How To Prepare Your Van For Sale | Vans North West

CONSIDER YOUR VAN’S CONDITION BEFORE A SALE

In a private sale, signs of wear and tear could become major negotiating points. But van buying sites, auctions and part exchanges tend to be more forgiving of minor dents and scratches.

The most important thing to do first, before you decide how to sell your van, is to get an up-to-date market valuation of your vehicle. There are a couple of ways to do this:

• Use a free online valuation
• Compare your make and model, including mileage and condition, with other vans being sold privately. Use our van price guide to quickly and easily compare prices.

Be sure to check prices with private sellers over dealerships. Dealerships add supplements to prices in line with the other services provided by the company.

Certain vans sell better during certain seasons. Consider the time of year you are selling, as well as the age and mileage of your van. Remember:

• Online auctions - pay days and weekends often produce better results
• Spring and summer - convertibles and cabriolets tend to sell better when the weather is nice
• Autumn and winter - 4x4s are more desirable when the weather and road conditions are poor
• Major festivities - avoid trying to sell a van directly after a major spending event like Christmas or the summer holidays
• Part exchanges - visit dealerships during traditionally quieter months, such as December, January, March and August

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR VAN FOR SALE

Presentation is key when it comes to getting your van ready for sale. As well as making it significantly more appealing, having a well-prepared van can also add hundreds, even thousands, to the value of a vehicle in some cases.

It’s also a good idea to collate all of your van’s paperwork ready for the new owner, as this is key to proving that it has been well maintained over the years.

HAVING IT PROFESSIONALLY VALETED

While you might think that giving your van a quick swill over with a hosepipe and a five-minute vacuum will have your van sale ready, the reality is that this is not the case.

It’s worth having your van professionally valeted to get it looking its best for sale, this includes having the outside and inside done, while a clean engine bay also looks great in photos. This will really help to get it looking its best for sale, and make it stand out in photographs if selling it privately.

These valets can start from as little as £20 at a local van wash, or from around £30 if using a unit-based valeter or those operating on a handy mobile basis. If you find it a struggle to track down a reputable valeter, you can do a postcode search on the Pro Valets Association website to find reputable companies.

DETAILING

Detailing might be something you’ve never heard of, but what it essentially involves is machine polishing a van and focusing on the finer details to get a van looking its best. It usually works best on more expensive vans, but removing fine scratches, scuffs and marks from a low mileage van can pay dividends when it comes to your van’s value, as it helps a vehicle to look ‘as new’, or sometimes even better.

DENT REMOVAL

Dents can significantly reduce a van’s value. Paintless dent repair (PDR) is transforming dent removal at the moment, provided the dent can be ‘pulled’ from a van using specialist tools. It doesn’t always produce perfect results but is a great way to get your van showroom ready and increase its value, without even having to touch a bodyshop for an expensive repair.

It could well be worth the investment, especially if you’re looking to sell or part exchange quickly with a van buying service that offers you a pre-agreed price.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE ADVERT

Photographs can be a deal-breaker for some buyers. Poor quality photos might mean that potential buyers keep scrolling down a web page if you have sub-par images.

You don’t have to be a professional photographer, but taking pictures of your van with an attractive and simple backdrop from all of its angles can make a big difference to potential buyers. Have a look at other adverts and see how their photos are taken, and use the best ones as inspiration.

A well-written advert is equally important if selling a vehicle privately. Avoid using any text language abbreviations, and be sure to include your van’s standout and relevant features. Mention the number of owners, its condition, service history, mileage, key equipment on the van and when the next MOT is due as a minimum.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A LONG MOT

Now that tax no longer transfers from owner to owner, as it did in the past, the MOT is now more important than ever. A full year’s MOT will give buyers confidence in your van, and make it more desirable and valuable than a van with an expired MOT, or one with just a month or so left on it.

Depending on the value of your vehicle, if it’s due a service, it could be worth paying to have this done, particularly if the van has had a full service history up until that point. It will make the van stand out in the crowd as a new buyer will be happy to just jump in and drive, rather than having to go to a garage straight after they’ve purchased it.

