Selling a car: checklist
What to do before selling: documents and history, small repairs and cleaning, an honest advert, a safe viewing, payment and transfer of ownership.

[ ] Gather the documents and service history
    The car's paperwork, service book, receipts and job cards. A service history is the strongest argument about price.
[ ] Study real prices for the same car
    Year, mileage, specification, condition, region. Compare with sold cars and with ones sitting unsold — different signals.
[ ] Write an honest list of faults
    Chips, knocks, what will soon need replacing. A hidden fault found at inspection costs more than one disclosed upfront.
[ ] Fix the small things that stand out
    Blown bulbs, wipers, worn mats, a missing trim cap. Small things raise questions about big ones.
[ ] Do the basic service if it is overdue
    Oil and filters cost less than the discount an overdue service invites. Major repairs before a sale rarely pay for themselves.
[ ] Wash the car and clean the interior
    The interior affects impressions more than the paint. Remove personal items, deal with smells, clean the glass inside.
[ ] Take plenty of daylight photographs
    Every side, interior, boot, engine bay, the dashboard with mileage, and damage close up. Honest photos save phone calls.
[ ] Write the advert with facts
    Year, mileage, specification, what was replaced and when, what needs attention. \u201cNothing to spend on it\u201d creates suspicion by itself.
[ ] Prepare for calls and filter out traders
    \u201cWhat's your best price\u201d before seeing the car usually means it is not your buyer. Agree to meet rather than negotiate by phone.
[ ] Meet during the day in a busy place
    Not at your home and not in an empty yard. Bring a second person, especially for an evening viewing.
[ ] Check the licence before any test drive
    Licence and insurance. You are responsible for who drives your car — that is caution, not distrust.
[ ] Agree to an independent inspection
    Refusing looks suspicious and costs more than any fault found. An honest car passes the inspection.
[ ] Do not take deposits without meeting
    Deposit schemes and requests to read out an SMS code are fraud, whatever the explanation.
[ ] Take payment safely and confirm it has arrived
    A screenshot means nothing. Wait for the money to actually arrive, or use the safe settlement method standard in your country.
[ ] Sign the contract and record the handover
    Two copies, the odometer reading, date and time, signatures. Photograph the documents and the car before handing over.
[ ] Complete the registration and insurance transfer
    Procedures and deadlines vary by country. An incomplete transfer means someone else's fines and tax in your name.
[ ] Keep copies of every document from the sale
    The contract, receipts, handover photos. They can be needed a year later, especially if something goes wrong.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/car-sale