Some very important points to watch out for:

• Mechanical, body and suspension condition are all significant – don’t compromise on any!
• Stolen vehicles – if you buy a stolen vehicle you have no rights. If you suspect a vehicle you are being offered is stolen let the police know immediately. It only takes a decent person looking for an unrealistic bargain to commit a crime.
• Identification numbers – all legitimate vehicles have 2 main identification numbers: the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the engine number. For registered vehicles, include the number plate (vehicle registration).
• Mileage – low mileage is a good selling point but beware the odometer could have been turned back!

What’s it worth?
MotoTrader.net is the best source for vehicles. With such a wide spread on offer, sellers can’t afford to over-price or they’ll get no buyers. So by checking through vehicles like the one you’re after, you’ll get a strong indication of what you need to pay. There should be a very good reason for you to pay more than the average price. Low-mileage might be one, but you need documentary proof, like service history or importation documents, to be certain mileage is accurate. The condition is far more important.

Checking the vehicle over
If you try to buy a used vehicle online you'll still need to see the vehicle. Always view the vehicle in daylight, preferably when it’s not raining, and at the seller’s premises. Never arrange to meet in a “mutual” location, such as a petrol station or on a public road. This will reduce the risk of buying a stolen vehicle, leaving you with just an untraceable mobile phone number when things go wrong. The most secure and reassuring way to make sure that the vehicle you desire is up to scratch is to get a professional inspection by a reputable mechanic/engineer.

Paper Work
The paper work - you must get this right.

• Proof of Ownership Certificate
• Vehicle Licence
• Certificate of Road Worthiness
• VIN & Engine Number on the documents must correspond exactly to the VIN number plate & engine number plate on the vehicle.
• In the absence of the above documents, you will require all relevant importation documents to obtain the above documents. Never buy a vehicle without these documents.
• Service records - again these will give you a mileage history and show how well the vehicle has been maintained.
• Receipt from previous owner (optional).

Closing The Sale
Make sure the seller writes a receipt for both of you with signatures on both copies. The seller will likely include a statement that the vehicle is being bought "as is" so make sure you are comfortable with this. Ask to have all the pertinent information on the receipt so the terms of the deal cannot be misinterpreted. Keep the receipt for your records. Request & collect all documents for the vehicle. Never carry large amount of cash to go buy a vehicle. Always ask the seller to meet you at your nearest bank branch for payment. Alternatively, pay by cheque or bankers draft.

Wording of the advert
If you are serious about getting potential buyers flocking to see your car, your advert has to make it sound as attractive as possible but always remember to keep your advert accurate, honest and truthful.

A good photo
A good photo can improve response by 150% or more as buyers love to see before they buy! Take one with a digital camera or ask your nearby photo studio to snap some digital shots of your vehicle and save them onto a disc/floppy or visit a business centre that takes passport photo for travel visas. From within your account you can add up to 5 photos plus descriptions anytime. Be sure to take interior, boot and engine shots, as well as exterior shots.

Set the right price
You know how much you want for your vehicle, but do you know how realistic that price really is? The value of a car will vary according to a large number of criteria. Mileage, age, colour, condition, location and maybe service history all play their part. You need to take these factors on board when you price your car for sale. Your best guide is to look through the adverts right here in MotoTrader.net and see what others are asking. If your car is in exceptional condition you might demand a top price. But remember it may take you longer to sell and you will be competing with dealer sales which offer more reassurance for many potential buyers.
State in your description that the price is negotiable or OBO (or best offer) - this might convince buyers to call or email you if the price is close to their budget. This will also give you the opportunity to justify the price and negotiate the sale.

A quick sale
If you want to sell quickly then you’ll need to price more aggressively. That should help get more people to view your car, which is half the battle won. You need to be realistic about optional extras fitted over and above the standard specification. These usually make little difference to how much your car is worth, but they will make it stand out amongst the competition and thus more attractive to buyers.

Account toolbox
You can measure your success by the number of page views your ad receives. When logged in use our system to see the number of times someone has looked at each of your vehicle and view messages left by potential buyers.

Maximizing inquiries
As mentioned above, when you view your ad detail page, or log into your account we show you the number of ad views (number of viewings) your ad has received since posted. This information can be used by you to decide what changes might be useful. For example, if the ad views show that a lot of people have been looking at your ad, but you're not getting enough inquiries, maybe you need to add a photo or the current photo needs to be replaced with a better one, or maybe you need to reduce the price slightly. If the ad views are low you may need to change your headline to attract more viewings!

Good presentation
The next step is some ground work, putting a little time and effort into the preparation of your car will reap dividends. Perceived value goes a long way! Tidy up your car before you sell it. First impressions are everything! Wash the entire body, clean the windows and give it a good wax job. Clean ash trays and throw out rubbish, vacuum & air freshen the inside & boot, shine the alloys and tyres to a blinding glow.

Dealing with buyer
The phone call – it is not unusual for someone to sell their vehicle on the first day of advertising – make sure you are ready for the responses. Be patient and polite to inquirers. Have all your paper work at hand so you can answer questions – make sure you don’t give out unnecessary information.

Showing the vehicle
If you try to sell a vehicle online you'll still need to show the vehicle. Meet in an area you’re familiar with and make sure it’s a secure area and try to take someone with you - safety in numbers. Be honest with potential buyers about any serious problems or repairs. Showing your regular maintenance records helps. Dress respectably. If you don’t appear to take good care of yourself, your buyer may feel that is how you treated your car as well! Click here for Fraud/Crime Alerts

The test drive
First, never let the buyer test drive alone. It could be the last time you see your car. So you need to go along as a passenger. Be prepared for people to drive your car hard but not for long. If you feel they are abusing it, ask them to calm down or stop. Never leave the key in the ignition when swapping seats. Thieves may try to engineer such situations, so you should be especially aware.

Closing the sale
People inevitably want to negotiate the price, it’s all part of buying a vehicle. So you need to be firm without being unreasonable. Know in your own mind what your minimum price is but be prepared to accept a small reduction with good grace.

• Cash - payments are straightforward, as long as you look out for forgeries. If you feel uncomfortable get the buyer to meet you at your nearest bank branch and hand it over the counter. Never accept cash at home – it maybe counterfeit or the buyer may return armed and dangerous!!
• Cheque – Never let the car go before a cheque has cleared through your account, even if the buyer is desperate to get hold of your car. If they are genuine, they won’t mind waiting a few days – or coming back with the cash. The better choice is a bank draft, though even here it makes sense to telephone the bank for confirmation that the draft is genuine.
• Paperwork - a file of all receipts is invaluable backup when you come to sell your car – it shows the history of the car and that it has been cared for. You’ll need to hand this over but more important is the registration documents. Write a receipt for you and your buyer with signatures on both copies. Include a statement that the car is being bought "as is". Include all pertinent information on the receipt so the terms of the deal cannot be misinterpreted. Keep a receipt for your records. It will establish the date of sale and help protect you from any future liability.