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Different ways to sell your car

There are a variety of ways to sell your car in South Africa. We explore four different ways to sell your car fast.


Here are a variety of ways to sell your car in South Africa. Some of the most popular methods include:

  • Private Sale

    When selling your car through a private sale, you’re selling directly to the purchaser, who is either an individual or a car dealership. When offering your car directly to the buyer you have a better chance of getting the best price for your car as you are dealing with the buyer face to face and you’re able justify your asking price if necessary. 

    A direct private sale can be wrapped up fairly quickly if you find the right buyer at the right price. However, be security conscious and try to avoid “time wasters” who will contact you simply to talk you down to a ridiculous price. Be careful about financing because most of the time you would be dealing with strangers. 

  • Trade-in

    If you are selling your old car with the plan of buying a new one, then consider a trade-in option. With this method you might be tempted to complete the selling and buying of both vehicles in a single transaction. However, our recommendation is to treat the two transactions separately so you’re clear on the exact price for both the new and old cars. 

  • Selling your car to a wholesaler

    When using this method of selling your used car, you would normally advertise the car details and the price you are expecting through newspapers or online websites. In response to this, used car wholesalers approach you and offer to buy your old car at a specified price. In this type of transaction, at least one middleman would be involved, and you would pay for his role in the transaction.

    This is a good route to take if you need to sell your car quickly. 

  • Selling through used car auction:

    Selling your car through an auction requires some research beforehand – look into the various auction companies, paying special attention to reviews about their trustworthiness and professionalism. Once you’ve chosen an auctioneer, take your car to the company's premises for inspection.

    Selling your car through auction is quick and the selling process is transparent. But there is no guarantee that you will get the best price for your car, as most people who attend auctions are professional car dealers who know how to get used cars at a good price. Apart from this, remember that 4% to 10% of the selling price goes the auction house.

    All the work related to the sale of your car will be handled by the auction company, and they take responsibility for getting the payment and paying it to you.

Proceed with caution

Whatever method you choose, proceed with care and caution to ensure you get the best deal for your car in a safe and secure manner. Don't forget that time is an essential element in the selling process as it has an impact on the price, the insurance, and the depreciation value of your car, etc. 

Know your car’s value

When you want to sell your used car research all the necessary information from the secondary car market and know the real worth of your car before taking the final decision of accepting an offer from a buyer.

Due to high price inflation the price of new cars are raising daily and as a result there is a demand for used cars in the market. Do a lot of homework and seek the help of experts it necessary to find the real value of your car before venturing into the used car market. If your asking price is too high, it will take longer to sell your car. On the other hand, if you quote a lower price, then you may be able to sell it fast but you won’t get the market value of your car.

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Know your car resale value

Understanding the different types of car values can help the sellers in getting better deals. Trade-in, market and resale values are some of the most frequently trusted car valuations.

Find out more