HONESTY

Honesty counts for a lot when selling a van. Someone will likely be put off buying your van if they sense that you’re acting sheepish, potentially lying to them or covering up faults.

The rule to ‘treat people how you would expect to be treated yourself’ is very important when selling a van, and worth remembering.

GATHER THE RELEVANT PAPERWORK

When selling your van, it’s very important to have the correct paperwork ready. This includes service history, the V5C registration document and any MOT certificates and relevant paperwork that shows what work has been carried out on it. This will likely increase its value, too. Read our guide to ensure you have the relevant paperwork for selling your van.

EMPTY IT OF BELONGINGS

If people are valuing your van, or coming round to view it at your house, they don’t want to see it full of clutter and belongings. Empty it of all but the most essential things (providing the van is still being used at this point), and it will make it far more appealing to someone viewing it. Check any hidden storage areas and cubby holes too.

CHECK FLUID LEVELS AND TYRE PRESSURES

While we have mentioned this as part of general maintenance throughout ownership, don’t forget to top up all fluid levels and to check the tyre pressures when selling it as well. A van that has low tyre pressures and oil levels doesn’t give much of an impression that it has been looked after, and therefore will be less desirable for potential customers.

GET THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS READY

You will need to collate and produce several documents to sell your van. Additionally, once you’ve sold your vehicle, you will need to complete some essential, legal paperwork. Also, don’t forget to update your van insurance, whether it needs to be cancelled or transferred to your new vehicle.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO SELL MY VAN?

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

• Vehicle registration certificate (aka the V5C or vehicle log book)
• MOT certificate(s), if your van is over 3 years old
• Full service history and past receipts
• Warranty documents
• The van’s handbook
• Van keys and duplicate sets

While some of these documents are inessential, they can add value to the sale of your van. If you cannot find any of these documents, try to get them replaced. For example, you can collect a replacement MOT certificate from any MOT testing station – just take your V5C with you as ID. You can also get a replacement V5C certificate from the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency) by phone, or fill in an application for a log book (V62) form and send it by post.

SELLING PRIVATELY – EXTRA PAPERWORK NEEDS

Private van sales require you to provide the buyer with a ‘sold as seen, tried and approved without guarantee’ bill of sale. Treat this receipt as a formal contract between you and the buyer.

Create two copies - one for yourself and one for the buyer - and complete both in the buyer’s presence. Include as many details about the van as you can. Remember, your van must match any descriptions you give verbally and in writing throughout the course of the sale.

DO I NEED A LOG BOOK TO SELL MY VAN?

While it is possible to sell a vehicle without the V5C (log book), the DVLA advises motorists not to purchase a van without one. Buyers will be suspicious of any van that doesn’t come with this essential document.

SELLING A VAN WITH A PRIVATE PLATE

If you wish to keep your private plate, you will need to apply for ‘retention’, either online or by post, before you sell the van. A private plate sold with a van is considered part of the sale.

SELLING A VAN WITH NO MOT

Some online van buying sites may purchase such vans, but they’ll likely want a reduced price.

TAXES AND FINANCES WHEN SELLING YOUR VAN

You can no longer transfer road tax when selling your van. Sellers must apply for a refund, and buyers must tax the van themselves at the point of sale.

Take note – if you sell then buy a van early in the month, you could pay tax twice. DVLA vehicle tax is now backdated to the beginning of the month and refunds offered from the start of next. You can apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) before the month’s end to avoid paying tax on the van you wish to sell, but this will mean you cannot legally drive or test drive the vehicle.

SELLING YOUR VAN – DVLA DO’S

Immediately notify the DVLA when you have sold your van – you could face a hefty fine and be prosecuted otherwise.

Upon selling your van, fill out the V5C (log book) and V5C/2 subsection with the buyer and give the V5C/2 to the buyer as proof of purchase.

