Sell my car

Yes, you’ll be able to sell your car even if it’s on finance – the buyer will pay off the finance directly and you’ll receive the remaining sum via a bank transfer.

Your car finance company will need to provide a settlement figure, which must be paid before the finance can be ended. They should give you a figure within one to three days of you requesting it, and you should receive it in the post within 12 days – it’ll usually be valid for a further 10 days to pay it off.

If your settlement figure is greater than the offer you receive for the car, you can pay the difference yourself or pay the buyer or dealer so they can write the whole sum off.

There are no hidden transaction fees when you use Motorway – it’s a completely free service and there is no obligation for you to sell.

When you start the process of selling your car with Motorway, you’re given an estimated sale price based on real-time data – this is known as the valuation.  

However, the market value will depend on more detailed analysis of factors such as the service history, which could make this higher or lower than the initial valuation. Motorway therefore takes these factors into account before proposing a reserve price. 

If you’re happy with the reserve price, your vehicle’s details will then be shared with 5,000+ verified dealers, all of which can bid to buy it. Motorway then tells you the best offer, which could be higher or lower than the reserve price – depending on the market on the day – and which you can choose to accept or decline. If you accept it, that’s the sale price of your car.  

You can still sell your car if it has a private registration, but most buyers will want you to remove it before they collect the vehicle as it’s easier to market cars without a private number plate. 

Transferring a private registration plate can be done online or by post and costs £80. 

Yes, you can sell any car you own at any time. 

Cars that have failed their MOTs cannot be entered into the daily dealer sales arranged by Motorway. However, Motorway does have a scrap partner that may offer to buy and collect an unroadworthy car. 

Yes, but you’ll need a copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate. It’s worth checking with Motorway first, but if the car’s value is under £10,000, the sale price can usually be paid directly to the next of kin. 

If the car’s value is more than £10,000, however, you may need to wait until probate is granted or you have written permission from the estate’s solicitor to sell it.  

You can reclaim your remaining road tax by contacting the DVLA. You should receive your tax refund within eight weeks. 

You must have proof that you are either the owner of the car or that you have permission to sell the car – so you’ll generally need a V5 document. However, you may be able to sell your car without – find out more with Motorway’s guide to selling your car without a V5C. 

Most dealers provide a collection service, so they’ll come to you to get the car – usually for free and within 24 hours. 

You should be able to get your car collected from anywhere in the UK, and you can confirm addresses and collection details prior to completing the sale. In some cases, you can also choose to drop your car off at the buyer’s dealership.