Dealings with "buy any car" type companies

[AntonovAN12]

Has anyone on here used anything like we buy any car or similar?

A relative has had to give up driving for medical reasons and now has a car to sell.

It is just a plain runabout and nothing unusual or valuable. They don't want the trouble of trying to sell it privately.

I would be interested in any real world stories, good or bad, of using any of these companies.

 

[Turvey]

No dealings but I saw this on the news earlier.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjq55333xg9o

[Eric Bloodaxe]

I wonder if Cinch might go the same way - they lost £181m after tax in 2022/2023, up from just under £127m in 2021/2022.

Edit: on the original topic. Had a very decent quote from WBAC some years ago when I was selling a Land Rover and, after a telephone  discussion with the local depot was on the verge of accepting it. In the end I didn't as a slightly better offer turned up from a buyer from (iirc) Guy Salmon who were desperate for stock at the time.

[StephenFord]

7 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I wonder if Cinch might go the same way - they lost £181m after tax in 2022/2023, up from just under £127m in 2021/2022.

Most of that I believe went into paying Rylan for those annoying TV ads! LOL

[DaveT70]

I sold my MK4 Focus to We Buy Any Car, got a good service and only £250 less than the website price due to a heavily stone chipped front bumper.

I know lots of people who have also used Motorway and they are very good also, but Motorway CANNOT pay your finance off (you have to do it yourself first) whereas WBAC.com can

[RL123]

I have sold 2 cars on Motorway and the purchasing dealer has settled the finance, one within a day, the other within 2 weeks.

Both were Ford dealerships.

[Kenny321]

I drove took my wife’s aging and rusting Ka to a ‘we buy any car’ but still with MOT and half a tank of petrol and got quoted £100. I accepted it as the insurance renewal was due and I would save on that by getting rid of the car. When I got the email some time later it was only for £50! Phoned the company and was told if I had bothered to read the instructions on their website (did not even know about them) I would have seen there was £50 admin fee deducted on all sales. 
So, ’seller beware in this case!’

[TomsFocus]

Motorway generally seem to be the best option.  Though I didn't have a great experience with them myself.  Ended up selling the car on eBay after they failed to turn up for the appointment.  They also have strict criteria for age and mileage etc.

Cazoo paid an excellent price for my part ex, and paid off the finance.  But they were the dealer at the time, they now just work on behalf of dealers (albeit not for much longer).

WBAC will give you 'something' if you just want it gone, but they don't seem to be best for price or customer service.

If it's worth £500 or less, probably least hassle just to call the scrap man.

I do understand not wanting the hassle of a private sale, and have health issues myself that prevent managing viewings now.  But after all the hassle I've had with dealers over the past 5 years, selling cars on eBay was actually the least hassle option.  If they have a kind and helpful relative, perhaps they'd be willing to manage any viewings and the handover on their behalf.  

[AntonovAN12]

Thanks for the replies.

We buy any car's online price quote was £3000. This was without them seeing the car.

Similar mileage and spec cars are listed on Auto Trader by dealers for up to £6k.

The Tax, MOT and insurance end in 2 months time so they ideally want it gone before then.

[AntonovAN12]

Am I right that a main dealer will likely offer the lowest price of any option for a plain car?

There is a local independent used car dealer with "cars wanted" signs outside that they may also try.

[TomsFocus]

That will depend on whether the car is good enough for that dealer to put on their forecourt.

If not, they'll either send it to auction or WBAC anyway.  If it does fit in with their other stock and needs minimal work to pass MOT then they'll be able to offer more than the base value.

The main dealer won't want it.  Doubt there'll be anything under £10k on their forecourt. 

No harm in asking the indy though.  Most of them will give the same frustrating line about needing to see it to give a price.  And of course once you've gone to the hassle of getting the car there, you're likely to accept a lower amount than if they'd offered it over the phone or email.

[AntonovAN12]

They did contact the same main dealer they bought the car from in 2017.

It is a 64 plate but only has 40k miles.

The main dealer apparently said they may be interested, and to bring it in for them to have a look. I still doubt they will offer much.

[TomsFocus]

14 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

They did contact the same main dealer they bought the car from in 2017.

It is a 64 plate but only has 40k miles.

The main dealer apparently said they may be interested, and to bring it in for them to have a look. I still doubt they will offer much.

Always worth an ask I guess.  I would be very wary of that 'bring it in' line though.

My Aunt had to give up driving a few years ago.  She contacted the dealership that she'd been using for 30 odd years - at one point buying a new car every 18 months!  She did stop buying so many cars after her husband died, but still kept to the same brand and had them serviced at the same dealership.  Anyway, the car she was giving up was very low mileage, never been smoked in or ruined by kids or pets or anything.  They offered her a pittance for it...and then went further with a guilt trip, telling her that WBAC might offer more money but wouldn't 'treat the car well'.  

I had to hold my tongue so as not to upset her any further when she told me, but I was appalled by that dealership taking advantage of a vulnerable and emotional old lady.

[AntonovAN12]

The main dealer did buy the car back. They paid £4000 for it. That was a much better offer than WBAC's online price, which they would have knocked down when they saw it.

That wasn't bad considering it was bought for £5995 back in 2017.

They now have it listed for sale for sale for £6995. That is £1000 more than they sold the same car for seven years ago with 10k less miles.

 

[StephenFord]

I've stated before, the closer government deadline approaches of banning the sale of proper cars, the more valuable they will become...

[SMaxedDavid]

Sold my prevous car on Motorway. Fast & Simple.

Pop in the reg, take pictures of key areas, give a truthful and details condition report and the dealer agrees a price.

In all it took 3-5 days for the dealers man to turn up at my house, quick look round the car, agree that all is as discribed and call his boss to okay the payment. BACS faster payment recieved and he left with the car.

Motorway offered me a fair bit more than WBAC and I was happy with the process and the money offered.

[TomsFocus]

11 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

The main dealer did buy the car back.

I stand corrected then.  Just goes to show that past experience is often no longer relevant in an ever changing world.  

[AntonovAN12]

Prices are still apparently recovering from the effects of Covid.

ULEZ has also come into force here in London since the car was bought in 2017. Anything compliant is higher priced here.

It probably also helped that the same dealer sold the car from new, then again used in 2017.

[SpannerMan365]

Hey, I know this is an old thread, but in case anyone else is struggling to sell their car, I was in the same situation and I actually decided to scrap my car in the end. Couldn't be asked with the hassle of selling. I used Scrap My Car Company and after speaking with them, they actually recommended that I sold the car to them instead of scrapping it. So I got more money which was a bonus and was dead easy. So ye, maybe consider scrapping and they might even suggest selling instead. Good luck.