New research shows that a staggering 95% of sellers overlook simple yet effective steps to get the best price for their car.[1] Concerningly, close to one in four (23%) sellers neglect any price-maximising measures altogether.

The recent survey by Carwow sought to find out whether drivers are missing out on extra cash in car sales because of a lack of preparation. It found that very few vehicle owners topped up their fluids (23%), removed dents or scratches (21%), or fixed minor issues (27%) before selling, overlooking vital steps that could have increased the value of their cars.

While two-thirds (67%) of respondents cleaned their cars before a sale, Carwow explains that this step alone often falls short of fully maximising a vehicle’s value.

Surprisingly, most motorists failed to update or replace essential documents such as service history (86%) or obtain a new MOT (80%), this means there’s a whopping 86% of sellers missing out on potential profits.[1]

The online car-changing marketplace also spoke to its dealers to determine what factors deter them from bidding on a car. Almost half (48%) of the dealers admitted that they didn’t bid on a vehicle with too little information, with the most stated reason being a missing service history.[2]

Interestingly, used car sellers were the most likely to skip over all the price-boosting steps. Close to a quarter (23%) of second-hand car owners took no measures to prepare for sale, while only 17% of new car sellers said the same. In fact, those selling new cars were more likely to take all the listed steps to improve the selling price.

Men tend to be more vigilant than women when it comes to maintenance tasks like topping up fluids and fixing minor issues such as replacing a bulb or fuse. However, women were more likely to get an up-to-date MOT before selling their car. On the other hand, they were also slightly more inclined to skip over all of these steps, with 23% of women admitting to performing none of the listed tasks, compared to 22% of men.

John Rawlings, Consumer Editor at Carwow, said: “Our findings show that there’s a significant opportunity for sellers to get a better price for their cars through straightforward yet frequently overlooked measures when preparing for a sale.

“Overall, there’s a shared understanding of the importance of basic preparation steps like cleaning your vehicle. However, it’s clear that there’s still room for improvement, especially when we know that dealers can be put off from bidding on cars because of elements like missing documentation. These considerations could turn a failed sale into a successful sale and ensure that you’re selling your car for what it’s really worth.”

For more information about how to make the most of selling your car, visit Carwow’s website.