Post the completed V5C to the DVLA to tell them about the van’s change of ownership. Instead of posting the completed V5C, you can now submit details to the DVLA online. The government operates this vehicle registration service from 7am – 7pm. To inform the DVLA of the change of ownership, the completed V5C must only be posted or detailed online - do not do both.

FINANCE AND SELLING YOUR VAN

There are four main types of van finance:

• Personal bank loans
• Hire Purchase (HP)
• Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
• Personal Contract Hire (PCH)

Know What It’s Worth Before You Go In

While many new van dealers will simply part exchange your van out of courtesy to sweeten the deal, some used van dealers may only accept a van if they feel that they might be able to sell it themselves. This means that if a specialist garage deals with the van you drive, you have a better chance of part exchanging it there than anywhere else.

For example, a van dealership is far more likely to offer you a better price for a van compared to what a van dealer could offer, as they are likely to be more effective in marketing your van to their customer base.

In addition, some dealers are registered with specialised services that offer sellers a pre-agreed price for their van. By doing this, you are pretty much guaranteeing how much you can expect to receive for your van when you get to the forecourt to make a part exchange and pick up your next vehicle.

Be Honest

It’s always worth telling the dealer of any problems when they’re giving you a price. While it might seem a good idea at the time to not tell them about that hidden fault, it can lead to complications if the dealer recognises it when you’re actually handing your van over.

As well as the negatives, though, it’s also worth highlighting work that the van has had done. If it has been well maintained, tell them, but also have paperwork to back it up. If it’s also fitted with any desirable optional extras, let them know too, as this can increase value.

BRING THE RELEVANT PAPERWORK WITH YOU

This mainly applies to receipts and paperwork that you might have with you. If you claim your van has a full service history – which can noticeably increase its value – but don’t have a stamped service book or receipts to show this, your word counts for nothing. Bring in paperwork to prove your van’s history.

DON’T BE FRIGHTENED TO SHOP AROUND

If your preferred dealer won’t give you the price you’re after – providing it is realistic – don’t just accept it anyway – shop around to see if others will give you a higher part exchange price. Even if they won’t, you can go back to the first dealer with confidence that you’re getting the best price for your van.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE

While part exchanging your van is a hassle-free way of selling it, there are other simple methods, such as using an online van buying service or using a part exchange service that gives you a clear pre-agreed valuation for your van. If you have a desirable van in good condition, certain trusted dealerships may give you a cash price for your van, even if you’re not part exchanging it at that particular garage.

EMPTY YOUR VAN THOROUGHLY

This applies to however you aim to sell your van – make sure you take all your belongings with you. This also includes checking any storage areas, cubby holes and behind and underneath seats. An extra look, or another pair of eyes, could help you find that lost set of keys or even just a few pounds down the side of a seat.

WHAT YOU NEED TO CREATE YOUR LISTING

You don’t have to be a professional to write a listing that stands out. Before you begin, make sure you’ve read through and have everything you need to hand. You’ll need the following:

Correct documentation – save time by making sure you have all the right paperwork before creating your listing. Read our handy guide to find out what documents you need to sell your van privately.

Asking price – use our free valuation tool to find out how much your van could be worth. You can use our estimated figure as a guideline to help you decide the price of your vehicle with confidence.

Great photos – you can use up to 5 images to showcase your van. Make sure they’re in focus and show your van from a variety of angles – inside and out.

HOW TO WRITE A DESCRIPTION THAT ATTRACTS BUYERS

A great description gives potential buyers everything they need to know about the van you’re selling. Keep it interesting and informative, but don’t go over the top and make it too good to be true. Here’s what you should include:

• 1 – 2 sentences about the condition of your van and list any faults – you don’t have to highlight every single scratch but you’re more likely to get a sale if you’re upfront about any damage
• Mention if you have a full service history and if your van is still under a transferrable warranty
• List the number of previous owners if your van has passed through a few hands
• Highlight your van’s MOT, especially if you’ve got a new 12-month certificate
• List any stand-out optional extras that don’t come as standard, such as a DAB radio, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors and parking cameras

