The AA
  • Used Cars
    Used Cars
    • Browse by Manufacturer
      Browse by Manufacturer
      • Used Audi
      • Used BMW
      • Used Citroen
      • Used Fiat
      • Used Ford
      • Used Honda
      • Used Hyundai
      • Used Jaguar
      • Used Kia
      • Used Land Rover
      • Used MINI
      • Used Mercedes
      • Used Nissan
      • Used Peugeot
      • Used Renault
      • Used Skoda
      • Used Toyota
      • Used Vauxhall
      • Used Volkswagen
      • Used Volvo
      • Search All Used Cars
    • Browse by Model
      Browse by Model
      • Used Audi A1
      • Used Audi A3
      • Used Fiat 500
      • Used Ford Fiesta
      • Used Ford Focus
      • Used Ford Kuga
      • Used Kia Sportage
      • Used Mercedes A Class
      • Used Mercedes C Class
      • Used MINI Hatch
      • Used Nissan Juke
      • Used Nissan Qashqai
      • Used Peugeot 208
      • Used Range Rover Evoque
      • Used Toyota Yaris
      • Used Vauxhall Astra
      • Used Vauxhall Corsa
      • Used Vauxhall Mokka
      • Used Volkswagen Golf
      • Used Volkswagen Polo
      • Search All Used Cars
    • Browse by Location
      Browse by Location
      • Used Cars in Birmingham
      • Used Cars in Brighton
      • Used Cars in Bristol
      • Used Cars in Cardiff
      • Used Cars in Coventry
      • Used Cars in Edinburgh
      • Used Cars in Glasgow
      • Used Cars in Leeds
      • Used Cars in Leicester
      • Used Cars in Liverpool
      • Used Cars in London
      • Used Cars in Manchester
      • Used Cars in Northampton
      • Used Cars in Northern Ireland
      • Used Cars in Norwich
      • Used Cars in Nottingham
      • Used Cars in Scotland
      • Used Cars in Sheffield
      • Used Cars in Southampton
      • Used Cars in Stoke-on-Trent
      • All Locations
    • Browse by Bodystyle
      Browse by Bodystyle
      • Used 7 Seaters
      • Used 4x4
      • Used SUVs
      • Used Executive Cars
      • Used Family Cars
      • Used Luxury Cars
      • Used People Carriers
      • Used Sports Cars
      • Used Supercars
      • Used Superminis
      • Used City Cars
      • Used Hatchbacks
      • Used Estates
      • Used Saloons
      • Used Coupes
      • Used Convertibles
      • Used Motorhomes
    • Browse by Fuel Type
      Browse by Fuel Type
      • Used Diesel Cars
      • Used Electric Cars
      • Used Hybrid Cars
      • Used Petrol Cars
    • Browse by Transmission
      Browse by Transmission
      • Used Automatic Cars
      • Used Manual Cars
    • Browse by Maximum Price
      Browse by Maximum Price
      • Used Cars under £30,000
      • Used Cars under £20,000
      • Used Cars under £15,000
      • Used Cars under £10,000
      • Used Cars under £5,000
      • Used Cars under £4,000
      • Used Cars under £3,000
      • Used Cars under £2,000
      • Used Cars under £1,000
    • Buying Advice
      Buying Advice
      • Best used 4x4 cars
      • Best used 7-seater cars
      • Best used electric cars
      • Best used estate cars
      • Best used family cars
      • Best used first cars
      • Best used fuel efficient cars
      • Best used hybrid cars
      • Best used second-hand cars
      • Best used small cars
      • Best used sports cars
      • Best used SUV cars
  • Used Vans
  • Finance
    Finance
    • Car finance
    • Eligibility checker
    • Car finance calculator
    • Car finance explained
    • Car Leasing
    • PCP car finance
  • Warranty
    Warranty
    • Car warranty
    • Our warranties
    • FAQs
    • Contact us
  • Sell my car
    Sell my car
    • Sell my car
    • Sell my van
    • Value my car
  • Dealerships
  • Your account
  1. AA Cars
  2. Advice Articles
  3. Guides
  4. Selling a car: How to advertise your car

Selling a car: How to advertise your car

banner

Putting your car up for sale should be simple – but there are a lot of mistakes you can make.

These could seriously affect the price you get for your car when selling, or even prevent you from flogging it at all. That’s why you need to get the advert right in the first place – follow our tips to find out out.

