To sell your car online with Car.co.uk, start by entering your reg and postcode on the Car.co.uk website to get an instant valuation. If the price works for you, book a free collection slot at a time that suits you. We cover the whole UK with same-day and next-day options.
Our collection team comes to you with the recovery equipment and does a quick condition check, then completes the paperwork and heads off to the ATF. Our automated system triggers the bank transfer as soon as that happens, so you’ll get paid within 24-48 hours.

It depends on the car and how quickly you want to move. Getting a quote online takes about 30 seconds. If you accept it, you can arrange for a collection the same day or next, and payment goes out on collection. So realistically, you could have cash in your account within 24 hours of starting the process (though if you'd prefer to schedule further ahead, that's fine too).

However, if you try to sell on the private market, to a dealer or at an auction on your own, you will likely spend a lot more time on the process. Even if you were planning on taking the first offer you get (which we don’t recommend), you’d spend at least a whole day on the process. 

And if you want to compare offers or wait out for the best one, it could take anywhere from a few days (for an in-demand car in a hot market) to several weeks or months (for a junk car or when the market’s weak).

To get the best price when selling your car, be accurate when you enter your car's details. Our pricing algorithm pulls live market data, so the quote you get reflects what your car is actually worth right now, but it's based on the condition and mileage you provide. Any discrepancy picked up at collection can affect the final offer.

Beyond that, timing matters a little because scrap metal and used car trade prices fluctuate. So if you've got flexibility and the market is trending upward, it's sometimes worth checking back if you don't love today's number.

To formally transfer ownership when selling your car, notify the DVLA online via the GOV.UK "sold or transferred a vehicle" service using the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook.

At the point of sale, fill in the green ‘new keeper’ slip (V5C/2) with their full name and address and give it to the buyer. This will act as their proof of ownership until their new V5C logbook shows up in the post.

If you sell through Car.co.uk, we handle the DVLA notification on your behalf. You just need your V5C present at collection.

Car.co.uk buys any car in any condition, including write-offs, non-runners, MOT failures, high-mileage cars, those with flood damage and even non-UK registered vehicles. We also collect fleets for businesses across the UK.

As long as the car isn’t missing all of its wheels and our collection driver can safely access it, we'll make an offer. The only situations we can't accommodate are vehicles without wheels, which require specialist lifting equipment, or cars in locations our drivers can't safely reach.

You can sell a car that’s not in your name, provided you have the legal owner's permission. You'll need a signed letter of authority from the registered keeper confirming you're acting on their behalf. Without it, we can't process the sale.

If you're selling a car belonging to someone who has passed away, you can do so as well, so long as you're the legal next of kin or the executor or administrator of the estate. In either case, get in touch before booking and we'll walk you through what's needed.

Private sale usually gets you more money for a car that's desirable, presentable and easy to move, but you're handling everything yourself: advertising costs, time wasted on enquiries, strangers coming to your house and no guarantee the sale actually completes.

Car.co.uk trades a slice of that upside for a guaranteed offer, free collection and same-day payment you don’t even have to get off the couch for. For anything in poor condition, with high mileage or that’s just not worth the hassle of listing, it's not really a close comparison.

How much your car is worth depends on its make, model, mileage, condition and what the market looks like right now. Scrap and trade prices fluctuate constantly, so a figure you saw quoted elsewhere last month might not reflect today's reality.

The only way to get an accurate number is to enter your reg and mileage on our site, and you'll have a real offer in about 30 seconds.

You cannot legally sell your car if it has outstanding finance on it because under HP (Hire Purchase) and PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreements, the finance company is the car’s registered keeper. So you must pay the settlement figure before transferring ownership to anyone. 

One caveat: Dealers will sometimes offer to pay the remaining finance on your behalf if you’re part-exchanging the car. If the car is worth more than the settlement price, the difference is yours. If it’s less (which is much more common as cars depreciate), you’re responsible for paying the difference out of pocket.

The number-one document you’ll need to sell your car is your V5C logbook, which is the document needed to officially transfer ownership. If you've lost it, you can apply for a replacement from the DVLA, though it's worth letting us know upfront.

When you sell your car through Car.co.uk, you will also need a valid photo ID and proof of address. And if you’re selling it privately, the car’s maintenance and service history will help you fetch a higher selling price for it.

You can sell a car with a private number plate, but know that once the car transfers ownership, the plate goes with it permanently. So if your reg is a personalised plate, it's worth thinking carefully before you sell.

A lot of private plates hold serious value, particularly dateless plates, anything that spells out a name or word and short combinations. In a lot of cases, these are actually worth more than the car itself.

We'd generally recommend transferring the plate to retention with the DVLA first (using a V317 form), then selling it separately. You can do this online before booking your collection.

It’s generally a lot harder to sell cars that failed their last MOT because the market’s a lot slimmer for vehicles with damage. Most typical buyers want something they can drive right away and won’t have to sink money into, and an MOT failure isn’t that. If you do find someone who wants to buy it, expect to earn significantly less from the sale.

Alternatively, you can sell your MOT failure instantly with Car.co.uk. We buy cars in any condition – including MOT failures – and if you’re just going to scrap it, it probably won’t affect your payout much anyways,. Just be accurate about the car's condition when you get your quote.

The “best way” to sell your car genuinely depends on what you're optimising for.

Private sale through platforms like Autotrader and Facebook Marketplace will typically get you the most money for a desirable car in good condition, but you're taking on the advertising and dealing with tyre-kickers, no-shows, negotiations and the risk of being scammed. For a clean, new(ish), in-demand car and someone with time and patience, it’s worth it.

Part-exchange at a dealership is a convenient option if you're buying another car at the same time, but dealers build their margin into the offer. Because of that, you're rarely getting close to market value and you're locked into buying from them.

Auction works well for certain vehicles but involves fees. Plus, there’s no price guarantee and you won't know what you're getting until the hammer falls.

Car.co.uk sits in a different lane. You're not going to beat a strong private sale on price for a desirable car, but for anything that's hard to shift, or if speed and simplicity matter more than squeezing every last pound, it's hard to argue with a guaranteed offer, free collection and same-day payment.

Generally speaking, early spring (March) and early autumn (September) tend to be the strongest periods because that’s when the new number plate releases drive a surge in dealership activity and used car demand. More buyers in the market means stronger trade prices, which flows through to better offers.

That said, Car.co.uk's pricing updates in real-time with live market data, so you're always getting a current price regardless of when you sell. If the market's strong, your quote will reflect that.

To notify the DVLA after selling your car, go to GOV.UK and use the "sold or transferred a vehicle" service. You'll need the 11-digit reference number from your V5C. If you sell through Car.co.uk, we handle the DVLA notification on your behalf at the point of collection.

With Car.co.uk, you can sell your car anywhere in the UK. We’re able to pick up any car nationwide through our collection network, so enter your reg, get a quote and book a collection slot at your home, workplace or wherever the car is sitting. As long as it's safely accessible, we’re able to come to you.