Standard details to include in your advert:

• Make and model of your vehicle
• Whether it’s front, rear or four wheel drive
• Your vehicle’s fuel type, mileage and registration date
• Number of seat and van type (whether it’s a 5-door estate or a 3-door hatchback)
• Transmission type, whether manual or automatic
• It’s miles per gallon (mpg)

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR VAN LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

Now that you’ve written a killer description, it’s time to take a few photos to get your van noticed. Potential buyers are naturally drawn to adverts with quality photographs. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Our photography tips will help you take the best photos possible – increasing your chance of a sale. You’ll want to:

• Clean your van inside and out
• Take pictures during the day in nice weather against a clean background
• Ensure images are clear and close to the vehicle to show its condition, whilst also capturing the entirety of your van
• Hold the camera level, at landscape and at the height of the wing mirror
• Capture pictures of your vehicle from different angles and inside the cabin
• Remove all belongings and straighten the steering wheel for interior shots
• Stand outside the front passenger door and take a picture over the window frame to get a good image of the cabin or sit on the backseat to take a picture of the entire dashboard
• Make sure your pictures aren’t blurred or pixelated
• Highlight any damage that could surprise potential buyers – that doesn’t mean every scratch and bump, but being honest about your van’s condition will earn a buyer’s trust
• Take advantage of the opportunity to upload 5 photographs in your free listing – most buyers like to see a van from multiple angles, outside and in

Selling your van privately has never been easier and we’re here to help you every step of the way. You’ve collated all of your paperwork, written a description and selected the images you want to use – it’s time to create your listing to sell your van.

SAFETY TIPS FOR PRIVATE VAN SALES

While there tends to be more risk in buying a van, private sellers are not immune to being targeted by fraudsters. To help you avoid falling victim to a crime, here are our top five things to know when selling your van:

As a private seller, you are responsible for making sure that the description you have given of the vehicle is accurate. Details in the advertisement, such as mileage and whether or not the vehicle has a full service history, should be correct. If the buyer asks whether the vehicle has been involved in any accidents, you should answer honestly. It is illegal to mislead the buyer and you are liable for this should anything go wrong.

Collect all relevant paperwork together such as the V5C, service history and MOT certificate, along with any receipts you may have for work done on the van. The buyer may wish to check the details such as the address on the V5C and the mileage recorded on the most recent MOT certificate, and this is a reasonable expectation. However, never let potential buyers take copies or photographs of vehicle documents, or keep the originals before buying. These should only be handed over with the van after the money has been deposited safely into your bank account.

Be aware that fraudsters may contact you posing as potential buyers. Never share personal details over the phone, as criminals could use this information to create a cloned advert and scam others, or attempt to exploit your identity. Genuine buyers should not have a problem with viewing the van in person and checking the details.

Never leave a potential buyer alone with the keys or allow them to go on a test drive without you. You may wish to take a friend or family member along with you for the test drive, and don’t be afraid to stop it early if the potential buyer drives dangerously.

Never let a buyer drive your van away without first paying you in full. If the buyer has given you a cheque or transferred funds to your account, wait for this to clear fully before you hand the keys over.

It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself that a transaction is legitimate. Remember, you must notify the DVLA of the transferred ownership, as you are responsible for the vehicle until you have done so. If you don’t, you could find yourself facing somebody else’s motoring offences.

BEING CAUTIOUS OF FRAUDULENT BUYERS

• Be wary of offers to buy your van without a single viewing
• Be cautious of potential buyers who claim someone else will pay in their stead
• Do not let any prospective buyers into your home
• Consider having someone with you during viewings
• Never hand the van keys or documents over until payment is cleared and in your account
• Remember, a cheque will show up in your account after a couple of days, but it won’t clear for at least five working days and could still bounce
• Beware of cold callers asking you for money to help sell your van (aka possible vehicle-matching scams)
• Beware of ‘phishing’ email scams – these may pose as buyers or even classifieds websites
• Take caution with supposed overseas buyers who ask you to cover transportation costs (aka potential shipping scams)

Remember, it is also illegal to sell a van in an unroadworthy condition to an unaware buyer. If the vehicle is not fit to be driven, by law you must make this clear in the advert and sell it ‘for repairs or spare parts’.

