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Auto Trader UK Sell My Car Review 2025
Read on our detailed Auto Trader UK Sell My Car review 2025!
Is Auto Trader reliable to sell your car in the UK? You can sell your car privately or via an auction on Auto Trader. Private adverts are really simple. However, with auctions, there are many things you should know before deciding to sell your car on Auto Trader.
You must know the accuracy of Auto Trader car valuation and how long it takes to sell your car on Auto Trader. We’ll answer all these questions and more in this review.
In this guide
Key Takeaways from Our Auto Trader UK Review 2025
Car Adviser Rating of Auto Trader (Car Selling Service): 4 stars out of 5
- Auto Trader is a well-reputed service to sell your car in the UK.
- Auto Trader gives you flexibility to choose which way you want to sell your car. You can choose their private adverts or sell your car through dealer auctions.
- Auto Trader’s car valuation service is really good. However, when selling through their dealer auction, be prepared for some final adjustments.
- The bidding process of Auto Trader is slightly more time-consuming than that of others.
- The verified buyers of Auto Trader offer free collection services and ensure quick payments via bank transfer.
- Private adverts are not entirely free. However, listing your car for auction is free.
- Beware of potential scams when selling your car privately on Auto Trader.
What is Auto Trader?
Auto Trader is the UK’s largest digital automotive marketplace. It connects buyers and sellers of all types of vehicles. You can buy and sell a wide range of cars, e-bikes, and caravans on Auto Trader. Over 450,000 cars are listed on the site daily.
The company has evolved significantly since its inception in 1977. It was rebranded as Auto Trader in 1988. It launched its website in 1996, marking a significant shift towards digital. You can see this evolution in its mobile apps, launched in 2010.
Auto Trader now also offers tools like expert valuations and a price indicator to help you make informed decisions. It has become a go-to place for both consumers and retailers.
Auto Trader offers a comprehensive car-selling service that makes it easy to sell your vehicle quickly. We’ll review its service in detail.
How Does Auto Trader Sell My Car Work?
When it comes to car-selling, Auto Trader gives you two distinct options. You can choose to sell your car privately on Auto Trader or via an auction. This versatility gives you control over how you want to sell your car. Let’s see how both these options work.
When it comes to car-selling, Auto Trader gives you two distinct options. You can choose to sell your car privately on Auto Trader or via an auction. This versatility gives you control over how you want to sell your car. Let’s see how both these options work.
How to Sell Your Car Privately on Auto Trader?
The first way to sell your car on Auto Trader is to sell it privately through car adverts. For a certain fee, you can potentially reach millions of car buyers looking for a car on Auto Trader. Here’s how you can sell your car on Auto Trader privately:
- Set Valuation: The first thing you have to do is set the valuation of your car. For this, you can use Auto Trader’s car valuation service to determine your car’s market price. This tool considers factors like your car’s make, model, mileage, and condition.
- Choose an Ad Package: Next, you have to select a package that suits your car’s price. Premium packages offer more visibility and features like additional photos.
- Create a Compelling Advert: Include clear, high-quality photos from multiple angles and an honest description of your car’s condition. Mention any recent repairs or maintenance to build trust with potential buyers. Finally, post your car advert.
- Engage with Buyers: Soon after your ad is live, you’ll start receiving enquiries from potential buyers. Respond promptly to them and be prepared to negotiate.
- Sell Your Car: Evaluate all the offers you receive and then choose one. Pick a date and time to meet the buyer and finalise the deal with them. There are many technicalities involved in selling your car privately. If you need guidance, you can get it from our detailed guide on selling your car privately
How to Sell Your Car at an Auction on Auto Trader?
Alternatively, you can sell your car through Auto Trader’s dealer auction. This option is slightly better than selling your car privately and generally results in better offers. Here’s how it works:
- Get a Valuation: As with private adverts, you can start by estimating your car’s worth using Auto Trader’s valuation tool. This provides a figure based on market data.
- Upload Car Details: If you’re happy with the valuation, fill in some details and upload pictures to create your auction listing.
- Let the Auction Begin: Once the listing is ready, your car is presented at a dealer auction. Here more than 5,000 verified dealers bid on your car.
