How do you get a fair deal on a used car?
Tips for sellers and buyers, plus the Sell Your Car rules, so both sides know where they stand.
For sellers
How do you sell your car for the best price?
Know the value first
Get three prices by licence plate: trade-in, dealer bid and private sale, with our car valuation. You then know what is realistic and can spot a low offer.
Prepare the car
Clean the car and gather service invoices, the registration card and both parts of the registration code. Professional cleaning costs roughly €50 to €250. See prepare your car for sale.
Take good photos
Shoot in daylight, from every side, plus the interior, the dashboard with the odometer and any damage. Check your ad with the listing score.
Be honest about defects
Even as a private seller you may not conceal known defects; they can later count as a hidden defect. Mention them in the ad and in the sale contract. That avoids disputes later.
Choose the route that suits you
An instant dealer bid is quick, selling privately can earn the most but takes time, and in an auction dealers and private buyers bid against each other. Compare what each route nets with the net proceeds tool.
Pick your moment
A car with a fresh APK sells more easily, because without a valid APK buyers can’t test drive it. An APK costs €19 to €70 (ANWB). The season matters too: a convertible usually sells more easily in spring.
Negotiate with a floor price
Decide your minimum price beforehand and stick to it. In an auction you set it as the reserve price: bidders only see whether it is met. Size your margin with the negotiation tool.
Get paid safely
Hand over keys and papers only once the money is in your own account; never trust a screenshot. Since 1 January 2026 a dealer may not pay you €3,000 or more in cash. Unsure about a buyer? Use the scam check.
For buyers
How do you get the best deal as a buyer?
Check whether the price is fair
Compare the asking price with the market value using the fair price check. Note the difference between a margin car and a VAT car: VAT is handled differently.
Have the car inspected
A pre-purchase inspection costs €150 to €350 (ANWB) and shows which costs are coming. If the seller refuses an inspection, keep looking.
Check the mileage and APK
Use the licence plate check to look up the RDW odometer verdict (logical, illogical or no verdict), the APK expiry date and recalls. Don’t rely on ‘NAP’ in the ad alone.
Work out your negotiation range
Set your maximum beforehand and back up your offer with the inspection report and repair costs. The negotiation tool helps you pick a reasonable offer.
Know your rights: dealer or private
Buying from a dealer, a defect that appears within 1 year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery. With a private seller, you must prove the defect was there at the sale. Read used car warranty: dealer vs private.
Pay safely and insure in time
Pay by bank transfer at the handover, never upfront to a stranger. Since 1 January 2026 you may not pay a dealer €3,000 or more in cash. Arrange at least third-party (WA) insurance before the transfer. Follow transfer a car.
Our fairness rules
On Sell Your Car, dealers and private buyers bid in the same auction. These rules apply to everyone, so the price is set fairly.
Explainable prices
Every valuation shows three prices (trade-in, dealer bid and private sale) and how they are built up. No black box.
Offers locked to your description
A dealer offer is based on your photos and description of the condition. If the car matches, the offer stands. Only for differences not in your description may the offer change, with an explanation.
Verified bidders only
Dealers can bid only after a KvK and RDW check. Private bidders verify their identity and pay a refundable deposit of €250 or 2% of their bid (capped at €500).
Reserve: only met or not met
The seller can set a minimum price. Bidders never see the amount, only whether the reserve has been met.
No shill bidding
Sellers, and anyone acting for them, may not bid on their own car. Every bid shows whether it comes from a dealer or a private buyer.
Soft close
If a bid comes in just before the end, the auction is extended by 3 minutes. Everyone can respond, so bidding in the final second gives no advantage.
Payment through escrow
The winner pays within 48 hours via escrow. The money goes to the seller only once the handover is complete.
Free for consumers
Valuation, listing, auction and all tools are free for private sellers and buyers. The deposit is refunded if you don’t win.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fair price for a used car?
A price in line with comparable cars of the same year, similar mileage and the same condition. There is no single price: a trade-in price is lower than a private sale price. Check an asking price with the fair price check.
How much can you negotiate off a used car?
There is no fixed percentage. Your room depends on how the asking price compares with the market value and what the inspection report shows. Back up your offer with repair costs and use the negotiation tool.
Why can’t I see the reserve price in an auction?
So that you bid what the car is worth to you, not the seller’s minimum. You do see whether the reserve has been met. If the highest bid stays below it, the seller decides whether to proceed; otherwise your deposit is refunded.
Do I pay anything to Sell Your Car?
No, not as a private person. Valuation, listing, auction and tools are free. To bid, you pay a refundable deposit of €250 or 2% of your bid, capped at €500. The RDW transfer costs €13.10, which goes to the RDW.
What if the car is not as described?
Report it before you complete the transfer. In a Sell Your Car auction the money stays in escrow until the handover is complete. Buying from a dealer, you also have statutory rights to a car that matches the contract (conformity).
Amounts and rules checked with the RDW, ANWB, FIU-Nederland and wetten.overheid.nl, October 2026.
Start with the value of your car
Free by licence plate: three prices, explained. Then you choose: dealer bid, auction or your own listing.