subject: How To Set Up Successful Used Van Sales [print this page] As it is perfectly legal in the United Kingdom to sell motor vehicles by way of a private sale, why not try this option as opposed to giving it to a used car salesman? Should you opt for this option, be aware that there are lots of issues to be taken into account, some of which are set out below.
The best way to handle a private sale is to place an advertisement in the local newspaper or on any of the numerous internet sites now offered. Be very specific in the wording of your advertisement. If your van has low mileage, put this at the beginning of the advertisement, as well as all the other important facts relating to your van, such as the number of owners and its service history, and proof of its MOT and road tax payments. Add a very short general description of its paintwork, if it has air conditioning or any other outstanding features. Make sure your advertisement is short and to the point - people get bored with reams of useless information and will not finish reading your advertisement. If there is a slot for a picture, use it, as a picture immediately draws the eye. Most important of all is that you need to set a realistic price for your van. Consult a used van sales price guide in order to determine a fair asking price; and bear in mind that everyone interested in buying your van will want to bargain, so take this into consideration when setting your price.
Now that you have done all the groundwork, you are finally ready to sell your van. Give it a really good clean, remove anything remaining in the boot, wax it and vacuum the interior. Replace the oil and check the other fluids, as well as tyre pressure. Used van sales will always be subject to test drives, but you must ensure that the prospective buyer has insurance cover before letting him take your van out. Another area pertaining to used van sales is that of documentation, so make sure that you have it all ready - proof of ownership, registration certificate, all past receipts for work and/or repairs carried out, maintenance records, its service history and an owner's manual. It is normal that anyone interested in buying your van will also want to run a data check and/or a vehicle inspection (HPI) check.
Finally, one needs to address the issues relating to the buyer. The first thing to do is to check his identity and ask for a contact telephone number. A genuine buyer will be willing to leave a deposit to secure the sale while payment is verified. Once payment has been cleared by your bank, you will need to write out and give to the buyer a receipt stating all the details of the sale - the make of van, the date of sale and the method of payment. It is, of course, a good idea to keep the contact details of a few interested parties, just in case your first choice of buyer falls through.
