Press and sell
* Online companies that buy your car * Hassle-free selling? * What Car? investigates...
Selling your car can be a real pain. Youll need to clear it out, vacuum the seats and carpets, and then give it a wash. Then youve got to place an advert and wait by the phone, or visit a dealer and haggle over the price.
Sometimes, it just doesnt feel like its worth all the effort. Thats why a new breed of internet-based car-buying companies has sprung up over the last few years, with names such as Webuyanycar.com, Wewillbuyyourcar.com and Carsboughtforcash.com. They promise to take the pain out of selling on your used car, so that you can focus on what you want to buy next.
The trouble is, the reality doesnt always live up to the ideal. A recent investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) revealed that nearly 96% of customers who sold their car to Webuyanycar.com received less for their vehicle than the original website valuation in some cases as much as 25% less.
Its certainly not true to say that all of these companies are out to fleece you, but how do they work and can push-button selling really offer a fair deal?
