Questions and answers
If your question is not here, ask the assistant on the valuation page, call 0800 000 0000 or email hello@kerbside.example.
The price
Is the online price the price you actually pay?
That is the whole point of how we work, and it is why we ask more questions than most. Tell us the mileage, grade the condition and send photos, and the range becomes a single figure we commit to before anyone sets off.
We will only change it on the day if the car is not as described — for example undisclosed damage, a mileage that does not match, or paperwork that does not add up. If that happens the buyer will show you exactly what has changed and what it does to the price. You are free to say no and keep the car. Nothing is owed either way.
Why do I get a range instead of a price?
Because until we know the mileage and condition, a single figure would be a guess dressed up as a promise. The range narrows as you answer more, and closes to one number once we have everything.
How long is my valuation good for?
Thirty days, provided the mileage and condition still match what you told us. Used car values move, so past that we will re-check it.
Do you charge any fees?
No. There is no valuation fee, no admin fee, no collection charge and nothing deducted for paperwork. We make our money on the difference between what we pay you and what the car sells for, which is why the number you see is the number you get.
Would I get more selling it privately?
Often, yes. A private sale usually beats a trade price if you have the time to advertise it, field the calls, host the viewings and carry the risk on payment. We are competing on certainty and speed, not on beating the private market. If you are not in a hurry, it is worth considering both.
The visit
Do I have to bring the car anywhere?
No. A buyer comes to your home or your workplace at a time you choose. Same day is often possible if someone is free nearby.
How long does the appointment take?
Usually around thirty minutes — checking the car against what you told us, checking the paperwork, and setting up the payment.
What do I need to have with me?
We cannot complete without these:
- V5C logbook, with you shown as the registered keeper
- Photo driving licence or passport
- Proof of address dated within three months — a utility bill, bank or credit card statement, or council tax bill. It must match the address on the V5C.
- All keys, including spares and the locking wheel nut key
- Your bank details for the transfer
- A settlement letter from your finance company, if there is finance on the car
Service history, the MOT certificate, handbooks, sat nav discs and spare keys all support the value we have quoted, so bring what you have.
What if I am not the registered keeper?
We will need written authority to sell from the registered keeper, plus their photo ID. Tell us before the visit so we can confirm what is needed — turning up without it means we cannot complete.
Why so much identification?
Because vehicle fraud is real and it is usually the honest seller who ends up out of pocket. Matching your ID to the V5C address protects you as much as it protects us.
Money and paperwork
How and when do I get paid?
Bank transfer, set up at your address before the car moves. You will see it leave our account. Depending on your bank it usually lands within minutes, though some banks hold first-time payments for a few hours.
We do not pay in cash. A traceable transfer protects both sides.
Can I sell a car that still has finance on it?
Yes, we do this regularly. Ask your lender for a settlement figure, we pay them directly, and you get the difference. If the settlement figure is more than the car is worth you can pay the shortfall and still sell.
Who tells the DVLA?
We do, on the day, and you will get confirmation. Keep your section of the V5C. The DVLA will send you a refund for any full months of remaining road tax automatically — you do not need to claim it.
Can I keep my private registration?
Yes, but start it before we visit — the plate must come off the car before we buy it. Apply to the DVLA to retain or transfer it using form V317. Once it has gone through, the car reverts to its original registration and we will re-value against that, which may change the price.
What checks do you run on the car?
Once a visit is booked we check the MOT history and run a provenance check — outstanding finance, insurance write-off markers, stolen markers and mileage discrepancies. Better to find a marker two days before than after money has moved.
What we buy
Do you really buy any car?
Almost. Age, mileage and condition change the price, not whether we are interested. We buy cars that have failed an MOT, cars with warning lights on, cars with damage and cars recorded as insurance write-offs. Tell us up front and it is priced in rather than being a problem on the day.
What about a car that will not start?
Tell us before you book. Our buyer drives cars away, so a non-runner needs recovery arranging instead, and that affects both the price and how quickly we can come.
Can I change my mind?
At any point up to the moment the payment is sent. There is no cancellation fee and no obligation at any stage.