Avoid common scams when selling a car privately. This guide shows you how to avoid falling foul of rogue buyers, car thieves, and worse. 2024 guide. Read this helpful guide before listing your car on the Autotrader to ensure you stay safe.
In this guide to selling your car online, we step away from the usual topics about preparing your car for sale or setting your price and focus on the caution you should exercise when meeting potential buyers.
Why We Wrote This Guide
We’ve 35 years of buying cars from the public professionally, and so we’ve experienced every scam you could imagine.
By sharing our experiences, we hope to help you stay safe if you sell privately on Autotrader or similar sites.
Table of Contents
Selling A Car Privately On The Autotrader
The most popular places people use when selling a car privately are eBay Motors, Gumtree, and Pistonheads, to name but a few. But undoubtedly, Autotrader is the number one place to list a vehicle privately.
The Autotrader is the best known, and they have the best tools to make listing your car easy. They also allow you to protect your identity until you’re ready to reveal it, allowing you to vet potential buyers without passing on your details.
Which, as you’ll learn through this guide, is a good thing.
Our guide isn’t meant to put you off selling a car privately. The intention is to highlight the risks involved to help steer you through the choppy seas of scam artists, time wasters, and even potential car thieves who, as you’ll learn, actively target sellers of private cars.
Car Theft Risk: Selling A Car Privately
With car security getting harder to bypass, criminals must look for new opportunities to separate you from your car. And what better opportunity is there than when someone is presenting their vehicle for viewings and potential test drives?
Criminals know all they have to do is call you, and you’ll invite them into your home and present them with keys and the registration documents. Then, instead of having to risk defeating a sophisticated car or home security system, all they have to do is get past you.
The type of car you’re selling also paints a picture of what else you might have that could interest them.
If you’re selling a prestige car, you probably live in a lovely home with expensive tastes. Maybe you own a good watch? a Breitling or a Rolex? a Richard Mille, perhaps. Do you play golf? I have a set of top-end golf clubs. Maybe you have a good-quality push bike or two. How many supercar owners own another car for daily use, like a Range Rover?
So what, you may ask?
When was the last time you gave a stranger your name and address and said, “Oh, by the way, we’ve lots of nice things here?” It’s never right, but that’s what you do when advertising your car.
Depending on the nature of the potential car thief, they will either try to get information that could allow them to have spare keys cut, such as a copy of a V5, or in extreme cases; they will turn up and produce a machete.
How To Check Out Your Buyer
When selling a car privately, safety and security are crucial. To protect yourself, it’s vital to know your buyer.
Ask if there’s some way of verifying who they are. Are they on LinkedIn? or the company they work for website?
As professional car buyers, we constantly research who we’re dealing with. You should do the same when you sell your car. If you were dealing with us, you could easily find lots of information about us by just checking our social media and Google reviews.
It’s more complicated with private individuals, but genuine buyers should have no issue providing proof of their identity.
If a buyer hesitates to share basic information or avoids sharing contact details, be wary—it often means they’re not serious or are potentially scamming you.
In short, knowing your buyer is not just a good idea; it’s crucial for your peace of mind and a legitimate, secure transaction.
Spotting Danger
It lets you sell a car privately on the Autotrader. For the sake of this example, a 2017 Porsche Cayman S, which you have priced at £35000.
You get a phone call from your Autotrader advert, and Mrs Jane Thornton from the Cotswolds would like to come up with her husband over the weekend and buy it.
But he’s concerned about not wasting his time and has told her to request proof that you own the car you’re selling as he’s weary of buying a car privately as they usually buy from dealers.
She asks, “Please, can you help me reassure my husband? Can you send something that shows it’s your car to sell?” You are uncertain. She responds, “My husband suggested she should see the V5 document that includes your address and matching ID proof before they make the trip. He is just organising insurance and payment for the car.”
She speaks with a refined accent, and in the background, you can hear her husband reassuringly say, “Get the bank details so I can send a deposit.”
Don’t lie. You immediately feel at ease; we would too.
But how do you know, for sure, who you are dealing with if you don’t use your due diligence?
Think about all the typical online scams and how the scammer’s primary focus is to come across a legitimate person. If your bank calls, would you give them information straight away?
