How to sell your car privately
Selling privately usually puts more money in your pocket than trading in. In return you do the dealer's job: pricing, adverts, viewings, payment and paperwork. Here is how to do each part well.
The short answer
- Price between the trade and forecourt figures in a valuation, then check what similar cars near you are listed at.
- Clear any finance before you sell. Until it is paid, the car may not be yours to sell.
- Only release the car once a bank transfer shows as cleared in your own banking app.
- Give the buyer the green new keeper slip and tell DVLA online the same day.
Before you list it
Three questions decide whether you are ready to advertise. Work down them in order.
Is there still finance owed on the car?
YesAsk the lender for a settlement figure and clear it first. You need the legal right to sell the car.NoGo to the next questionDo you have the V5C log book in your name?
YesGo to the next questionNoSort this out before you advertise. Buyers will expect to see it, and without it you have to tell DVLA by letter instead of online.Does the MOT run out within the next couple of months?
YesA new MOT reassures buyers and stops it being used to haggle. You can test up to a month (minus a day) early and keep the same renewal date.NoYou are ready to price and list the car.
Set a price buyers will take seriously
Start with a valuation that gives two figures: the trade price, roughly what a dealer would pay you, and the forecourt price, roughly the most a buyer would pay a dealer. A private sale normally lands between them, because the buyer gets no dealer warranty and you get more than trade.
Then look at adverts for the same model, year and mileage close to you. Price a little above where you would be happy to settle, so there is room for the buyer to negotiate.
Get the car ready
Most of what buyers judge in the first minute costs little to fix. Spend time before you spend money.
The car
- Wash, vacuum and clear out every pocket and the boot
- Check every bulb, the tyre tread and the screen wash
- Fix small, cheap faults that would put a buyer off
- Find both keys and the locking wheel nut key
The paperwork
- V5C log book in your name
- Service book and receipts, in date order
- The latest MOT result. Buyers can see the full history on GOV.UK, so be open about advisories.
- Proof any finance has been settled
Write an honest advert
List the make, model, year, mileage, number of owners, service history and MOT date, and mention any faults. Take photos in daylight from every corner, plus the interior, dashboard with the engine running, and the tyres.
Describe the car as it is. If a buyer finds it is not as described, they may have a claim against you, even in a private sale.
Viewings and test drives
Hold the viewing at home, in daylight
It shows the car is yours and lives where the log book says. Have someone with you if you can.
Check the buyer can drive it
Before a test drive, ask to see their full driving licence. If anything about it worries you, do not hand over the keys.
Go with them
Sit in the passenger seat for the whole drive. When you are both out of the car, keep the keys in your hand.
Leave negotiation until afterwards
Agree the price once the drive is done, and write it down with any extras you have agreed to include.
Take payment safely
| Method | How safe | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Safest | Wait until it shows as cleared in your own banking app. Ignore screenshots and confirmation emails. |
| Cash | Safe if checked | Count it, check the notes, and do it at a bank if the sum is large. |
| Cheque or banker's draft | Riskier | Do not release the car until the money has fully cleared into your account. |
| Part payment now, rest later | Avoid | Once the car has gone you have little leverage to collect the rest. |
Hand it over and finish the paperwork
Give the buyer the green new keeper slip from the V5C, the keys, the service book and anything else that comes with the car. Write a short receipt for both of you. Then tell DVLA online using the 11-digit reference on your log book: tell DVLA you have sold a vehicle.
Your vehicle tax is cancelled and refunded for any full months left, and the buyer must tax the car before driving it. Our paperwork guide covers every step in detail.
Questions people ask
How do I price my car for a private sale?
Get a valuation that gives a trade figure and a forecourt figure. A private sale usually falls between the two. Check adverts for the same model, year and mileage near you, and set your price a little above the lowest figure you would accept.
What is the safest way to accept payment?
A bank transfer, released only once the money shows as cleared in your own banking app. Do not accept screenshots, emails or promises as proof, and refuse any buyer who overpays and asks for money back.
Can I sell a car that still has finance on it?
Not until the finance is settled. Until it is paid off the car may belong to the finance company, so you may not have the legal right to sell it. Ask the lender for a settlement figure and clear it first.
Do I need a new MOT before selling?
It is not required, but a fresh MOT reassures buyers if the current one runs out soon. You can test up to a month, minus a day, before the expiry date and keep the same renewal date.
When should I tell DVLA I have sold the car?
On the day of the sale. Until DVLA knows, you can be held responsible for the car. Use the online service with the 11-digit reference on your V5C log book.
Should I let a buyer test drive the car alone?
No. Check their full driving licence, go with them on the drive, and keep the keys with you when you are both out of the car.
Sources
Checked against these on 31 October 2026. If the rules change, the source is the final word.
- Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle GOV.UK, DVLA
- Cancel your vehicle tax and get a refund GOV.UK, DVLA
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle GOV.UK, DVSA
- Getting an MOT: when to get an MOT GOV.UK, DVSA