How do I sell my car privately? Step by step

What are the steps in a private car sale?

Seven steps take you from preparation to a registered ownership transfer.

1. Prepare the car and set the price. Clean the car, gather the paperwork and compare with similar cars for sale.
2. Take photos. Photograph the car in daylight from every angle, the interior and any damage.
3. Write the listing. Describe history, servicing, inspection status and known faults honestly.
4. Handle questions and test drives. Reply quickly, check the driving licence and ride along on the test drive.
5. Negotiate. Decide your lowest price in advance and stick to it.
6. Sign and get paid. Sign a purchase agreement and wait until the money is in your account.
7. Transfer ownership. Register the transfer with Transportstyrelsen before you hand over the keys.

How do I prepare the car and set the price?

Wash the car, gather the service book and receipts, and compare with similar cars for sale – same model, model year and roughly the same mileage.

Set a competitive price that leaves some room to negotiate, because buyers almost always do. Read more in What is my car worth? and the pre-sale checklist.

What photos does the listing need?

Take photos in daylight against a calm background: the car from every angle, the driver's seat, the back seat, the dashboard and the boot.

Photograph damage and wear too. Showing flaws openly builds trust and reduces the risk of arguments after the sale.

What should the listing say?

A good listing answers what buyers always ask: why you are selling, the car's history, service status, inspection status and any known faults or damage.

The more you say up front, the fewer unnecessary questions you get – and the more serious the buyers who get in touch.

How do I handle questions and test drives safely?

Reply quickly, always ask to see a valid driving licence before the test drive and ride along. Never let a stranger drive off alone.

Buyers often contact several sellers at once. Choose a route you know and preferably meet in daytime where other people are around.

How do I negotiate the price?

Decide your lowest price before you meet the buyer and stick to it. Negotiation is normal and expected.

If the buyer finds a fault during the test drive, consider whether the discount is reasonable compared with what the fault costs to fix. You do not have to sell if the price is wrong.

How do we sign the agreement and handle payment?

Sign a purchase agreement together, and do not hand over the keys until the money is actually in your account.

A verbal agreement is also binding, but hard to prove. See what a purchase agreement should contain. Bank transfer is the most common method; avoid large cash amounts and never accept a cheque.

When should the ownership transfer be done?

On the day the car changes hands, ideally together with the buyer before the keys are handed over.

Until the transfer is registered you remain the owner and can receive, for example, parking fines and congestion charges. Read more in the ownership transfer guide.