Are you planning to sell your vehicle? Don’t rush into anything, and definitely take the following into consideration.
At what price?
Of course, you want to get a good price for your vehicle. To get an idea of the value of your vehicle, you can take a look at used vehicle websites and look for comparable vehicles. However, do not compare apples with oranges: odometer, age, general condition, version and options influence the price. A vehicle offered by a dealer or garage is always slightly more expensive than an identical vehicle sold by a private individual. After all a dealer is obliged to provide a guarantee, which has an impact on the price.
Shall I sell to a dealer or to a private individual?
Selling your vehicle to a dealer or the garage where you buy your next vehicle is the easiest solution. You do not need to have your vehicle inspected, nor do you need a Car-Pass. The other side of the coin is that you will usually only be able to negotiate a lower price for your vehicle. This is logical because the dealer will probably want to sell your vehicle and make a little profit.
There are companies you can use who put your vehicle up for sale online to get a bid. Make sure you correctly list the details and options of your vehicle and take clear photos of any damage to the vehicle to avoid any discussions afterwards.
Want to get a better price for your vehicle? Look for a private buyer. This takes more effort of course. The following tips will help you with this.
Offering your vehicle for sale online
You can offer your vehicle for sale on various classifieds sites. The most important being:
It is very important to include all the details and options correctly and completely. Take detailed photos of both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Don’t forget to take a picture of the dashboard so interested parties can clearly read the odometer. The clearer the picture for the buyer, the better.
Please note that you may receive quite a few responses and that you must be prepared to show the vehicle to interested parties. They will probably ask to take your vehicle for a test drive. Please note that you should not send someone you do not know out alone in your vehicle, and certainly not with all the documents with them. We recommend to go on the test drive yourself so you can provide more information about the vehicle if the customer notices anything. Take a photo of the interested buyer’s identity card and driver’s licence in advance.
The sales agreement
Have you found a buyer and agreed on a price? Great! You must always draw up a sales agreement in duplicate. This must contain a number of things as a minimum:
- Name and address of the seller
- Name and address of the buyer
- VAT number of the buyer if it is a dealer or garage
- Vehicle details: chassis number (VIN), make, model, date of first registration and odometer reading
- Sales price
- Car-Pass number (if the buyer is a private individual)
- Include the statement “The vehicle has been sold in its current condition, as known to the buyer, without guarantee”.
Other documents for the buyer
If the buyer is a Belgian private individual, you must have the vehicle inspected before selling. You will receive three documents from the inspection centre:
- A valid (green) inspection certificate
- The “application for registration” document
- The Car-Pass
Please note that these last two documents are only valid for two months. In addition, your current registration certificate will only remain valid for two months after the inspection. This means that if you do not sell your vehicle within that time period, you will have to undergo the inspection again.
What are the consequences if I do not give the buyer a Car-Pass?
If you are selling a used vehicle as a private citizen, you are legally required to give the buyer a Car-Pass unless the buyer is a professional vehicle dealer. The Car-Pass must be no older than two months. You will find the validity date at the top right of the document.
What happens if you don't? If you don't, the sale is invalid and the buyer can request a full refund afterwards. It is up to you as the seller to prove that you handed the Car-Pass over to the buyer. Always ensure the buyer signs for his copy of the Car-Pass and include the number on the sales agreement. This obligation also applies if the buyer is a private individual from abroad.
Don’t get caught out!
Never hand the keys and vehicle documentation over before you have received the full agreed amount. Amounts higher than €3,000 may not be paid in cash. Always check the money is in your account by verifying in your own banking app. Do not accept any type of proof from the buyer that the money has left his account.