Clever scammers are fantastic at coming across as genuine and are almost impossible to spot at face value alone. Especially when on the phone or via email or text. So do your research, even if it ruffles a few feathers of a legitimate buyer.
We have been buying cars professionally for over 35 years, and even we got caught out, as you’ll see below.
Do Professional Car Buyers Get Scammed?
In January 2023, we were scammed into buying a Porsche 992 from a legitimate property company.
The relevance of sharing this story is that it highlights the problems if you dont know who you’re dealing with, even if you think you do.
We were buying the car from a reputable property company, a well-known high street name.
We still did a fair bit of due diligence, but being honest, we mainly focused on the car, the source, its history, and HPI, all of which still failed us.
When we got to the vehicle, we realised our mistake as the previous damage repair was noticeable, and some further digging on a then-new data provider found the truth about the car.
But we were baffled that we had, as far as we were concerned, dealing with a legitimate business, especially after the events that followed.
After we complained to the seller, who wasn’t there, and asked for our deposit to be returned, our driver was threatened, leading him to retreat on police advice.
As you can see below, this turned out to be good advice, and yes, that is the seller of the Porsche.
Despite taking precautions and getting third-party reassurances about the seller, we still got scammed, losing both money and pride.
We tried to recover our deposit through the usual channels, but as we discovered, even if the scammer is already known to the police, getting help to recover the funds is unlikely. You’re essentially on your own in these situations.
The whole story here. Accident Damaged Cars How To Be Sure You Don’t Buy One | WeBuySuperCars.Com
So, the conclusion is to check your buyer and check again. There’s nothing wrong with asking for ID before giving the buyer your information and looking twice.
The Viewing
We don’t think you should ever meet the buyer outside your home. If they are genuine, they will not agree to that anyway; no one in their right mind buys a prestige car from a man they met in a pub. ( apart from this guy, read his story here)
Before letting a potential buyer test drive your car, confirm they have the funds ready and aren’t waiting on selling their vehicle or securing a loan.
Having ascertained that they are agreeing to buy your car subject to discovering no faults, then follow these safety tips for giving test drives in your vehicle:
- Never leave your buyer’s partner or friend they brought along unattended in your home while on a test drive. This avoids risks like swapped keys or stolen items, which we detail in our “Tales of the Unexpected” stories.
- If you allow the buyer to drive your car, make sure they show proof of insurance. In case of traffic stops or accidents, this protects you legally, as you could be held responsible for letting someone uninsured drive.
- Have them sign a document noting the date and time they drove your car. This can help if they’re caught by speed cameras or committing other traffic offences.
- Always remove the keys and turn off the car if you switch drivers during the test drive.
- Control the test drive route and avoid stopping where the buyer suggests. If they propose a place to swap drivers, intentionally miss it and stop elsewhere.
Remember, vehicle theft during test drives isn’t uncommon. Even if you feel at ease with the buyer, it’s wise to maintain a cautious approach.
Negotiation
Transparency is crucial if you’re selling a car privately and aiming for a better price. There’s no point in going through the stress of dealing with a private sale only to get beaten down to the same price you already declined.
The new figure must be more meaningful, reflecting the time, effort, expense and stress of obtaining it.
Communicate clearly with potential buyers about the cost and conditions of the vehicle, ideally online, accompanied by comprehensive images. Over-describe every detail, from minor chips to late services, so there are no surprises when the buyer arrives.
Then, agree on the price they will pay before they set off. Ask them if they have everything they need to make a decision, and so effectively, you agree on a deal before they travel and that the viewing is just for their peace of mind to ensure you’ve given an honest description.
If they don’t agree to that, then we say tell them not to bother coming. But you expect a genuine buyer to haggle and ask for details. So be wary of anyone who doesn’t.
What Payment To Accept When Selling A Car In The UK?
Avoid cash transactions and outdated payment methods like banker’s drafts. The safest payment method is a bank transfer. The funds should be in your account before you give the buyer control of the car.
Taking Deposits
While a deposit can indicate a serious buyer, it should not replace thorough due diligence. Remain vigilant and ensure all transactional details are finalised. Sometimes, serious fraudsters will offer and actively pay a deposit so that you lower your guard.
