selling my first vehicle

[mandimoo]

hi, i am selling my first ever vehicle and would like some tips on how to make it run smoothly and not get ripped off (say with a bounced cheque).

[burnhal]

Regarding the ripped off bit. I think everyone accepts there will be haggling if its a private deal. Decide what you will accept for the vehicle and price it a bit above it. That way haggling is likely to bring the price down to what you expect and everyone is satisfied!! You are quite entitled to ask for cash. If it is a cheque you are quite entitled to hang on to the vehicle until the cheque is cleared.

[mr rusty]

Only accept cash; don't take cheques, bankers drafts, building society cheques, any of that- make it CASH ONLY, and then count it.......

There is no time limit on a bank dishonouring a cheque: it can be cleared, and then a year down the line found to be dodgy, and the bank will want the money back which they paid out to you on the strength of that cheque......and don't forget the poor sod who sold his beemer on the strength of a bankers draft for 12000 which was initially cleared by the bank as genuine, then a week or so later identified as a fake: he lost the car and the money.......

Cash is the only reliable way to take money for a car. The other thing you need to do is satisfy yourself as to the ID of the buyer when you complete the V5.

[mr rusty]

Here we are: read this, and if anyone insists on paying by cheque, don't sell to them, it's easy enough for them to go to the bank and get cash out, if they won't they're dodgy, same goes for bankers drafts; the fake bank draft con is aimed specifically at people selling high value cars.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox /3727888.stm

[mal magnum]

I would suggest selling it through the Autotrader rather than waste your time with papershop window adverts to maximise potential.It is a good idea to go onto their website and check out the same vehicle you currently own to see wht other people are charging and what you are up against.Once you put your advert in it will appear for a week in your local Autotrader but will appear on their website which of course anyone can access.I recently sold a vehicle to an English guy who travelled over from Spain to buy it.
Make sure that you or a male friend(for safety) sits in with the potential buyer on the test drive.Do not give your keys to a stranger and trust them to bring it back.
Decide a realistic price in your mind and set the asking price at a little more "ono"(or nearest offer)People expect a little haggling,do not be put off by this,it can be fun.
Do not be pressured into selling if the price is not right,there will be other callers and you can always put another advert in.
As for the insisting on cash....well ideally yes..but I have sold many vehicles and never had any problems,and I have accepted cheques but always waited until its cleared before handing over the keysThat is a call you will have to make on the day in this untrusting world we live in.
Good luck.

[gsr600]

Hi mandimoo
as mr rusty suggests CASH is good -as long as it isn't counterfeit itself !!!!
but if large sums are involved i would bank it immediately (where possible) to make sure, & you don't get a visit later from a burglar.
unless you have a big rotty (dog) & a baseball bat handy.
good luck
GSR600