How to save money when selling your car

Thinking about selling your car? There are many factors to consider when selling privately, not least how to cover a potential buyer when they want to take a test drive. We’ll explain how temporary car insurance can help.

Selling your car privately can end up more profitable than trading in or selling to a dealer, but it does take some more effort. A clean car with an honest description and the right paperwork is more likely to sell faster and for a fairer price than a dirty one with lack of information.

Before putting your car up for sale, you should fix any minor issues but not worry about major repairs you won’t get your money back on. Just make sure you describe any potential issues in honest detail on any advertisements or paperwork. A fresh MOT can help reassure buyers, but again it’s worth considering if it’s worth the outlay.

Test drives are where sellers often lose money without realising. Adding a potential buyer to your annual policy isn’t entirely feasible and usually isn’t possible, while letting them drive uninsured risks a fine for both of you.

With temporary car insurance, they’ll be able to take a test drive on their own, saving you money and time and hopefully making them feel more comfortable. It’s comprehensive as standard, so you won’t have to worry about any impact on your no claims.

Once your car's sold, you should cancel your annual policy rather than letting it run on. If you still need to drive the car briefly, for a final viewing or to drop it off, short-term cover for just that trip can be cheaper than keeping a full policy going.