Why used car dealers win out in the end

As well as the ‘buyer beware’ warnings that private sales of vehicles attract, it appears that sellers are equally nervous too.

When asked why sellers did not try to sell privately, 34 per cent of them said that spending time and money on advertising was the biggest drawback.

Meanwhile, 22 per cent of sellers said that waiting ages and getting no response to a previous sale had put them off, with 20 per cent saying that they were worried by fraud or non-payment and 12 per cent not wanting to invite strangers to their home.

Dealers who offer sellers the opportunity to exchange their vehicles against their new purchases really do seem to offer ‘a good deal’ - peace of mind.