Sponsored: how to sell your car in as little as 24 hours

Used-car marketplace Motorway explains what to do if you need to sell your car quickly.

Selling a car is often a daunting and time-consuming experience.

Especially if you’re trying to sell privately, which means dealing personally with buyers, going for test drives, and potentially haggling – all with no guarantee of a sale at the end.

It is little wonder that many sellers will look for quicker options – but not all fast options are the same.

So, let’s look at the four main methods of selling a car, to find out which method will allow you to sell your car fast – and, crucially, for the best price.

How fast is it to sell your car privately?

Selling your car privately can involve anything from putting a car ad in a local newspaper to sticking up a note on your local supermarket's pinboard.

Though, these days, sellers are more likely to use online sales platforms that will present their car advert to hundreds of thousands of engaged buyers.

Despite this, there are no guarantees your car will sell – and it is usually one of the more time-consuming options.

Typically, you will need to craft an advert that will make your car ad stand out in the crowded marketplace. Which takes time and effort. You’ll also need to take photos that show the car in its best light.

If your car ad does get responses, you will need to take time to respond to calls and emails from potential buyers.

Then arrange to show them your car and potentially take them out for a test drive. Private sales are very hands-on and can take considerable time and effort. There’s also no guarantee that the sale will come off.

Is a part exchange with a dealer a quicker option?

Before the rise of instant car-buying websites, this used to be the most common way of getting rid of an unwanted car if you needed to do it quickly.

Car dealers are usually quite happy to part-exchange your car as long as you are paying for a new one at the same time.

If you’re keen to get your existing car off your hands and trade up to a newer model, it is a better option than laboriously trying to sell your car privately – as you could avoid the uncertainty and hassle of dealing with enquiries, viewings, and test drives.

However, when you part-exchange a car, the price you will get for it will usually be much lower than you would get from a private sale.

This is because the dealer will probably want to sell your car at an auction – and will, therefore, want a good price for it in order to make a profit.

As it is up to the dealer's discretion whether or not to include your old car as partial payment towards a new one, it can also be difficult to negotiate a better price than the one offered.

Is selling to an instant car-buying website the quickest option?

It can be very fast – and if you’re keen to offload your car and aren’t really worried about the money you’ll get for it, selling with an instant online car buyer might be for you.

This is certainly a quick and straightforward option. After you’ve entered your car’s details on the instant car buyer’s website, you’ll receive a valuation.

This will typically be lower than the car’s true market value.

As with car dealers offering part exchange, if you do decide to sell this way, your car will again be sent to an auction and the instant car buyer will want to make a good return on the price of your car.

You will also have to take the car to one of the instant car buyer’s inspection sites.

Here, a mechanic will look over your car to ensure that the details you’ve given when you signed up to their website are accurate.

When you take the car for inspection with the instant car buyer, you may find the price you were previously offered is further reduced.

If not previously disclosed online, superficial damage to your car – such as dents and scratches – will often impact the valuation at the last minute.

Is there a fast-selling option that will give a good price?

Yes. Using Motorway is a very quick and simple way of ensuring that you get healthy competition and multiple offers for your car.

It is a free online service that will put your car in front of thousands of verified car dealers, who will then compete to give you the best price for your car.

It is very straightforward to use. Simply enter your car’s reg on Motorway’s website and you’ll be provided with an instant estimated sale price based on up-to-the-minute market prices.

If you choose to enter your car into a sale, it will be shown to Motorway’s network of 5,000+ verified dealers. They will then compete to buy your car, offering you their best price.

In as little as 24 hours you will receive your best offer – and, if you choose to go ahead with the sale, your car will be collected for free by the dealer and the money will be quickly and securely transferred to your bank account.