The short answer
Set the price close to or just under the market value of similar cars, publish the listing on day one with good photos and a phone number, and share it on social media. Answer every enquiry within an hour and put the viewings on day three. Have the papers, both keys and the contract ready. If no offer comes, cut the price once and noticeably.
The essentials
- A price close to the market value sells the car faster than any photo.
- Answer every enquiry within an hour, because buyers message several sellers at once.
- Put the viewings on one day and have the papers, both keys and the contract ready.
Before day one: the car and the papers
A quick sale fails more often on paperwork than on the buyer. Have the registration certificate, your ID, the service book, both keys and, for imported cars, the customs papers ready. Pay any outstanding traffic fines, because they block the change of owner. Clean the car inside and out and fix the small things that catch the eye. The full list is in preparing your car for sale.
The plan, day by day
| When | What you do |
|---|---|
| Day 1, morning | Photos in soft light: outside from every side, inside, engine, odometer and tyres |
| Day 1, midday | Valuation, a price close to market value and the listing, with your phone number in your profile |
| Day 1, evening | Share on WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram and TikTok, with a reel and stamped images |
| Day 2 | Replies within an hour and two fixed times for day 3 |
| Day 3 | Viewings back to back at the same place, with the papers and the contract |
Day 1: price, photos and listing
The price decides more than anything else. Run the free valuation, compare similar cars on MerrVetura and set the price close to market value, or just under it if you are in a hurry. How to find the right number is in the right price.
On MerrVetura you can upload up to 20 photos. After publishing, on the share page you create the reel from four to ten photos with one tap and get the stamped images for Instagram and TikTok. What makes a listing sell is in the listing that sells. List your car
Day 2: reply within an hour
Buyers message several sellers at once, and the one who answers first often wins, not the cheapest. So:
- Reply even when you have no time. “Yes, still for sale. Shall I call you this evening?” keeps it alive.
- Answer the question asked. “What is your best price?” is not answered with “Come and see it”.
- Offer two fixed times. Asking “When are you free?” drags it out.
- Add your phone number in your profile and tick WhatsApp and Viber: it then appears on every listing of yours. Many buyers call before they write.
For dealerships, the average response time is shown on their MerrVetura page. Buyers see it.
Day 3: viewings and the sale
Book the viewings back to back at the same safe place, in daylight. Sit in the car during the test drive and photograph the buyer’s driving licence. How to keep the meeting safe is in a safe meeting and test drive.
Once you agree, sign the sales contract and have it certified by a notary. Hand over the car only when the money is in your account or counted in cash in front of you. A transfer between two banks can take until the next working day, so put day three on a working day. Then mark the listing as sold so the calls stop.
If day three passes without an offer
The three-day plan is for when you are in a hurry. Without a rush, give the price two weeks, as explained in the right price. Either way:
- Look at what buyers asked. If everyone asks about the price, the price is the problem.
- If nobody calls at all, check the cover photo and the details: buyers are not opening the listing. In the app you can change the photo order and the cover.
- Cut the price once and noticeably, not fifty euros a week. Small repeated cuts move nobody.
A price close to the market, a reply within an hour and the papers ready: with these three you have the best chance of a quick sale.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can a car be sold?
Mostly on the price. A popular model priced close to the market, with good photos and quick replies, often sells within a few days. A car above market value can sit for weeks, even with a good listing.
How quickly should I reply to buyers?
Within an hour if you can. Interest in a car lasts hours, not days: reply after two days and you are writing to someone who has already seen other cars. Even a short “Yes, still for sale, shall I call you this evening?” keeps the conversation alive.
How much does a listing on MerrVetura cost?
Nothing for private sellers: up to three active listings at a time, each online free for 60 days. Before it expires you can extend it twice, each time back to 60 days; once it has expired, restart it with “Extend by 60 days”. You can upload up to 20 photos.
How do I protect myself from scams when selling?
Do not hand over the car, keys or papers until the money is in your account or counted in cash in front of you. Never forward codes from text messages, never refund an “overpayment” and always sit in the car during a test drive. Do not click links “to receive the payment” sent by a buyer: nobody needs your card details to pay you. More in a safe meeting and test drive.
Is it faster to sell to a dealership?
Yes, but usually for less money, because the dealership has to prepare the car and resell it at a profit. If you are buying another car there, ask about a trade-in: often everything is done in one day. If the dealer buys your car for more than €2,000, it must pay by bank or electronically since 1 June 2026.