I’m a motors expert – 10 tips to get the best price for your used car

LONDON is expanding its Ultra Low Emission Zone this autumn, leaving five million motorists facing plummeting car prices.

And it’s not just in the ­capital where new green rules are ­hitting vehicle owners in the wallet, with cities across the country affected by similar schemes.

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But if you drive an old motor you still have time to Ulez-proof yourself.

Here, our used car specialist ASK ALFIE has ten top tips on how to sell your old banger and avoid the fees.

1) SELL outside a low emission zone.

Your old banger isn’t immediately rendered scrap with the introduction of a low emission zone.

While other city-dwellers won’t want to buy it, there’s a far larger population who never have to go near a  clean-air zone.

Plenty of drivers will be happy  to take a good, reliable  runaround off your hands.

2) CHECK you’re not exempt before selling:

If you’re running a community transport minibus and you’re part of a not-for-profit organisation, you can apply for an exemption until October 2025.

If you receive disability benefits or have a wheelchair-accessible ­vehicle, there are exemptions available until October 2027.

3) TRY to scrap it for cash.

If you have to sell, scrappage schemes are available. In London, look at  the mayor’s £110million scheme for upgrading your vehicle.

The scheme supports those on low incomes and disability benefits, as well as micro-businesses and sole traders.

You can get up to £1,000 for your polluting old motorcycle, and up to £2,000 for  a car.

There’s also up to £5,000 for scrapping or adapting a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to Ulez rules.

4) ADVERTISING is key.

If you do have to sell your car, focus on its good points in the advert. Don’t say, ‘It won’t meet low emission standards’.

You might have a 2010 diesel that  does 65 miles to the gallon and costs just £35 a year for road tax.

If so, major on those points because buyers will love  that it’s so cheap to run.

5) UPGRADE your motor.

You don’t have to buy new. You might have a 2004 Euro 3 petrol car or a 2014 Euro 5 diesel, but you could just upgrade them to slightly newer models to get into  the acceptable categories — a process that may only cost you a few hundred quid, at most.

A six-year-old diesel won’t cost a bomb second-hand while you can pick up good, used 2006-2010 petrol motors for peanuts —  neither of which incur Ulez charges.

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6) MAKE sure it’s sparkling.

Give the car or motorcycle a good clean, inside (if applicable) and out.

7) TAKE great pictures.

Take really good shots of your vehicle. Photograph from five or six angles outside, and snap two or three interior pics.

Add in some close-up details, like an under-the-bonnet photo and pictures of the alloy wheels to show their condition.

8) MAKE sure you get a good deal.

 Do  research on setting a fair price for your motor. Use a  selling site such as Auto Trader to compare it to similar vehicles in terms of age, mileage and spec, so you can see what you should be advertising it for.

You want a quick sale here. There is no point being stubborn and holding out for the top ­dollar.

9) GET your paperwork in order.

Gather all the car’s essential documents together, like the V5C, service book and owner’s manual, plus any receipts you’ve got for work you have had done on it over the years.

10) DON’T get ripped off.

While you want a quick sale, don’t let someone from somewhere like Dorset coming to view the car ask to knock another 500 quid off the price as it doesn’t meet standards.

Unless the buyer plans to drive the vehicle into a Green zone, this has no ­bearing on the value  of your motor to that purchaser. Stand your ground!