- Receive Bids: The bidding process usually lasts up to 2 days. During these 2 days, you keep getting offers from multiple dealers.
- Choose an Offer: Finally, when the auction concludes, you can choose your best offer. You also have the flexibility to decline this offer if you don’t like it.
- Sell Your Car: If you accept one of the offers, you can arrange a collection time with the buyer. Auto Trader offers free collection from your home and secure payment options.
A Detailed Review of the Auto Trader Sell My Car Auctions
Car Adviser takes a unique approach when analysing different online car-buying platforms. Our experts analyse each company’s car selling service on 9 different parameters. Let’s see how Auto Trader fares in our expert reviews:
1. Offer Accuracy
Auto Trader’s car valuation service uses data from various well-known resources. The company has been around for over six decades, so it has a lot of internal data. Due to this, it is able to provide highly accurate valuations.
However, when you consider these valuations in the context of their car auctions, things might not look that great. Many users have reported receiving relatively lower final offers than their initial valuations.
Sub-category score: 4.3/5
2. Service Charges
As far as the car auctions at Auto Trader go, they are completely free. You can easily list your car at the auction and start getting offers for it.
Sub-category score: 5/5
3. Ease of Payment Transfer
How quickly you receive the payment for your car is also an important parameter. Auto Trader ensures that all its dealers pay quickly while buying a car. There is no early payment fee on Auto Trader either, as with other platforms like We Buy Any Car.
Sub-category score: 5/5
4. Market Standing and Reputation
Other car-selling platforms are incomparable to Auto Trader when it comes to market standing. Auto Trader is the UK’s leading digital automotive market.
The company has been around since the 1970s and has built quite a reputation for itself. Over 77 million users visit the Auto Trader website each month. Its extensive reach and user base have allowed it to maintain a strong position in the market.
Sub-category score: 5/5
5. Ease of Selling
The car-selling process isn’t as easy at any auction-style. Although it’s advertised as if your car would be sold hassle-free, the auction itself is quite a hassle. You have to provide car photos from multiple angles and wait for the auction to conclude. These steps can be avoided by choosing a platform with a more direct approach.
Exchange My Car is the perfect example of it. The platform maintains the same level of competitiveness as auctions by getting you multiple offers. Plus, you don’t need to fill out any extensive questionnaire with them.
Sub-category score: 4/5
6. Quality of Offers
Again, this is an inherent issue with traditional auction-style platforms. With so many buyers, Auto Trader cannot really control who bids on a car.
Yes, the buyers are thoroughly verified. However, you still have to wait before you get a worthy offer. There is no concept of selling to specialist buyers with Auto Trader.
Sub-category score: 4/5
7. Selling Time Frame
The selling timeframe of Auto Trader isn’t very exciting. They themselves advertise that it can take up to a week to sell a car with them. As opposed to that, We Buy Any Car offers a way to sell your car in under an hour.
There are a few drawbacks to their model as well. To know more about We Buy Any Car, read our detailed review on the car-selling service of We Buy Any Car. However, there is no denying the speed We Buy Any Car offers while selling a car.
Sub-category score: 3.4/5
8. Vehicle Handover and Inspection Process
The vehicle handover and inspection process at Auto Trader is quite straightforward. Auto Trader ensures that its buyers come to collect and inspect your car wherever you are.
However, some users have reported facing a few hiccups along the way. For instance, the buyers come for the final inspection and tend to reduce the initial valuation significantly.
Sub-category score: 4.3/5
9. Customer Support
Auto Trader offers phenomenal customer service for a company of its size. If you need any help selling your car, they will assist you as best they can. Their customer support is generally available during business hours, with some resources accessible 24/7.
Sub-category score: 4.6/5
Top 3 Alternatives of Auto Trader Sell My Car
Auto Trader car auctions provide a good way to sell your car in the UK. However, Auto Trader is generally considered better to buy cars than to sell.
So, there are a few really good alternatives to Auto Trader that are specialised car-selling platforms. Let’s have a look at the salient features of the three best alternatives of Auto Trader to sell your car:
1. Exchange My Car
Exchange My Car is the best overall alternative to Auto Trader for selling your car in the UK. The platform works on a unique business model, unlike any other car-selling platform in the UK. They have partnered with specialist buyers of all makes and for cars in all types of conditions.