Selling A Car Privately On Finance
Clearing finance can be tricky. Most people dont have the capital to pay off their finances before selling their car.
Also, what happens if you do this and the sale falls through for some reason, leaving you short of funds for another commitment?
The simplest method is having the buyer pay your finance company directly. Ensure you receive payment confirmation from your finance company before releasing the vehicle, as delays in processing can occur.
When dealing with large sums, ensure the buyer’s bank can handle the total amount in one transaction to avoid complications.
Call the finance company and ask for proof of finance clearance. You must know that even if the buyer has paid the finance off properly, most finance companies won’t provide this proof for 48 hours.
This crosses into a trust issue. We suggest getting a copy of the transaction, asking the buyer to make it in front of you and then ask for site of their banking t confirm that amount physically left their account.
What Paperwork Do You Need When Selling A Car Privately?
There is no legal requirement for any contract or paperwork exchange between private buyers. But we would still provide a sales invoice. It needs to show the car’s details, including mileage, date of sale, and the price agreed; the finance company details the amount owned and the finance agreement number.
But there’s no requirement in law for you to do so. But you’ll find a template you can download at the bottom of this blog under Car Sellers Helpful Documents | WeBuySuperCars.Com
What To Do With The V5 When Selling A Car Privately?
So, assuming you’ve got proof of identity for your buyer, they have now paid you and cleared your finances. The last step is to change the keeper details online. Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred, or bought a vehicle – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Fill in the exact mileage of your and the buyer’s email address, and hit enter.
Thats it, you’ve sold your car. And hopefully, that is the last you’ll see of the buyer.
Can A Buyer Demand a Refund When I Am Selling A Car Privately?
Providing the buyer with a car seller’s contract is a good idea when selling a car privately. This document, essentially a receipt, should be signed by both parties. It confirms that the vehicle was purchased “as seen, tried, and approved without guarantee.” You can typically find a template at https://www.webuysupercars.com/car-sellers-helpful-documents/
If the vehicle is not roadworthy, this fact must be clearly stated in your initial advertisement. It’s illegal to sell a car that isn’t roadworthy unless it’s explicitly sold for parts or repairs.
Additionally, honesty is vital in these transactions. If the buyer has specific needs—like a vehicle for frequent long-distance travel—and you’re aware the car won’t meet these needs, withholding this information can be seen as misleading.
On the other hand, if a buyer doesn’t express specific intentions for the car, and you haven’t informed them of its limitations for long distances, they may struggle to claim that they were misled.
Moreover, if the vehicle breaks down shortly after the sale, the buyer must demonstrate that the car was unroadworthy at purchase to make a valid claim against you.
What Happens If You Fall For A Scam When Selling Your Car
If you find yourself a scam victim, don’t expect any help from the police.
It is well-publicised that the police track record of dealing with fraud is abysmal. Read Exclusive: scam victims ignored by police fraud reporting system – Which? News
Understand that the police typically do not intervene in private transaction issues unless serious fraud is evident and involves significant sums.
It’s crucial to manage transactions carefully to avoid legal complications.
Selling To Dealers Who Cold Call
We occasionally call Autotrader adverts. We only do this when we have a specific need. And in honesty, we dont like doing it.
We realise that people advertising privately often have price expectations over what is achievable in the trade in most cases.
Most other car dealers know this, too, so dealers cold calling your Autotrader advert are just as likely to be scammers. So, it is still prudent to use the above advice and ensure it’s a genuine call.
If you get a call from us here at webuysupercars.com, for example, then please check if it’s us calling you.
In Summary
One key point from this article is to trust no one until they’ve proven trustworthy. Opting for a slightly higher sale price on your car isn’t worth the potential stress and risk. Genuine buyers will understand if you ask for proof of identity—they’re likely just as cautious about dealing with you. Remember, rogue sellers scam more people than buyers, so trust must be mutual.
Selling a car privately might be one of the most significant financial transactions you make outside of a legal entity, with limited legal support. If you can’t accept an offer from a professional car-buying company, it’s crucial to take the advice from this guide seriously.
If you’re considering giving it one last try and haven’t worked with us yet, you’ll find that we handle our transactions honestly and transparently. We embody the principles of this guide in everything we do to ensure a polite, professional, and, most importantly, safe and secure transaction.
Read this next