Frequently Asked Questions

You are very open about being a company built on Christian foundations. Why?

Because we were told to. It really is that simple.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Not a suggestion, an instruction. We understand that it will probably seem quite strange (and perhaps unnecessary or ‘over the top’) to someone who is not from a faith background. That is fine; we should be the salt of the earth. We are supposed to be different. We are not ashamed of the Gospel. If that offends anyone or puts them off using our service, that’s OK. 

How do I get started?

Have a look on the handover page to work out whether you would like to handover at an auction centre or have us come to you to collect your car. Then complete a valuation form so that we can give you an idea of what you are likely to get for your car. We will also need a handover form completing before we can pass your information to transport to make appropriate arrangements.

Can I complete the handover form before you’ve got back to me with a valuation?

Yes. If you’re convinced that our service is for you, you are welcome to do so. The sooner we have it, the sooner we can get started.

Is it worth my while to sell with you?

Our customers typically make more money than they would selling to a national car buyer — you can see examples of this on our homepage. You might get a little more selling privately, though only you'll know whether you're a confident salesperson or likely to drop your asking price under pressure. You could also try negotiating a favourable part-exchange price, or selling to a dealer — though many dealers base their offers on the same national car-buying prices that we beat. Of course, it's hard to put a price on your own time and the hassle of selling a car yourself. Only you know how much that's worth to you.

Does selling at auction work for all cars?

Many older cars are worth more than their owners realise, depending on mechanical condition. That said, a twenty-year-old car with little or no MOT left may be worth more as scrap — we'll always advise you honestly if that's the case. We hate scrapping a working car, and we'll do everything we can to get you the best deal. But if saving your car matters more to you than the money, the good news is that 99% of cars will sell at auction.

What if my car is worth less than £100 elsewhere?

We understand it can feel dispiriting to be offered a rock-bottom price for your car. We may still be able to get you a few hundred pounds for it - that will depend on a number of factors that we’ll need to check when we know more about your car. While, after costs, we can't always beat market offers on older, very high mileage cars or those in very poor condition, most cars will scrap for at least £150, so that may be your preferred option. Alternatively, if we feel we’d struggle to get you a significantly better amount, you may like to consider our ‘zero fees donation sale’.

What is a ‘zero fees donation sale’?

If you have a car of minimal worth, or perhaps you were gifted it, you no longer need, no one else wants it and you don’t want to profit from a sale, if you would like us to, we can sell that car at auction on your behalf and give the proceeds in their entirety to one or both (you choose) of the charities we support. A car that you’ve been offered £50 for will probably fetch at least £150 at auction. So that £50 in your your pocket turns into five people being invited in from the cold this Christmas Day, or provides 70 hot meals for those most in need. And we’ll be praying that it sells for more! These are the sales that give us the biggest buzz - and after all, the best treasure is in heaven anyway.

What areas do you cover?

All of mainland Britain. You can handover your car at 28 locations in England and Scotland, and can collect from anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. For most of the country we can collect for £100, although west of Plymouth and north of Dundee cost £150, and north of Aberdeen costs £200.

Can you collect any car?

Provided it's running well, we can collect most cars. However, we don't recommend collection for cars likely to fetch under £350 at auction, as the collection cost could mean you end up with less than you'd get elsewhere.

Do I need to be present myself when you collect my car?

Yes. Sorry. For I.D. checks we do need you there.

How much notice will I get for the collection?

The day before collection day we will give you a four hour window (e.g. between 7am and 11am). The roads and public transport being what they are, it is not impossible that times may slip a little, but we will keep you informed should that be the case. In any case, when we leave to come to you we’ll give you an ETA, so you’ll hopefully have enough notice that you can get on with your day until we get to you. We’ll do our best not to mess your entire day up!

How do auction house handovers work?

We’ll agree a time to meet you at the auction house when one of our drivers is scheduled to be in the area. In reality, we often schedule collections around the auction house drops to be sure that we will be there to meet you at a given time. We have drop-offs at most auction centres at least once per week, and for some, in areas where demand is greater, we may have several drop sessions per week available to offer you more flexibility. Our logistics provider UK Car Moves will send over instructions of where to meet - usually in the public car part at the auction house. From there they’ll take care of level checks and/or boost if requested and appropriate, before themselves handing it over to the auction house.

What do I need to do at handover?

Just hand over the car with keys and documents. We’ll need to check your I.D., but nothing that should take more than a minute or so.

Do you buy my car from me?

No. Your car remains registered to you right up until it sells at auction. We'll SORN it if you haven't already (so the DVLA can refund any unused road tax), and you're free to cancel your insurance the evening it's handed over. We won't transfer the car into trade until it has sold — so if you change your mind, you can take it straight back at any point without an extra owner being added to the DVLA record, which would otherwise reduce its value.

What happens to outstanding finance on my car?

