Can You Still Sell Your Car During The COVID-19 Lockdown?
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown has caused unprecedented disruption in the car industry in the UK and across the world.
The economy has taken a huge hit and even though there are measures in place to protect businesses, a lot of people are struggling. Every aspect of society has been affected, and there are certain things that you may not have even considered.
The government has banned all non-essential travel, which means that selling your car is now impossible in a lot of situations. If you planned to sell your car before the lockdown came into effect, it is important that you understand the restrictions. If you are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the lockdown, selling your car could be a huge help, but it is important that you do it in the right way.
The rules of the lockdown state that you are only able to leave your home for essential purposes, like shopping for food or medical needs. This means that viewing a used car is not allowed.
Car dealerships are also considered non-essential businesses so the majority of them will be closed. Although some are still open for servicing vehicles, so essential workers can still travel to work if necessary, they are not open for trading of cars unless it is online. That means that you are unable to sell your car to a car dealership at the present moment.
The value of cars has also been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in a big way. It is estimated that, as a direct result of coronavirus, the average value of used cars has dropped by 2.2%. This is primarily down to a dip in demand for used cars. As people are unable to travel and the majority of people are either working from home or furloughed, the need for cars is reduced. A lot of people are also in a difficult financial situation as a result of the lockdown, which means that they are far less likely to make big purchases. So, does this mean that you cannot sell your car during the lockdown at all?
Although you may not be able to complete the sale of your car at the present moment, you can still take steps towards selling it. Car dealerships, for example, may still offer a used car online valuation service that you can use to get an idea of price. You will have to wait until the lockdown has been lifted and businesses are open again before completing the sale, but you can still make inquiries.
You are also able to list your car on sites like Autotrader during the lockdown so you can generate some interest. People will not be able to view the car until the lockdown has been lifted but if you include a lot of good quality pictures, you can still line up a buyer.
For the time being, your options for selling your car are very limited during the COVID-19 lockdown, but if you use online services, you can still advertise to potential buyers and set up a sale once the lockdown is lifted.
In the meantime look at the top ten most reliable cars in 2020
