Selling vehicles privately - some Qs!

[Jameshow]

We went to the local branch and said they would have to send to their high valuations team at head office. However he gave us the price if it was just a panel van. He was embarassed to tell us so showed us the tablet with the price. It was £3000!!! I looked online at a certain car website valuation about a year and half ago and it was £9-11k for the base van. Judging by the way he told us and the way he said that in 10 years working for the company he had valued 8 campers and only two took the offer. The rest sold privsately.

We buy any car has a van version but they are really not worth using. As the guy at our local branch said, cars they know what they will get for cars and the offer is usually ok but vans and especially campers or modified day vans they don't know what they are doing or getting so they underprice them significantly. Kind of what I thought they would do

I had that with my van brought for £13k during COVID, I only got £3k with a basic conversion..
Vans do tend to depreciate heavily as they are usually driven hard and abused .

 

[dicko]

There’s only one thing you should remember that is, buyer beware. Sitting as a passenger in the said vehicle you should be able to judge how it drives, I have bought many like this. The garage where I lived for four years sold cars Arthur the salesman never test drove any trade in he was only interested in what ‘The Book’ value said.

 

[CXRAndy]

Unless you see a valid insurance document stating comprehensive cover for other vehicles- never let the prospective buyer drive. Take them out, you drive.

I would never let an unknown person drive solo in the vehicle either - so many stolen stories too, especially high performance vehicles

 

[fossyant]

I had that with my van brought for £13k during COVID, I only got £3k with a basic conversion..
Vans do tend to depreciate heavily as they are usually driven hard and abused .

It depends. Heavy used commercials do depreciate, but some of the conversions I've looked at are silly money. I went down the 'car' version of a commercial as it's fully insulated and has seats, and I can get a quick bed kit for it that sits in the boot. These don't depreciate much and are expensive.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

As well as verifying their identity and insurance cover, what about drawing up an agreement to be signed by the tester (and witnessed) that should any damage be caused to the vehicle while it is under their control then they will buy it at the advertised price?

I once bought a motorbike under those terms.

 

[fossyant]

Useful seller's document :-

https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/buyers-sellers-contracts