You don't say what year your car is, but check on Autotrader & eBay to see what similar cars are selling for.

I recently sold my old 2005 Passat on Gumtree.

Advertised it through their online portal on Friday evening & it was gone off my drive by lunchtime the following Monday & cost nothing to advertise.

If you sell privately expect to get the odd person who doesn't turn up or just wastes your time, but if it's a good car I don't think you will have any trouble selling if priced realistically.

Only accept cash & if possible accompany the buyer to your bank & pay in the money, then give him/her the keys & V5c slip, get them to fill in the relevant parts of the V5 which YOU retain & send to DVLA.

Don't accept payment by Paypal or Western Union etc, they are usually scammers.

Edited by dieselnut on 27/02/2015 at 11:51

Have a look here to see what it may be worth: www.wisebuyers.co.uk/motoring/used-car-prices/Rena.../

I find their prices realistic. Unfortunately you don't provide enough details to identify your car on their lists, further complicated by the fact there was a model change in 2009.

Bear in mind you won't get anything near the forecourt prices dealers charge. They have to pay wages, rent, taxes and provide (implied) warranties on all their sales. Something a private seller isn't liable for.

I've never had any problems selling privately. Make sure its got a long (preferably new) MOT. Give it a thorough clean inside and out. Advertise it honestly! When you decide on its value, knock a couple of hundred off and ask that. The lower price will attract more interest and you can stand firm and NOT accept any offers. I'll agree that Gumtree (Friday adds, Loot etc) are probably the best places at the sort of price you're expecting, they're free and you can include photo's (after it's clean).

Never give the key to anyone unless you're sitting in the passenger seat. Don't let anyone else drive it unless they can prove they're insured to (fully comp doesn't mean they are), details can be checked here: ownvehicle.askmid.com/

I agree with dieselnut with the cash transfer, although you may also be able to do this at Post Offices (I do).

I'm sure there's other stuff I've forgotten, but others will come along to put that right.

If all this seems too much trouble, then trade it in. That's why folk do.

Edited by bathtub tom on 27/02/2015 at 17:14