Best way to sell your Land Rover online

Do you own a Land Rover that you’ve decided to sell but feel unsure where to start? We’ll reveal what you need to know.

Used car prices have risen 29% in February compared with the previous year according to AutoTrader, which may prompt many car owners to consider whether it could be worth putting their vehicle on the market.

If you own a Land Rover, it could be an especially lucrative time to sell as the latest data from Autotrader has revealed that the average asking price for a used Land Rover Defender 110 is £82,927.

This represents a 48% increase compared with the previous year.

As with any car, deciding on the best way to sell your Land Rover will involve weighing up the amount of time and effort you’re willing to invest in the process against your expected rewards.

But there are additional factors you’ll also need to consider with this brand.

First off, while a Land Rover has premium in-car features, it does tend to be a vehicle that divides opinion, with most owners being devoted fans of the brand.

Second, these cars typically come with a far higher price tag than the average vehicle.

Depending on the model and age of your car, this could mean that there are fewer potential buyers for your vehicle.

Here, we’ve rounded up your options for selling your Land Rover online and our top tips for securing the best deal.

Selling your car online: all your options explored

How much is a Land Rover worth?

As with any second-hand car, the value of your Land Rover will depend on many factors such as its age, model and condition.

If you’d like a valuation for your specific model, you can enter your registration number on the official Land Rover site.

For more information on the speed with which your Land Rover will depreciate over time, check out this page.

How car-buying sites work

If you want to sell your Land Rover quickly, a car-buying site such as Webuyanycar.com or Motorway might be your best option.

To get a quote from a site, you’ll need to enter information such as your registration number, mileage and service history. You’ll then get a quote for the amount it is willing to pay for your car.

With some sites, you’ll also need to make an appointment to take your car to a branch.

If you sell through Webuyanycar.com, the firm will then sell the car to another buyer and likely for a higher price, which means you should be prepared to accept a slightly lower offer than the car may be worth.

If your car is valued at more than £100, you’ll need to pay a transaction fee on the sale. This is:

£49.99 for cars valued at between £100 and £3,999.99
£59.99 for cars valued at between £4,000 and £4,999.99
£74.99 for cars valued at more than £5,000

How to get the best price when selling to webuyanycar

If you sell your Land Rover through Motorway, the site will search through its network of more than 4,000 dealers to find the best price for your car.

Motorway will then show you the highest bid and you can decide whether you would like to accept this offer.

Car-buying sites: what to consider

As many companies arrange the collection of the cars they purchase, this option is often far simpler and involves less leg work than a private sale.

When you get a quote from a car-buying service, be aware that this offer is only provisional and could change once the company has seen the car and checked that its condition matches the information you provided.

As Land Rovers tend to be a specialised purchase, it’s also a good idea to double-check that the site you’re considering sells your car’s make and model.

Selling a Land Rover on AutoTrader or eBay

If you’d like to sell your Land Rover yourself, a website such as AutoTrader is the most obvious place to start. As a marketplace for private sellers, it allows you to list your car for a pre-arranged amount of time for a set fee.

The fee will depend on your vehicle’s value. If you’re selling your car for more than £10,000 (as many Land Rover owners might be), the following will apply:

A two-week basic listing with up to 20 photos will cost £39.95
A three-week standard listing that prioritises your car in mobile searches will cost £49.95
A six-week premium listing with a YouTube video will cost £64.95
An ultimate listing that keeps your car online until it is sold will cost £84.95

Be aware, that these fees will be lower if you are selling your Land Rover for less.

How to sell a car on Auto Trader

If you’re more comfortable with a general marketplace, you could consider selling your car through eBay Motors.

Again, you’ll need to pay a fee to use the site, which is either £14.99 or £19.99.

You’ll need to pay to include the following options:

Photo gallery: £2.99
Buy-it-now: £5.99
Reserve price: £9.99
Subtitle: 49p

It's important to bear in mind that the auction site will also take a commission of 1% on the sale (with a minimum amount of £25 and a maximum of £45).

Selling yourself: what else to consider

Although selling your Land Rover yourself is most likely to secure the highest price, you’ll probably need to put in a fair bit of time and effort into arranging a sale.

For instance, you’ll need to take photos of your car and find a way of describing it that will appeal to potential buyers. Likewise, you may need to organise viewings and test drives for potential buyers.

The specialist nature of a Land Rover could also mean that selling your car through this method takes several months or you may not find a buyer at all.

When’s the best time to sell a Land Rover?

As Land Rover specialises in 4x4s and SUVs, you may be more likely to secure a better price during the winter or late autumn.

Features such as the terrain response system, which assesses slip, gradient and yaw, temperature and pressure, can make these cars especially robust as driving conditions worsen.

With new number plates being issued in March and September, you might also want to consider selling your car before the release of the next set of plates.

Each new release means that your vehicle will technically be classed as six months older and potentially less valuable.

Many experts also recommend selling a car when it has completed between 40,000 and 70,000 miles.

Getting your Land Rover ready for sale

Regardless of how you sell your car, there are steps you can take to ensure the vehicle is in the best possible condition before being viewed by potential buyers. This includes:

A professional clean
Checking the tyre depth and tread
Having cracked windscreens repaired
Repairing minor cosmetic issues such as chipped paintwork
Addressing any warning or flashing lights on the dashboard

While it may be tempting to conduct minor repairs yourself, this could be a costly mistake if you don’t have the relevant expertise.

As well as potentially invalidating your warranty, a botched repair could devalue your vehicle.

10 tips to help you sell your car for the best price

What documents will I need?

Whether you’re selling your Land Rover through a car-buying site or privately, it’s essential that you gather all the documents you’ll need to transfer ownership.

This includes your:

Logbook (also known as a V5C document)
Service history (stamped by the dealer, if possible)
MOT certificate
Receipts for any parts bought for the car/recent repairs

If you decide to sell your Land Rover privately, it’s also a good idea to draw up a seller’s contract and provide your buyer with a sold-as-seen receipt.