What Documents Do You Need To Sell Your Car?
When selling a car, having all of the necessary documentation on hand can make the process go more smoothly and quickly. Not only that, but you may be able to get a higher price for your car too.
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The main documents you need are as follows, and we’ll go into a bit more detail about why each of them is important to have with you when selling your car.
Your V5C
Proof of Purchase
Service History & Car Parts Receipts
Car Handbook
MOT History
Insurance Repairs
V5C
The V5C is one of the most vital documents you need when selling your car. It essentially holds all the ownership information for your vehicle, and what you’ll need so that ownership can be transferred over to a new buyer.
If you’re selling to a dealership like us, we can take care of this part for you, but if you sell privately you’ll need to fill out the relevant sections and send it off to the DVLA yourself, or you can do it online.
Selling your car without a V5C can definitely impact the price you get for your car as it may put future buyers off. However, you can apply for a new one on the DVLA website.
Proof of Purchase
When buying a car the seller in question should provide you with a receipt for the proof of purchase. This details the deposit you put down (if any), the seller's name, the buyer's name, the vehicle make, model and VIN (vehicle identification number), registration, the overall amount paid for the vehicle, and the buyers and sellers signatures.
While proof of purchase isn't one of the most important documents to have when selling a car, it is there for security purposes to show that the vehicle hasn't been stolen and no fraud is involved.
Service History
Service history is another integral piece of information you need when selling your car. Having a comprehensive and regular service history shows the car has been well maintained and cared for, and will consequently increase its value.
The book should be stamped, with the name and address of the garage as well as the date each time you’ve had your car serviced.
If you don’t have a service book or it doesn’t have all the above details in it, try to find the receipts for each service you've had carried out.
MOT History
MOT’s legally have to be carried out yearly to ensure your car is safe and roadworthy.
While MOT histories for vehicles are available online, having hard copies and physical receipts for any repair work carried out could make the car more attractive to potential buyers.
Insurance Repairs
You'll want to keep any repair receipts for work done on your car if it was involved in an accident while you were the owner and you had to file an insurance claim.
If you don't have this proof, call your insurance company or the garage where the work was performed and ask for the receipts.
How can Hilton Garage help you sell your car?
If you’re searching for somewhere to sell your car in Derby, we don’t just sell cars, we buy them too. We can either buy your car outright, or you can part exchange with us to upgrade to one of our quality used cars.
We’ve aimed to make the process of selling your car as quick and easy as possible, so you can focus on the more important things. Simply enter your REG number if you’re just looking to sell your car or fill out our part exchange form to receive a quote.