Dealing with Car Buyers

There is an old saying when it comes to the sale of goods – 'caveat emptor', loosely translated as 'let the buyer beware'. However, when it comes to selling your car, there are some that would argue the saying should be modified slightly to 'beware of the buyer'.

Whether your car is old or relatively new, in pristine condition or showing the wear and tear of years of loyalty, you are going to want to get the best price you can for it. And that means making sure it is presented in its best light. So when you are preparing to sell you should make sure it is clean inside and out, that you have made good any small dents and scratches and that you advertise it in a manner that will attract the best possible buyers.

To make sure you are as prepared as possible read our article Selling your Car which will help you achieve a successful sale. The other half of the equation is the potential buyer or buyers that may come to see your car – and it helps to know how to deal with experienced hagglers, time wasters and, in the worst possible scenario, the criminal fraternity.

The viewing

When someone calls up to enquire about your car, they are likely to have lots of questions such as mileage, condition and reasons for selling – if they don't ask these questions then you might be led to question their seriousness. People have very different manners on the phone and you should also be ready for this. However, don't allow yourself to be pressurised by callers – when arranging a time for a viewing, make sure it is convenient for you so that you will not feel stressed or anxious.

When a potential buyer comes to view your car, it's important that you don't get agitated if they ask lots of questions or ask the same questions over again. The fact that they have turned up means that they are probably a serious buyer – timewasters wouldn't generally go this far. Try to answer all their questions as honestly and clearly as possible – and try not to get defensive if they make disparaging comments, this may well just be a ploy for later haggling.

Depending on the value of the car, you should also not be surprised if the buyer brings a friend along for a second opinion, or even a mechanic to carry out an inspection. Don't be intimidated by this, again it is a generally a sign of a serious buyer.

The test drive

It may seem very obvious, but never let the buyer go out alone on the test drive, there is always the possibility that you may never see your car again. You should also check that they have adequate car insurance cover, otherwise you could be liable for any accidents they may have. You may well want to make this clear on the phone before they come to view the car and ask them to bring the relevant documentation.

Let the buyer choose their own route and also accept that a test drive may take quite some time. It is likely that a serious buyer will want to test your car on different types of roads at different speeds. It's also possible that they will drive your car quite hard – try not to be over-sensitive to this, but if you feel that they are abusing your vehicle, you should politely ask them not to.

Under no circumstances should you ever leave the keys in the ignition if you get out to swap seats – this is a golden opportunity for a car thief. They may even have engineered the situation so that this happens, so do remain cautious.

The haggle

Haggling is part and parcel of buying and selling a car. The most important thing that you can do is to set an ideal selling price and an absolute minimum beforehand and keep these in mind. Provided you have based your valuation on the make and model of your car, plus its age and condition, your price should not be unreasonable.

Haggling is something of an art form and it's a balancing act between aiming for the price you want and not being too stubborn. Don't refuse to take any offers as this could simply make buyers walk away. However, don't be pressurised or bullied into accepting an unreasonable offer.

If you are not confident about being in such a situation, you may find it helps to bring a friend of your own along to act as support. Hopefully, by following these steps, you will end up with a successful sale.

Direct Line provides flexible car insurance policies for any new car you may be buying.