ADVERTISING YOUR VAN

Advertising in the classifieds is usually the quickest way to sell your van and for the best price. To the uninitiated, however, it can be a daunting experience, made worse by the risk posed by criminals looking to exploit unprepared vendors. Follow our tips to ensure your van sale goes as smoothly and as safely as possible.

Ensure the van is in a presentable condition. Nothing will put a prospective buyer off more than being greeted by an empty takeaway carton in the footwell when they step in for a test drive. Try to make the van look as new and fresh as possible, within reason.

Take plenty of pictures. Classified adverts without images will largely be ignored, so it pays to put the time in and take plenty of snaps inside and out, in front of a suitable backdrop. If your van’s bodywork is damaged, be honest and don’t try to hide it – it will save disappointed customers simply walking away later on.

Try to get as much information about the van and its condition into the advert as possible. Be open about any defects; not only will you only attract serious buyers, but not being misleading will see you staying on the right side of the law.

Ensure there is no outstanding finance on the van. Savvy buyers will check this before even considering a viewing, and there are a number of vehicle provenance checks which will give this information instantly. If the van has previously been leased, you may not have the right to sell it on in the first place.

If the van’s MOT has nearly expired, consider getting a new one. A fresh ticket is a good indicator of a vehicle’s overall condition and will appeal to buyers. This small expense could make your sale much easier and quicker.

Do research on other similar vehicles for sale to ensure you price your van realistically. Unless it is in concours condition or has very low mileage for its age, buyers are unlikely to pay a premium, particularly if it is a popular model.

Try to get as much information about the van and its condition into the advert as possible.

MEETING THE BUYER

Always aim to meet at your home address during daylight hours. Not only is this likely to be the safest possible location for you, but it also increases the buyer’s confidence that you’re a genuine seller. If this isn’t possible, pick a safe, public place and consider taking a third party with you as a potential witness should things go awry.

Have all the appropriate documents to hand. A genuine buyer will want to inspect the van’s history and check you have the legal right to sell on the van. If documents are missing or the van has patchy service history, honesty is the best policy.

On that note, be wary of buyers who seem in a rush or disinterested in inspecting the van/taking a test drive. Unless you’ve advertised the van as a non-runner (so-called ‘spares or repairs’), buyers will nearly always want to give the van a once-over. Scammers who are more interested in simply relieving you of your keys won’t be.

THE TEST DRIVE

Before letting any potential customer take to the wheel of your van, make sure they hold a valid driving licence and are properly insured to drive it, whether this is under your policy or theirs. Not only will this prevent awkward questions should an accident happen, but the buyer’s licence will also confirm their name and address.

Before embarking on a test drive, make sure the buyer understands that they are liable for any fines arising from speeding or other traffic offences that they may cause for the duration of the test.

THE SALE

Once the buyer is happy and you’ve agreed on a price, it will be time to exchange the keys for cash. Accepting payments by bank transfer is always the safest method – accepting bundles of notes from the buyer may seem convenient, but how can you be sure they are genuine? Always make sure funds have cleared and are available in your account before letting them drive off, particularly if accepting payment by cheque.

Write out two identical copies of a receipt, and include the details of the van, the amount paid and the date. Crucially, write ‘sold as seen’ on it. This isn’t a free pass to mislead a buyer over the state of the van, but will cover you should it break down in their possession later down the line. Both you and the buyer should sign both copies.

Take responsibility for the V5C document, which will inform the DVLA that the van has changed hands. One section will be handed over to the buyer as proof they are the registered keeper until their own copy comes through. Do not rely on the buyer to fill out the form and send it, or you may find yourself liable for any traffic offences committed once it has left your possession. Similarly, it is an offence to fail to notify the DVLA of a change of ownership.