As soon as you enter your car details, you’ll receive multiple offers from specialist buyers based on those details. The platform enables market comparison by getting you multiple offers. The key benefits of selling your car through Exchange My Car are:
- You eliminate the hassle of going through car auctions.
- You get multiple offers from specialist buyers instantly.
- It’s totally free for sellers to sell their cars through Exchange My Car.
- There are no limitations on mileage or condition. You can sell any car through them.
- All their buyers offer free collection services and quick, free-of-charge payments.
- The platform has garnered excellent customer reviews, reflecting its growing popularity.
2. WeBuyAnyCar
We Buy Any Car is another household name in the UK for selling cars. The platform also offers a relatively simpler way to sell your car. You get an online valuation, book an appointment at a local branch, and receive payment after inspection.
They also buy cars regardless of condition, including imports and those with outstanding finance. The only drawback is that you only get a single offer from them and have to pay a certain fee. Plus, you have to deliver your car to one of their drop-off centres.
3. Motorway
If you are looking to sell your car, you can also consider Motorway. It is a traditional auction-style car-selling platform. However, they offer quicker turnaround times than Auto Trader. The auctions at Motorway usually conclude within a day. However, their process is slightly lengthier.
You have to fill out a questionnaire and provide multiple car photos from different angles to list your car. On the bright side, they ensure their buyers offer free collections and pay you fast.
Auto Trader Sell My Car Rating on Trust Pilot: 4.7/5
Auto Trader has garnered an impressive 4.7-star rating on Trust Pilot with over 96,000 reviews. However, remember that Auto Trader buys and sells cars, so you might have to consider individual service reviews.
Even among the sell my car service reviews, there’s a distinction between selling privately and selling via an auction. However, Auto Trader’s ratings and reviews suggest that users have had positive experiences with its services overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to get the best price while selling your car privately on Auto Trader?
To get the best price for your car, ensure that it is well-maintained and clean. Highlight any unique features in your listing. Use high-quality photos to showcase your vehicle from different angles, and always be honest about the car's condition.
When creating your listing, you should include detailed service records and maintenance history. You can also consider getting a vehicle inspection report to prove the car's condition.
Finally, be prepared to negotiate. Stay active and respond quickly to enquiries to keep potential buyers engaged. This will ensure that you get the best price.
2. Is Auto Trader legit?
Yes, Auto Trader is a well-established and reputable platform in the UK. It provides a secure environment for buying and selling cars. However, like any online marketplace, you need to be cautious of scams. This is especially true if you are trying to sell your car privately on Auto Trader.
However, while selling through dealer auctions to verified buyers, you shall face no such issues. Still, when using Auto Trader, ensure you follow their safety guidelines.
3. How accurate is the Auto Trader car valuation?
Auto Trader's car valuation tool provides a good starting point for pricing your vehicle. It is one of the best, if not the best, car valuation services in the UK. Their car valuation uses data from various sources, including sales records and market trends.
Still, if you’re selling your car through their auction, you should be ready for some final changes in the pricing. Therefore, generally, it is a good idea to get valuations from multiple sources just to be sure. Remember that valuations are estimates, and the final price will depend on various factors. These include the overall condition, mileage, age, and any customisations.
4. Is it free to sell your car on Auto Trader?
Listing your car for an auction is entirely free on Auto Trader. Even with private adverts, you can list your vehicle for free. However, there are limitations on the photos and details you can include.
For more visibility and features, you'll need to upgrade to a paid package. These packages vary in price and offer additional benefits like more photos, priority listing, and enhanced visibility.
Wrapping Up: Is Auto Trader Reliable to Sell Your Car?
In conclusion, Auto Trader is totally reliable for selling your car, especially if you’re selling via their auction. Auto Trader has a widespread network of genuine car dealers who bid for your car. The competitive bidding environment ensures you get the best possible price for your car.
However, the waiting time during the bidding process is a bit of a nuisance. Therefore, you can also consider some Auto Trader alternatives listed in this review. These Auto Trader alternatives to sell your car are excellent platforms that provide even better ways to sell a car.
Please follow our blogs and visit our reviews section for more tips and information on car selling and buying in the UK.