Sadly, we cannot sell cars with outstanding finance. This will need to be settled before we can take handover of your car. We will need written evidence from your finance provider that it is fully settled before we can take your car, and it will need to show as cleared on an HPI check (that we will carry out) before we can sell it. Other companies (We Buy Any Car, Car Wow, Motorway etc.) offer a facility to buy you out of your current finance agreement, so in these circumstances we would recommend you investigate their offers.

Can you sell my car if I don’t have the full V5 (full A3 sheet, folded in half to make a 4-sided document) in my name and current address?

No. Unfortunately you’d need to get the V5 replaced/updated at the DVLA before we could take your car. If you don’t have one, you can get a duplicate by completing a V62 form and taking it to a main post office where they can process if for you.

Can you sell my car if I (only) have the green ‘New Keeper’s Supplement’?

No. Unfortunately, we need the full V5. If you’ve lost it, you can get a duplicate by competing a V62 form and taking it to a main post office where they can process it for you.

Can you sell my car if I don’t have photographic ID (passport or driving licence) in my current name and address.

No. Sorry. This would need to match the V5 on the vehicle being sold. The only exception to this would be in the case of newlyweds - i.e. a recent name change, but your previous name is the same on both photographic ID and V5.

Should I sign the car over into trade (and remove the slip from my V5)?

No — everything's now done digitally. Feel free to photograph your V5 for your own peace of mind, but the full document is handed to the auction buyer for their records. We'll transfer your car into trade using our photos of the V5 on the day it sells.

Are there any hidden costs?

Almost none. Every cost is declared upfront and listed on this website. Occasionally something only becomes apparent once we see the car in person, in which case we'll give you an expected cost breakdown before handover — and we won't carry out any additional work without your consent first. The one cost that can arise unexpectedly is topping up oil, if your car's level is found to be too low at handover.

What if a fault develops after you’ve collected my car?

We’d work with you to find the best solution, but ultimately until the car sells it is your car and ultimately your responsibility. That said, we’re with you all the way and would do all we could to resolve the issue with you/on your behalf if you’d like us to.

Who decides the reserve price of my car?

You do. We'll recommend a figure based on current market value and typical auction prices for similar cars — taking into account age, spec, service history, condition and mileage. If our valuation and your expectations are too far apart, we may decline to sell your car; we're always happy to help, but not at the cost of wasting your time and money if we don't think we can meet your expectations.

What if my car doesn't sell or doesn't meet reserve?

Cars don’t always make reserve first time through auction. Nor do they have to. If we are struggling to get the money that you’re hoping for / expecting, we can chat through reducing the reserve or waiting a little longer.

Is it worth getting my car serviced before I sell it?

Rarely. A trader will usually be able to service the car more cheaply than you can, so if a service isn't far overdue, we'd suggest leaving it. A car listed as "just serviced" can also look a little suspicious to buyers, since our preferred auction houses list service history in full, and it's rare for anyone to service a car purely to sell it. That said, paired with a fresh MOT, a service can sometimes boost value — we'll let you know if we think that applies to your car.

Should I get any repairs done before handing the car over?

99% of repairs aren't necessary before selling at auction. Dealers build a repair margin into their offers, so spending money on repairs yourself is often "dead money" unless the work is strictly necessary. One exception: dashboard warning lights are often worth investigating, since a fault could be a simple £5 fix — or something far more serious. It's worth finding out which, and resolving it if possible, to remove doubt in bidders' minds. We'll advise you on a case-by-case basis.

Can you help with repairs if they're needed?

Sometimes, yes — and we'd expect to be cheaper than most. However, in most locations we’d recommend using your own mechanic instead to keep transport costs down as our office and workshop facility is based in Farnham in Surrey. If you do use us for repairs, you'll need to keep the car taxed and insured until the work is complete and it's ready for auction.

What information or documents do I need to provide?

All we need is a V5 in your name. It is much, much better if you have service history (service book and/or invoices), but they are not necessary to sell your car. We do not need MOT certificates as MOT information is now held online.

What would I owe you if I change my mind before you've collected the car?

Nothing. It's an inconvenience for us, but we'll absorb that cost. We do ask for at least 48 hours' notice if you cancel a collection, otherwise our transport provider may charge a cancellation fee of £50+VAT.

What would I owe you if I change my mind after you've collected the car?

Our processing fee is non-refundable, and we'll charge for any costs already incurred — for example, if you'd requested a value booster and we'd already carried it out. There's also a £75 transport fee to return the vehicle to you.

Can I sell a car with an engine management light or other warning light on?

Yes, but it’s usually better to sort it if possible. We'll adjust our valuation accordingly, and in a worst-case scenario, that may be close to scrap value, reflecting the uncertainty a buyer faces. If the warning suggests the car isn't roadworthy, we may need to arrange alternative transport (trailer or flatbed), which will add to costs. Whatever the situation, we'll help you find the best option once we have the full picture.

Can you reset dashboard warning lights before sale?