Prepare and clean your car

Dirty cars don’t sell, so you need to give it a thorough clean. That means cleaning any rubbish and dust out of the interior, and making sure the exterior is spotless.

You could get the car valeted if you don’t want to do it yourself. A decent valet can cost upwards of £50, but it will help your car look its best in the photos for the advert. It’s worth considering if your car needs a deep clean or is at the expensive end of the spectrum.

If you go through with getting your vehicle cleaned by a pro, make sure you don’t spend too much in relation to how much you’re selling for. There’s no point going for a gold-star valet worth £200 if the car’s value isn’t much higher.

Find the right place to sell

Online sites have taken the lead in car selling for years now, with more traditional methods becoming less popular. But there’s money to be made through various methods.

Online

- You can choose from multiple outlets, so it’s important to find the right channel to advertise your car for free.

- Some sites are better suited to performance or classic cars, so make sure you research all the options before choosing a platform.

- If you’re looking for a quick sale, auction sites can be a great way of getting your car off the drive and money in your pocket.

Try our car valuation platform, in partnership with Motorway. Their network of 5000+ dealers will compete to pay the most for your vehicle. Best of all it's completely free with fast payment and home collection included. 

Print

With information at your fingertips through your smartphone or computer, magazines and papers are nowhere near as popular as they used to be. But a newspaper or magazine ad could still get your car in front of a different audience.

If you have more time to sell your car, this can be a great option as it can reach a more targeted audience – especially if you’re selling a specialist vehicle. It’s not the simplest method, but it can get you a sale.

Other avenues

There are also other ways to sell your car.

A car auction can get it sold quickly and with less hassle. But it means you can’t guarantee how much money you get for it – unless you set a reserve.

If you’re selling it to get a new car afterwards, think about part-exchanging. You can use your old car to help pay for your next one. In some cases, you may actually get more than what the car is worth as they try to sell you a new car, but that’s no guarantee.

There are also car-buying firms that you can sell your vehicle to. This can make selling your car very straightforward, but you might not get the price you’re after.

Take plenty of pictures

You want to show off your car in its best light, right? A decent set of photos will give your advert a great chance of getting noticed. There’s no need to be too professional, as smartphones will do a great job. Just make the shots clear, in focus and with a plain background so it stands out.

Here are the areas of the car you need to cover:

- Front and rear three-quarter

- Side profile

- Front and rear straight on

- Dashboard from behind the front seats

- Dashboard at an angle one of the rear doors

- Front and rear seats

- Boot and other storage compartments

- Engine bay

- The wheels

- Any modifications or damage

- Roof up and down if it’s a convertible.

Set the right price

If you want to offer a more accurate price, valuation services are your best bet. Our service, which we mentioned earlier, is one of them and it can give you a better idea of what your car is worth – while also providing a free car listing to work with.

To draw potential buyers in, you should set a reasonable price for your car. Check similar cars on sale to see what state they’re in and the price they’re being sold at, to judge how much to price your car at.

Make your advert clear

The last thing you want is a complicated advert. Make the car’s information short and simple, with no waffling, and add in some humour to keep buyers enthused.

Write out all the vital points in bullet points, and keep the text succinct. This helps potential buyers take the info on board, and avoids confusing them. If you’re adding any other text, keep the tone friendly, fun and easy to read.

The points you should include are:

- Make, model and trim level

- Year of registration

- Engine size and fuel type – specifics can help

- Mileage

- Number of owners – more important on newer models

- Warranty – is the car covered by manufacturer, aftermarket warranty or not at all

- MOT expiry date

- Service history – whether the car comes with a full service history or not. A stamped service book with a full set of receipts help the value

- Price

- Your contact details – email and phone number.

Connect with us

Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
For customers
  • Customer terms & conditions
  • Our dealers
  • Motoring advice
  • Electric cars
  • New cars
  • Car delivery
  • Why AA Cars
  • Customer data request form
For dealers
  • Car dealer terms & conditions
  • Dealer Promise code (trade)
  • Advertise with us
Other
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookie policy
  • Sitemap
Vehicle Inspections

The AA recommends an AA Cars Vehicle Inspection before purchase. Not all cars are mechanically checked by the AA.

  • Vehicle Inspection
  • theAA.com
© AA Cars 2023  | Company No. 4546950  |  VAT No. 806075443