A warning light that will not go out, a gearbox that slips or an engine that has started to make noise raises an awkward question. Do you pay for a repair you cannot judge, or sell the car with the fault? You can sell the car as it is, as long as you are honest about the fault. This post explains how to describe the problem, what a buyer will ask and how to keep the sale from coming back on you. If you are weighing a private buyer against a dealer, our guide on private sale or dealer lays out the difference.
Find out what you actually know
You do not need a full diagnosis, but you need to know what you can say for certain. Write down:
- what the symptom is and when it happens, for example only when the engine is cold
- which warning lights are on, and since when
- what a garage has told you, with the invoice or the diagnostic printout
- when the last service was done, and whether the timing belt was replaced, if the car has one
A short note like this protects you. It records what you knew on the day, which is the question that matters if the buyer returns later.
What you have to tell the buyer
Dutch advice for car buyers puts a duty on the seller to share what he knows, while the buyer must look into what he is buying. The ANWB, the Dutch motoring association, sets this out in its advice on cars with a damage history. That page is about damage history. Its reasoning, that the seller shares what he knows and that a statement about the car can be relied on by the buyer, is the safe approach for a mechanical fault you have noticed as well.
The practical advice follows:
- Mention the fault in the advert or the first message.
- Describe it as you know it. If you do not know the cause, say so.
- Never say the car is in perfect mechanical condition if it is not.
- Put the fault in the sales agreement.
A fault you stated in writing leaves the buyer little to argue about afterwards.
Should you repair before selling
Engine and gearbox repairs are among the most costly and the least predictable. A garage often finds a second fault when it opens the first. If you pay a large sum and the buyer values the car only slightly higher, you lose the difference.
Ask these questions before you commit to a repair:
- What does the garage say the repair will cost, in writing?
- What would the car fetch with the fault, according to an offer?
- Is the car safe and legal to drive until it is sold?
Compare the quote with the offer. When the repair costs a large part of what the car is worth, selling as it stands is the more sensible option. A buyer service can include the repair in its price. Where this sits among other value factors is shown in what lowers the value of a car.
Warning lights and driving the car
Some lights mean the car can still be driven to a garage. Others mean it should stop at once. Check the car manual for what each light means. If the car shows a red warning light, do not drive it.
The RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, states on its APK page that driving without a valid APK is forbidden, that the police can fine you for a vehicle that does not meet the technical requirements and that your insurer may refuse to pay a claim. If you cannot drive the car, arrange collection. Collection of a car that stands still is explained in selling a car that does not run.
Showing the car to a buyer
Let the buyer see and hear the fault. Do not warm the engine or reset the lights to hide a symptom before a viewing. A buyer who hears a noise that you did not mention will wonder what else you left out. A buyer who is told, and still wants the car, has accepted it.
Agree the sale in writing, with the fault in the text. After the sale, the paperwork follows the usual route. The RDW describes it on its page about selling a car: you give the buyer the registration card and the complete registration code, and you hand over the car only after you have the proof of transfer (vrijwaringsbewijs).
Selling to a buyer service
If you do not want to deal with private viewings, ask for an offer from a buyer service. Give the same facts you would give a private buyer, including the symptoms and any lights. The offer will reflect the fault, and you decide whether to accept. We explain what we look at on the page for cars with damage and faults.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to fix my engine before I sell the car?
No. You can sell it as it is, as long as you tell the buyer what you know about the fault.
Can I sell a car with the engine light on?
Yes. State that the light is on and what you know about the cause. Do not clear the fault code to hide it.
Will a buyer pay anything for a car with a gearbox fault?
That depends on the car and the fault. A buyer will price in the repair. Ask for offers to find out.
What if the buyer says I did not mention the fault?
Records of what you wrote in the advert and the agreement are your evidence. Keep them with the photos and any garage invoices.
Can I drive the car to a buyer?
Only if it is safe, insured and has a valid APK. If not, arrange collection.
A car with engine trouble can go through the sell form as it is. Describe the fault honestly, and you decide after you see the offer.
