How Car Prices Change Throughout the Selling Process on Carwow and Motorway
8 min read • Oct 31, 2024
When you’re selling your car, it’s essential to understand how prices change throughout the process. Carwow and Motorway, two of the UK’s most popular car-selling platforms, both offer transparent systems designed to attract the best offers. In this post, we’ll break down how car prices fluctuate from the initial valuation all the way to collection. We’ll also cover the potential for price negotiation at each step, especially when it comes to the final handover.
If you want to get quotes from all the top car selling companies, use our free no-email service.
1. Initial Valuation
Both Carwow and Motorway start by providing you with an initial valuation based on your car’s make, model, age, and mileage. These valuations are only estimates, serving as a baseline for what you might expect.
-
Carwow: The platform gives you a quick valuation so you know the general price range for your car. This amount may vary later, depending on dealer bids and inspections.
-
Motorway: Motorway’s valuation factors in recent sales of similar vehicles, giving you a realistic estimate right from the start. However, this can also change depending on dealer demand or detailed inspections.
Price Insight: Think of this initial valuation as a guiding figure. The actual price offered may vary, especially if there are unique characteristics about your car that weren’t captured at this stage.
2. Documenting Car History and Condition
The next step is to accurately document your car’s condition and provide any necessary history. Platforms like Carwow and Motorway often request detailed information on your car's mileage, condition, and any recent maintenance records to ensure a more accurate final price.
-
Carwow: Offers can be adjusted if dealers discover differences between your listing and the actual condition. Accurate documentation helps solidify their confidence, which could result in higher offers.
-
Motorway: Motorway requires photos and a thorough condition report. Sellers who upload clear, detailed photos often see higher bids, as the transparency encourages dealers to offer competitive prices.
Price Insight: Detailed documentation builds dealer trust and can lead to stronger offers and less unexpected changes down the road. The more upfront and thorough you are, the less likely you’ll see a price reduction later in the process.
3. Receiving Bids
Once your car is listed with either platform, the bidding phase begins. This is where you can see competitive offers from dealers, and it’s a key moment to watch how pricing trends develop.
-
Carwow: The Carwow platform connects you with a network of dealers, who can each place bids for your car. If your car is in high demand, you might see bids that go above the initial valuation as dealers try to secure your vehicle.
-
Motorway: With Motorway, dealers bid within a set timeframe, creating an environment where they’re motivated to place competitive offers. This can often result in prices that exceed the initial estimate, especially for cars in excellent condition.
Price Insight: Competitive bidding can lead to higher-than-expected offers, especially if your car is desirable or in great condition. If demand is high, it’s possible to see bids climb as dealers compete.
4. Collection and Final Handover
The final stage is the collection, where the dealer will perform an inspection of your car to ensure it matches the listed description. This step can sometimes bring undesirable and stressful haggling.
-
Carwow: Dealers may adjust the final offer if the inspection reveals undisclosed issues. However, sellers can negotiate and potentially haggle to reach a fair price. If you feel the final price is unexpectedly low, you can push back politely or ask for a reevaluation.
-
Motorway: Since Motorway emphasizes detailed documentation and photos early on, last-minute adjustments are less common. However, if an issue arises, you may have room to discuss the final amount. Professional dealers are typically open to reasonable negotiation, especially if there are minor differences.
Haggling Tips:
- Stay Informed: Be familiar with your car’s condition, and if an issue is raised that you’re aware of, don’t hesitate to point it out if it’s minor or already documented. The dealers are expected to know the condition of your car, if you have documented well do not accept a new assessment of any damage.
- Have a Walk-Away Point: Before meeting the dealer set a minimum price you'd like for the vehicle. If the dealer begins haggling, it’s within your rights to politely decline. Often, a calm approach to negotiation can yield a higher final price if you hold your ground.
- Get Help: If you are overwhelmed by the conversation, which is extremely understandable, you can phone Carwow or Motorway for help. Motorway explicity forbids renegotiation assuming you've documented your car well and are on hand to mediate. Carwow have a similar stance on renegotiation but are a little less involved and as such offer less certainty.
Conclusion
Understanding the step-by-step pricing fluctuations on Carwow and Motorway can help you maximize your car's selling price and avoid surprises. By following these stages, providing accurate documentation, and knowing when to haggle, you can confidently navigate the process and secure a fair offer. With each step, these platforms strive to make car selling straightforward and transparent.
Looking for a way to get quick, competitive quotes from multiple platforms? Try Quotor’s no-email quote service for an instant comparison across top buyers!