all the legwork for you.

You just need to enter a few details and they'll find the car dealer that can pay the most for your car. 

Why sell with Motorway?

Motorway guide you through creating a top-notch profile of your vehicle, set a reserve price, and find the dealer who’ll pay you the best price. No hassle and no time-wasters.

• Easy and fast
  Enter your reg for an instant valuation and complete your sale in as little as 24 hours.
• 100% free
  Dealers pay a fee to buy your car, so it’s completely free for you, with free collection and fast payment.
• Completely online
  No meeting potential buyers or travel to drop off your car.

What details do I need to sell my car?

For a swift and stress-free handover and to complete the transfer of ownership, you’ll need the following to hand on the day your car’s collected:

• V5C vehicle registration document (your logbook)
• MOT certificate (if your car is three or more years old)
• All keys for the car
• Official photo ID (driving licence or passport)
• Proof of address such as a bank statement or utility bill (these must match the address on the V5C)
• Car extras such as the service record, handbook, locking wheel nuts and the radio and key codes
• If you have leftover finance on the car, you’ll need a letter of authority from the finance company confirming the final settlement figure
• The UK bank details of the registered keeper of the car
• Enough fuel in the car for the car dealer, ideally so that the fuel light isn’t on

What can impact the valuation and price? 

Check your car carefully to make sure you’re being completely honest about the condition. Otherwise you could be offered a lower valuation:

Mileage – Cars with lower mileage generally fetch better prices. Used less, a car’s engine – as well as the interior and exterior of the vehicle – are likely to be in better nick than a car with high mileage.

Condition – Stone chips, dents and scratches happen to even the most carefully-driven of cars. Be up-front about the condition of your car so you can avoid any disputes over price further down the line. Motorway’s easy to use photo app helps you accurately capture the condition of your car and you can tell them about any imperfections in a quick online questionnaire too.

Service history – A full and up to date service history – proving you’ve kept your car checked and maintained at the required manufacturer service intervals – will help fetch a higher price than the same car with a partial or missing service history.

MOT – All cars must have a valid MOT. A recent MOT will give dealers more confidence to place a good offer. 

Number of previous owners – Typically, the less owners a car has had, the better the valuation. But Motorway secures offers on cars irrespective of the number of previous owners. Your car’s logbook V5C can tell you how many owners your car has had.

Colour – Neutral or standard colours such as blue, grey, or black are popular and can push up the price of your car. Pink or orange cars? Not so desirable, so this may affect their value the other way.

Location – Vehicles in remote locations are more costly for the dealer to collect so this factor could affect your offers.

Insurance write-offs – If your car is classed as a write-off it may be worth more as parts or by selling it for scrap metal. Motorway can recommend an online buyer who will buy written-off cars.

Get your car ready to sell

These top tips will help maximise your chance of high buyer offers:

• Good photos can be key to getting the highest price for your car. Motorway’s easy-to-use photo app will guide you through taking great quality photos and the specific shots dealers like to see.
• Take out all clutter from your car - including car seats, shopping bags and, of course, passengers!
• Clean your car inside and out. Use a professional car wash if you can.
• Pick a dry day to take photos  – preferably slightly overcast, to minimise glare and reflections.
• Park somewhere with plenty of space to walk around so you can photograph your car from different angles. You may want to park up in a quiet car park to frame your shots well.