To sell a van without a dealer, advertise it yourself on an online marketplace, sell it to a van buying service or put it through an auction. Selling it yourself takes a little more effort but lets you set the price, and staying safe comes down to checking buyers, waiting for payment to clear before you hand over the keys, and telling DVLA once it’s sold.
How do I sell my van without a dealer?
You can sell your van without a dealer by listing it on a marketplace, selling it to an online van buying service or entering it into an auction. Each option trades off price, speed and effort differently.
A marketplace listing gives you the most control, because you set the price and choose who to sell to. On The Commercial Trader, you can list your van and buyers contact you directly.
An online van buying service is usually the fastest route, but you’ll be offered a trade price. An auction can also be quick, but you’ll pay fees and the final price depends on who’s bidding on the day.
What are the alternatives to Auto Trader for selling a van?
The main alternatives to Auto Trader for selling a van are specialist commercial vehicle marketplaces such as The Commercial Trader, general classified sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, online van buying services and auctions. Which suits you depends on how much effort you want to put in and how much control you want over the price.
A specialist commercial vehicle marketplace puts your van in front of people looking specifically for work vehicles, alongside trucks, plant and other commercial equipment. General classified sites reach a broad audience, but your van sits among everything else they list.
How do I get my van ready to sell?
Clean it inside and out, including the load area, fix small faults and get the paperwork together before you advertise. A van that’s clean, serviced and has a fresh MOT is easier to sell and harder to haggle down.
Gather the V5C, the service history, MOT certificates, both keys and the locking wheel nut key if it has one. Decide whether racking, ply lining or a tow bar stay with the van, and if they do, mention them in the advert, because they can be a selling point for trade buyers.
If the van carries your company’s signwriting, either remove it or say in the advert that it’s still on.
How should I price my used van?
Price your van by comparing it with live listings for the same make, model, year, mileage, wheelbase and roof height. You can browse used vans for sale on The Commercial Trader to see what similar vans are listed at.
Be clear about VAT. Used vans are often advertised as plus VAT or no VAT, and buyers compare like for like, so say which applies to yours.
If your business is VAT registered and reclaimed the VAT when it bought the van, you’ll usually need to charge VAT on the full selling price. If you’re not sure, check with your accountant before you set the price.
What should I put in my van advert?
Put in the details buyers search and filter on, clear photos and an honest description. Lead with the make, model, engine, year, mileage, wheelbase and roof height, then the MOT expiry, service history, number of previous keepers and VAT status.
Photograph the van in daylight from every side, plus the load area, the cab, the dashboard showing the mileage, the tyres and any damage. Add the load area measurements and payload if you know them.
Mention extras such as racking, ply lining, a tow bar, air conditioning or a reversing camera. If it’s a diesel that meets Euro 6, say so, because that’s the standard for diesel vehicles in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.
How do I sell my van quickly?
To sell a van quickly, price it in line with similar listings, use good photos, reply to enquiries fast and have the paperwork ready for viewings. Being flexible about viewing times helps too.
On The Commercial Trader, you can upgrade to a boosted listing if you want your van to get more visibility.
How do I stay safe when selling a van privately?
Stay safe by checking buyers before they visit, staying in control during viewings and test drives, and never releasing the van until the full payment has cleared into your account. Many scams target the payment, so that’s where to be strictest.
Speak to buyers on the phone before a viewing and get their full name. Hold viewings at your home or workplace in daylight, ideally with someone else there.
Before a test drive, check the buyer’s licence and insurance. They can create a check code on GOV.UK’s View your driving licence information service and give it to you with the last eight characters of their licence number, so you can see what they’re allowed to drive. They’ll also need insurance that covers them to drive your van. Go with them on the drive, and keep hold of the keys whenever they’re not driving.
For payment, a bank transfer is the safest option, but only once the money shows in your account when you log in to your banking app yourself. Don’t accept a screenshot, email or text as proof, refuse any overpayment where you’re asked to send the difference back, and be wary of a buyer who says a courier or agent will collect.
If you take cash, count it and check the notes, ideally at your bank. If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, tell your bank and report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101 if you’re in Scotland.
What paperwork do I need when I sell a van?
When you sell a van privately, tell DVLA online, give the buyer the green new keeper slip from the V5C and write a receipt for both of you. To tell DVLA, you’ll need the 11-digit reference number from the V5C and the Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle service on GOV.UK.
Once DVLA knows you’ve sold the van, it cancels your vehicle tax, refunds any full months left and cancels your Direct Debit automatically. The tax doesn’t transfer, so the buyer has to tax the van before driving it.
If you sell to a motor trader instead, give them the V5C including the green slip, destroy the yellow section and still tell DVLA you’ve sold it.
Write two copies of a simple receipt showing the date, price, registration, mileage and both parties’ names and addresses, and both sign them. Then cancel your insurance and any tracking or telematics subscriptions on the van.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to charge VAT when I sell my van?
If your business is VAT registered and reclaimed VAT when it bought the van, you’ll usually need to charge VAT on the full selling price. If no VAT was reclaimed, different rules apply, so check with your accountant before you advertise.
Can I sell a van that still has finance on it?
Not until the finance is settled. With hire purchase, the finance company owns the van until the final payment, so ask your lender for a settlement figure and clear it before or at the point of sale.
How do I tell DVLA I’ve sold my van?
Use the Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle service on GOV.UK, with the 11-digit reference number from the V5C. Give the buyer the green new keeper slip, and DVLA will cancel your tax and refund any full months left.
Is a bank transfer safe when selling a van?
Yes, once the money’s actually in your account. Log in to your banking app to check rather than trusting a screenshot, text or email, and don’t hand over the keys or the new keeper slip until the payment shows as received.
What’s the quickest way to sell a van without a dealer?
An online van buying service is usually the quickest, but you’ll get a trade price. Listing the van yourself takes longer, but you set the price and choose the buyer.
