BCA Sure-Sell: helping women sell their car safely

Over 7 million used cars were sold in 2005 and nearly half of these were sold privately. But Europe’s largest vehicle auction group, BCA, is warning that women motorists selling privately are potentially exposing themselves to fraud, theft or even worse. This threat is compounded by the recent report on car crime which reveals that 68% of vehicle crime occurs near the home.

“Over three million people sell their car privately every year,” confirms Tony Gannon, BCA’s Communications Director. “Women are three times as likely as men to be worried about physical attack and 14% have high levels of worry about car crime. However, a large number of women are potentially inviting strangers to their home, as well as letting them test-drive their car – underestimating the risks associated with selling their car privately. And even if this goes without incident, accepting payment of large sums of cash, personal cheques or banker’s drafts carry their own risks.”

Selling a used car to a dealer – either direct or part-exchange – should be the first choice for motorists for the ultimate in safety and protection. But auction offers another secure option for sellers. BCA’s Sure-Sell service at www.sure-sell.info offers impartial advice to private motorists, as well as a secure way to sell and guarantee payment.

Sure-Sell can help women sell their car safely, swiftly and with payment guaranteed, for the ultimate in peace of mind. The system allows sellers to remain anonymous, which means women minimise the risks by staying at arms length in the proceedings. Through Sure-Sell, BCA offers sellers access to information and advice on what their car is really worth in the marketplace.

Gannon concludes, “With Sure-Sell motorists don’t have to ‘market’ their car themselves. There’s no need to wait for the phone to ring and then worry about whether to go on a test drive with potential buyers, or accept a cheque that might bounce or cash that may have been gained through illicit activities.

“BCA does the marketing, offers online catalogues, emails and direct marketing to generate the buying power that will get the best possible price for a customer’s car, rather than one buyer beating its value down on their doorstep. More than this, sellers are guaranteed full payment within a few days.”

BCA has auctions around the country, six days a week and it also operates evening and weekend sales tailored to the requirements of private sellers. BCA’s experience in handling over 1 million vehicles a year shows the company achieves market price, day-in, day-out, for a huge range of sellers including franchised and specialist dealers, car supermarkets, trade professionals and business sellers such as fleet operators and leasing companies and the vehicle manufacturers themselves.

For female car sellers, BCA has produced a useful set of Do’s and Don’ts

Selling a car privately – the Do’s and Don’ts

Do...
Talk to your local franchised dealer or professional used car specialist in the first instance

Take as much advice as you can and do as much research as possible on the value of your car

Make sure the car looks its best for sale – it should be clean and ideally any small dents and scratches removed

Make sure your description of the car on any classified or online advertising is fair and accurate and set a sensible price

Provide only your mobile phone number for buyers to contact you

Check the buyer is insured to test drive the car. Accompany the potential buyer on the test drive and take a friend if possible.

Provide as much documentation as possible with the car

Provide a ‘Sold as Seen’, tried and approved without guarantee’ receipt

Detach and send off the V5 change of ownership slip. Due to a recent change in the law, this is the seller’s responsibility

Use your common sense


Don’t…

Publish your address if you advertise your car in a classified ad or online

Invite strangers to your home if you are on your own

Arrange a meeting with a potential buyer without either getting someone to accompany you or at the very least letting someone know where you are

Allow strangers to test-drive your car on their own

Hand over the ignition keys until you are sitting in the passenger seat

Take a personal cheque as payment

Release your car before a cheque clears – a Bankers draft or Building Society (Savings Account) cheque is better – but beware forgeries. And large amounts of cash present their own security problems.