Is it worth selling my car on Auto Trader?

Is it worth selling my car on Auto Trader?
Selling on Auto Trader. Auto Trader is great value. But is it worth selling my car on the website? I have just received a quote from a local dealer who has offered me 500 cash in hand and I'm trying to decide whether or not it is worth the hassle of selling on Auto Trader, which can be very time consuming. The car is a 2024 BMW 1-series and the dealer is based in the Midlands. It's been a long-term client, but I am now moving from London and have to get the car back here as I don't own a car here.
The car was bought new at the end of 2024, but has been neglected since then. I have had a number of conversations with the dealer over the last six months, but they've never really come up with any firm offers for the car. They claim to be looking at around 3,000. They've offered me an average of 500 for each occasion I take the car to them. The idea is that the buyer will then fix it up and resell it for a profit. I find it hard to believe that they would sell a car for 2,000 or so, pay me 500 cash in hand and then sell it for a profit of 2,000-3,000.
If this is correct, then the dealer is losing money. Or am I missing something? What are the advantages and disadvantages of selling on Auto Trader? How can I sell the car for more than 3,000? How can I sell the car for less than 3,000? How does Auto Trader work? Can I take the car to another dealer? Can I refuse to sell the car? Is there any reason to avoid using Auto Trader? Can I sell the car on eBay? What happens to the car when I sell it? If I sell it to a private individual what will happen to the car? Where can I sell my car for the best price? Where can I sell my car for the least amount of money? Where do I sell my car? What if the buyer doesn't want to buy my car? Is it better to sell the car to a dealer?
Can you get cars delivered from Auto Trader?
Yes, if you select "pick up in store" in the cart. What do I need to know about buying a car on-line? You will need to know the following: What cars are available? How much is it going to cost? How many payment methods can I use? What are the shipping options? What do I need to know about the delivery process? Who do I need to contact? How do I make sure I have the right vehicle? What happens if I don't receive the car? What are the payment options? What is the return policy? Do I need a trade in? Do you have a finance department? How can I arrange finance?
Does Auto Trader charge a fee?

In the UK, the Auto Trader fee is 10.00 for the first two months and 30.00 thereafter.
Are my payments secure? All our payments are processed by Paypal, a leading online payment service provider. All customer information is kept secure and we never disclose your personal details to a third party. If you have any concerns, please email us at [email protected].
How can I pay by credit card? You can easily pay by credit card using your PayPal account or your bank's account, but you will need to go to the Autotrader website to get the order number that you will need to quote. You can pay by credit card through PayPal, and if you do not have a PayPal account, it is free to sign up.
How long does it take for my order to be placed? We process all orders as soon as they are received. We aim to despatch your item within 2 days.
How much does Autotrader charge to ship items to me? Orders up to 500.00 (excluding VAT) will be shipped at a flat rate of 10. Orders over 500.00 will be shipped at the cost of the cheapest shipping option available.
How much is Autotrader's postage rate? We only use a flat rate of 10.00 for all UK orders. Orders outside of the UK are charged at the actual cost of the shipping method used by the manufacturer.
Can I choose an alternative delivery method? Yes, you can choose a delivery method other than standard delivery if you would like. The cost of this varies depending on the delivery method chosen. For more information on the different delivery methods click here
What are the extra charges if I choose to receive my goods by another method? Autotrader does not charge any additional charges for goods to be sent to you via a different delivery method than the standard delivery method. How long does it take for my order to be delivered? We aim to deliver all goods within 14 days. How much does Autotrader charge for express deliveries? Autotrader charges 10.00 for express deliveries for UK orders.
Why are cars on Auto Trader more expensive?
If you're buying a used car from an auction, there are usually many factors that can make a difference to how much you pay for it. The quality of the car, the reputation of the seller and the demand on the day it's sold all count in its price, so will whether it was built during a recession or not. The car will be sold in the best possible condition too, so factors like a badly dented bumper will be deducted from its value.
In most cases, you won't need to find a 'certified pre-owned' car from a major car dealer. Many used car buyers want cars from auctions like Autotrader and eBay, as they get a lower cost per mile.
Many people will also like a car in their desired colour or optional extras, and as you'll see on our car search, you can use filters to fine tune which cars you like. There are a lot of features to check for when buying a used car. Many people are now considering diesel or hybrid engines, as these get better mileage than petrol or petrol engines. Also, if you need better fuel economy when you drive to your destination, they're worth considering. If you're looking for a car with room for more passengers, we recommend searching for large hatchbacks or large family cars.
Of course, there are some common sense things to consider too. A car with a lot of rust or dents will be more costly, as will a car with a broken front light or a badly tuned engine.
If you want to go further, don't forget to check out Car Buyer's tip for more advice on how to choose a cheap car! What about the warranty? Most new car warranties last 12 months or 18 months. For most cars, these are pretty standard, as the car manufacturer knows they'll be good for a few months. Some of the new cars we have for sale are longer than that, so make sure you check what the warranty is before buying.
As well as that, check what sort of mileage your car gets before buying it. If you drive an Audi or BMW, you'll be able to add a service plan, as you'll probably get a few hundred miles per year with normal maintenance.
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