Top five tips to get the best price for your car

Put in the effort to prepare your car for sale and you could enjoy a higher price say Sell Your Jamjar when we asked them to give Cars UK readers advice.

We’ve had experiences – good and bad – with online car buying businesses, and our readers have had far more. So what should you do to make sure the online valuation you get is what you end up getting paid?

We asked Sell Your Jamjar – the original online car buying experts – if they’d help Cars UK readers by coming up with their top five tips on how make your car match up with what online buyers expect.

Chips, scuffs, dinks and dents

First impressions count, and your collector will do an initial sweep of the bodywork of your car before they even climb inside.

To prepare your car for sale, closely check your vehicle from every side. Scuffs and scratches immediately detract from a car’s appeal and they are easily fixed.

You can either invest in a car scratch repair kit, if it will do the trick, or there are specialists in bodywork repair, who may even come to you for extra convenience.

A clean engine

Open the bonnet and look around the engine for oil or coolant leaks, and consider having them fixed.

A clean engine can make a really good first impression.

Give your car a deep clean

We all know that we buy with our senses and a fresh, clean scent will impact the overall perception of your car.

A clean smelling and tidy car creates the impression that you have looked after and cherished your vehicle.

Clean your carpets and empty all clutter from every compartment which might make cause a distracting rattle when the collector is test driving.

Do not forget to tidy and hoover the boot and if you have a spare tyre make sure it is correctly in place and secure. Ensure any tools, first aid kits or safety equipment which came with the vehicle are returned to their original positions.

The only items to leave in the glove box are the owner’s manual and service book.

The basics

Go through your basic checklist as a buyer and make sure your car ticks all the boxes.

Check your tyres for tread and correct inflation. Check oil, coolant, brake fluid levels and top up your washer water. Replace any tired looking floor mats with new ones. Look for any bulbs which need replacing.

Add value

If your car is in good condition, has a full service history and recent MOT, these all positively affect your valuation.

Make sure your service book is up to date so you can show the collector you have cared for the car.

If you have got receipts for work done, or parts bought, like batteries and tyres, keep them to hand, to show your collector.

Thanks for providing the advice in this article goes to Andrew King, Purchasing Manager at Sell Your Jamjar, the UK’s first online car buying and scrap car buying service