No. We treat you fairly and honestly, and we extend that same honesty to the buyers of the cars we sell. We won't hide faults — traders factor reasonable repairs into their offers, so your car doesn't need to be perfect, but we won't disguise problems, so please don't ask us to. We'll always act in your best interests, but never at the expense of our integrity. Leviticus 19:11 — "Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another."

Can you complete paint repairs prior to sale?

Yes. We have an arrangement with the auction house that they will pay for the repairs and deduct costs from the sale price. Their rates are heavily discounted and significantly cheaper than retail prices. This work is only undertaken with your authority, if advantageous (i.e. benefit will exceed cost), and will be clearly shown and accounted for on auction house paperwork.

Can I attend the auction?

Sadly not. But nor can we. Cars are handed over at the door and all sales are conducted online.

Can I watch the sale online?

Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. Sales run from 08.30am through to 10.30pm and 364 days per year, and an individual sale can last for up to six hours which can result in a lot of waiting around for an individual car to come through - it simply isn’t practical for us to monitor sales in that way.

When will I know that my car has sold?

Depending on the time of the auction, we’ll be updated by the auction house either the day of the sale or the next working day. Once we know, we’ll let you know.

How will I know exactly how much the car sold for at auction?

We’ll let you know how much it sold for with a provisional total* that you’ll receive, and when we expect settlement from the auction house. Then, approximately 1 week after sale and 1-2 days before payment, the auction house sends us a self-invoice showing the sale price minus their fee (usually £69). We'll forward this self-invoice to you prior to transfer of funds to your account, along with a breakdown of costs, so you'll have an exact figure and an expected payment date.

* We won’t know a precise figure until we receive the auction house paperwork. Their fee is usually £69, but we have an agreement that they can spend a small amount on extra valeting if they feel it will benefit the sale price, and in some cases for oil and coolant top ups if we’ve asked them to do so.

When will I get my money?

As soon as we receive it ourselves. The typical timeline from handover to payment is 10–15 working days, though it depends on how quickly your car sells. As a rough guide: 3–5 days before the car goes up for sale, around a week for it to sell (some go faster), then a further 5 working days for payment to reach us. For our part, we aim to always transfer funds to sellers the day that we receive them ourselves.

Will you notify me when you’ve made payment to my account?

Yes.

Can I have auction proceeds paid into any account?

No. Proceeds must be paid by bank transfer into a UK current account (i.e. an account with a sort code and an eight-digit account number) that matches the name on the V5. We can pay into joint accounts, but one of the holders must be the person named on the V5 document.

Is my car insured when it is with you?

The driver who takes your car (whether collecting from you or meeting you at an auction house) is insured to drive it. Once the vehicle is handed over at the auction house it is the responsibility of British Car Auctions and, in the unlikely event that it is damaged (something that has never yet happened) they would cover any repairs required. If you handover the car at an auction centre, the car may be parked up for a short while as the driver checks levels, boosts value (if requested and appropriate) and checks documents etc. For this reason, we do ask that you don’t cancel insurance until the evening of handover. It is highly unlikely that anything will happen to the car in that car park, but it’s worth keeping that insurance active all the way to the auction house door if at all possible.

How is the donation actually made — do I get proof or a receipt?

We make the donations to the charities at the start of each week (if not before), providing them with a list of names of donors. The London City Mission have agreed to send you a thank you. At this time, Crisis feel unable to do so as us passing your contact details would infringe their data protection policies. We are working on it. In the meantime, if you’d like to call Crisis to check whether a donation was made in your name, we can provide a number for you to do so.

Can I choose not to donate?

No. We will donate £30 from our cut, and this is non-negotiable. If you are unhappy with this, our services are not for you. There is of course absolutely no pressure or expectation for you to join is in matching our donation if you do not feel led to do so. God loves a happy giver - but if giving doesn’t make you happy, then you shouldn’t do it.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Are you all Christians?

Not yet! The owner is, some staff are, some think they are but may not yet fully understand what that means, and some aren't — yet. Staff induction includes an invitation to read the Gospel of John (for the deep thinkers) or Mark (for something a little easier). Our hope is that colleagues who haven't yet accepted Jesus will be moved by the example, care and witness of those of us who have — and by their interactions with our Christian customers.

Is your service just for Christians?

Absolutely not. We're all God's children, and we're glad to help anyone He brings to us — with a little outreach along the way. As part of our aftersales process, we invite customers to try a seven-day challenge at www.first-day.life, and offer a free Bible to anyone who hasn't yet found faith. One of the ways we measure our success is by how many Bibles we give away, so please don’t be shy in asking if you would like one. No pressure at all, but we try to let God use us to help people find their way home to Him. Have you found your way home yet?

Anything else I need to know?

We ask you to consider buying one homeless person one meal each week as an ongoing support. A weekly standing order of £2 from each of our customers to the London City Mission Webber St Centre will create a powerful legacy, meaning that the difference we can make together grows year on year. 

If you have any questions that we haven’t thought of, please email info@fairpricecarsellerltd.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.