Manheim’s ‘Top Tips for Selling at Auction’

There are huge advantages to selling your car through auction. It is a lot easier than trying to sell a car privately and certainly less stressful.

There’s no need to spend hours fretting over the condition of the vehicle as minor scratches and dents can be easily repaired by the auction centre prior to sale. There’s also no need to invite a host of strangers to your house: auctions are a ready-made car stock market and Manheim has a network of 18 car auction centres all over the UK. You don’t need to get involved in any awkward haggling over price: the buyers at the auction are interested in buying cars and will pay fair market value. And finally there’s no need to worry about organising payment, waiting for cheques to clear or filling in all the vehicle documentation prior to handing over your car: you just get a cheque in the post, direct from Manheim Auctions.

Here are Manheim’s ‘Top Tips for Selling a Car at Auction’ to help get you the best price:

Visit manheim.co.uk to find your nearest auction centre. Then, before you bring in your car, come along to an auction simply as an observer first to see for yourself how the auction process works.

Once you’ve experienced the auction environment, either call the auction centre or go to the Reception desk, explain that you want to sell your car and arrange the best day to bring it in.

When you bring in your car, make sure it’s clean and in the best possible condition. If there are a few scuffs, dings and dents, ask at Reception for a quote to have them removed or, if you’ve not had the chance to thoroughly clean it inside and out, a full valeting service is also available.

When you bring in your car, have all the correct documents with you including the V5 document, service book and MoT certificate to help you get the best price possible.

If you want to set a “Reserve Price” (i.e. the minimum price that you would accept) carefully check price guides to ensure that the price you set is realistic.

If your car doesn’t sell first time, discuss with auction centre staff why. It normally means that the Reserve Price was too high and you need to reduce it.

If you are not sure about anything ask Manheim Auctions’ staff. They are the experts and are there to help you sell your car.

Andrew Shepherd, Manheim Auctions’ Senior Group Auctioneer says: “Selling at auction is a great way of quickly getting fair market value for your car. It can also be an exciting experience as you see people bidding for your car. It is a simple, transparent process and Manheim Auctions has specially trained staff on hand to help or offer advice.”

Manheim Auctions holds more than 50 auctions each week throughout the UK. at its auction centres in A1 Knottingley, Birmingham, Bristol, Colchester, Coventry, Glasgow, Gloucester, Haydock, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Rotherham, Saltash, Washington and Wimbledon. Details of the locations of the Manheim auction centres, auction dates and times can be found at manheim.co.uk.