webuyanycar is one of the quickest and easiest ways to sell a used car online, but you might get a lower price than you'd like. Our review reveals how it works, the fees to watch out for and how to get the best price for your car.
Sections
- How to sell your car to webuyanycar UK
- Get the best price with webuyanycar
- webuyanycar valuation: is it fair and how much will they knock off the quoted price?
- Can you get a better price than webuyanycar when selling your car?
- How to book a webuyanycar inspection
- Costs, fees and charges when selling on webuyanycar
- I want to sell my car quickly: extra fees
- Once you’ve sold your car
How to sell your car to webuyanycar UK
Webuyanycar is the UK's largest car-buying service and one of the simplest ways to sell your car online.
It differs from Auto Trader and similar sites because you sell your car to webuyanycar itself, rather than a private individual.
This cuts out a huge amount of the legwork involved in selling, such as creating an advert, meeting potential buyers and avoiding scams.
Webuyanycar also buys Cat C and Cat D damaged cars, as well as modified vehicles and vehicles on finance, which can be more difficult to sell privately.
Unfortunately, webuyanycar.com’s initial online valuation is often higher than the price sellers actually get.
This article explains how to get a more accurate valuation, whether that valuation is fair, and how to maximise the price you get.
This is part of a loveMONEY series of guides selling a used car: we have detailed reviews on Auto Trader, Motorway Evans Halshaw, and Gumtree if you want to see how they compare.
Get the best price with webuyanycar
September and March are when new model cars arrive, meaning that large numbers of used cars come onto the market in these months, potentially affecting valuations.
Valuations can also be affected by the seasons, with convertibles preferred in the warmer months and four-wheel drive cars in winter.
If your car is approaching its plate birthday – and particularly the five-year mark – you should consider selling before it reaches it, to get a higher valuation.
Before getting a webuyanycar valuation, collect the details and documents needed to sell your car.
You’ll need to know your car’s registration number, mileage, number of previous owners and any relevant extras, such as sat-nav or leather seats.
Make sure you have the V5 logbook and registration certificate, service history and receipts for work done, MOT certificate, both sets of car keys, wheel locking nut and radio security codes (if relevant) and finance settlement letter, if appropriate.
Webuyanycar.com recommends you get the car professionally cleaned and consider repairs. Repairs of windscreen chips, for example, could be covered by your insurer.
webuyanycar valuation: is it fair and how much will they knock off the quoted price?
Getting an initial valuation on webuyanycar.com is simple: you’ll need your registration number and mileage.
This valuation assumes that the car has more than six months left on the MOT, full papers, two sets of keys, is not an import, customised or personalised and is in great condition with no damage whatsoever (unlike Auto Trader, where the valuation assumes minor damage).
In many cases, therefore, this valuation won’t be accurate, and you could be offered a lower price following webuyanycar.com’s inspection.
To get a more accurate quote it’s vital that you add details of any damage or other faults using the valuation update menu, such as the scratch below.
The online valuation is ‘guaranteed’ for seven days but be aware that this only relates to wider market price fluctuations; it doesn't prevent webuyanycar.com changing their offer following inspection.
Can you get a better price than webuyanycar when selling your car?
When selling your car it’s tempting to compare webuyanycar.com’s valuations to those offered by Auto Trader and other private sale sites, which can be higher.
Keep in mind, however, that actually achieving such prices on those sites requires substantially more work and time on your side; you need to decide whether it’s worth it.
If you want to sell your used car easily and quickly, then it's important to know that webuyanycar.com isn't your only option: take the time to compare valuations to those offered by other car buying and comparison sites such as Motorway and Confused.com.
Want to see if you can get a better price than webuyanycar by selling to Motorway instead?
The box below will help you get a valuation from Motorway in minutes (we may receive a small fee if you do decide to sell to them but this won't affect the price you're offered).
Be warned that competitors’ valuations are also initial valuations and so could be lowered after inspection.
Search for cheaper car insurance with Confused.com. Don't simply renew!
How to book a webuyanycar inspection
Once you’ve got a webuyanycar valuation, you can book an appointment online to take place at a local webuyanycar.com centre.
You’ll need to take your paperwork, keys, bank details for payment and have a way to get home arranged.
The inspection should take 20 minutes. Webuyanycar explains more about the process on this page of its site.
The inspector will then make adjustments to the valuation, to take into account damage that you didn’t mention when you made the initial valuation.
They should show you an assessment form to illustrate what’s wrong with the car.
Remember, if you’re disappointed with the final valuation you have no obligation to sell them the car – and it never hurts to haggle.
If you agree on a sale, you’ll need to hand over the keys, abovementioned documents, user manuals and any accessories such as the locking wheel nut or radio fascia.
Costs, fees and charges when selling on webuyanycar
Webuyanycar.com will charge you a transaction fee (unless your car is valued under £100), which varies based on your car's valuation.
This comes in at £49.99 for cars valued from £100 to £3,999; £59.99 for vehicles valued between £4,000.00 and £4,999.99 and £74.99 on cars over £5,000.
There are other fees if you want to get paid more quickly than usual, explained below.
I want to sell my car quickly: extra fees
Webuyanycar.com says your money will appear in your bank account four working days after you sell the car.
This type of payment won't cost you any extra.
If you want your money sooner, you can pay £24.75 to get it the next working day, or £29.75 for ‘Premier Payment’, where funds should reach your account from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours after.
Note there are some restrictions on who can get Premier Payment, for example, if you have outstanding finance, or if you've owned the car for a short period.
You can learn more in the terms and conditions here (scroll down to the 'Premier Payment' section).
Once you’ve sold your car
You can notify the DVLA that you’ve sold the car online, or by tearing off the bottom section of your V5C document and send it to the DVLA, saying you’ve sold the car.
It’s important to inform the DVLA to receive a tax refund and avoid being held responsible for any future penalties involving the car, and to get any tax refund you are owed
Tell your insurers that you’ve sold the vehicle as soon as possible.
Still not sure what to do? Head this way for detailed reviews on selling a used car on Auto Trader, Motorway and Gumtree.
*This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently.