How quickly can I sell my car to you?

The online valuation takes seconds. From there it is one appointment: we come to the car, check it matches the description and pay by bank transfer, then collect it free of charge. Collection is arranged for a time that suits you, anywhere in the UK.

Do you buy cars with outstanding finance?

Yes. Ask your lender for a settlement figure before the appointment. We pay the lender directly to clear the balance and pay you the difference. If the settlement is more than the car is worth, you can pay the shortfall and the sale still goes through.

Is the online valuation the price I actually get?

It is the price for a car in the condition described, and it is what we pay when the car matches. If something turns up at inspection that was not mentioned — accident damage, a warning light, missing keys or history — we explain exactly what it changes before anything is agreed.

Do I have to bring the car to you in Rainham?

No. We collect free of charge anywhere in the UK, at a time you choose. You are very welcome to bring it to our Rainham showroom instead if that is easier.

Why do you need to verify my mobile number?

Because a valuation is worth nothing if we cannot reach you, and it keeps automated junk out of the system. We text a six-digit code, you type it back, and your figure appears. We do not pass your number on or use it for marketing calls.

Will you buy a car with damage, an MOT failure or high mileage?

Usually yes — just tell us upfront so it is priced in from the start. Damage, advisories and high mileage affect the figure, but they rarely stop us buying. It is the surprises at the doorstep that waste everybody's day.

How We Work · 7 min read

How We Buy Your Car: From Online Valuation to Money in Your Bank

How do I sell my car to a dealer?

Enter your registration, mileage and postcode for an online figure, confirm your mobile with the code we text you, then book a quick inspection. If the car matches how it was described, we pay by bank transfer and collect it free of charge anywhere in the UK. If there is outstanding finance, we settle it directly with your lender.

Selling a car privately means strangers at your door, test drives with people you have never met, payment risk and weeks of messages that go nowhere. Selling it to us takes a few minutes online and one appointment.

Here is exactly how our buying process works, what the online figure is based on, and the handful of things that change it.

Step 1 — The online valuation: registration, mileage, postcode

Put your registration and current mileage into our valuation form along with your postcode, and we identify the exact car — model, year, engine, trim and specification — then price it against live market data for that specification at that mileage.

Your postcode matters more than people expect. Demand is regional, and it also tells us where the car is so collection can be planned properly rather than guessed at.

The figure comes back in seconds, and there is nothing to pay and nothing to commit to at that point.

Step 2 — Why we text you a six-digit code

Before your figure appears, we text a six-digit code to the mobile number you entered and ask you to type it back in. It takes about ten seconds and it exists for a good reason.

It confirms the number is really yours, which means the person who rings you about your car is talking to the right human, and it keeps automated junk out of our valuation system so the team spends its time on real sellers. We do not sell your number on, and we do not use it for marketing calls.

Step 3 — What the offer assumes, and what changes it

Every online valuation, from anyone, is based on assumptions. Ours assumes a car in the condition you would expect for its age and mileage.

A valid MOT with no serious advisories outstanding, and no warning lights on the dashboard.
No unrepaired accident damage, and no insurance write-off history on the record.
Bodywork and interior wear consistent with the age and mileage — ordinary stone chips and scuffs are expected and priced in.
Both keys, the service history the car should have, legal tyres and a working spare or repair kit.
Mileage as declared. A large difference at inspection changes the value in either direction.

Step 4 — The inspection and free collection

We book a time that suits you and come to the car, anywhere in the UK, free of charge. The inspection is straightforward: we check the car matches the description, walk round the bodywork, look at the tyres and the interior, start it, check the paperwork and take it for a short drive.

If everything is as described, the deal completes there and then. If something turns up that was not mentioned — a fresh dent, a warning light, a missing service book — we tell you what it changes and why before anything is agreed. You are free to say no.

Tell us upfront about anything wrong with the car. It does not stop us buying it; it just needs to be in the figure from the start rather than at the doorstep.

Step 5 — The paperwork to have ready

Getting these together before the appointment is the difference between twenty minutes and a second visit.

The V5C logbook, in your name and at your current address.
Both keys, plus the locking wheel nut key if the car has one.
Service book, invoices and the MOT certificate if you have them.
Photo ID and proof that the bank account being paid belongs to you — anti-money-laundering rules apply to us as much as to any dealer.
Anything that belongs with the car: parcel shelf, charging cables, second set of wheels, original manuals.

Step 6 — Getting paid, and settling any outstanding finance

Payment is made by bank transfer to the account in your name, and you keep the car until the money is confirmed. There is no waiting for a cheque and no cash-in-a-bag nonsense.

If money is still owing on the car, ask your existing lender for a settlement figure before the appointment — they must give you one, and it is usually available in your online account. We pay the lender directly to clear the balance and pay you whatever is left over. If the car is worth less than the settlement, you can pay the difference and still sell.

Afterwards, tell the DVLA the car has been sold — we complete our part of the V5C with you at handover — and cancel or transfer your insurance. Any full months of remaining road tax are refunded to you by the DVLA automatically.

If we will not buy it outright — Sale or Return

Sometimes the honest answer is that a dealer's cash offer is not the best way to sell your particular car. That is common on cars worth around £15,000 and up, and on cars that need the right buyer rather than a quick trade sale.

Rather than insult you with a low number, we offer Sale or Return: we sell the car for you, at the retail price a private buyer actually pays, and you take that money less one selling fee. Our Sale or Return guide explains how it works, and the calculator will show you the numbers for your own registration.

Common questions

How quickly can I sell my car to you?: The online valuation takes seconds. From there it is one appointment: we come to the car, check it matches the description and pay by bank transfer, then collect it free of charge. Collection is arranged for a time that suits you, anywhere in the UK.
Do you buy cars with outstanding finance?: Yes. Ask your lender for a settlement figure before the appointment. We pay the lender directly to clear the balance and pay you the difference. If the settlement is more than the car is worth, you can pay the shortfall and the sale still goes through.
Is the online valuation the price I actually get?: It is the price for a car in the condition described, and it is what we pay when the car matches. If something turns up at inspection that was not mentioned — accident damage, a warning light, missing keys or history — we explain exactly what it changes before anything is agreed.
Do I have to bring the car to you in Rainham?: No. We collect free of charge anywhere in the UK, at a time you choose. You are very welcome to bring it to our Rainham showroom instead if that is easier.
Why do you need to verify my mobile number?: Because a valuation is worth nothing if we cannot reach you, and it keeps automated junk out of the system. We text a six-digit code, you type it back, and your figure appears. We do not pass your number on or use it for marketing calls.
Will you buy a car with damage, an MOT failure or high mileage?: Usually yes — just tell us upfront so it is priced in from the start. Damage, advisories and high mileage affect the figure, but they rarely stop us buying. It is the surprises at the doorstep that waste everybody's day.

Put your registration in and see the figure — it takes under a minute, costs nothing, and you are under no obligation to sell. If your car is better suited to Sale or Return, the valuation will tell you that automatically.

Browse the Showroom 020 4552 8621