How Skoot Works

Skoot gives buyers and sellers a clear way to complete a private vehicle sale properly.

Start with the vehicle registration, agree the price and invite the other party. Skoot then guides both sides through the key steps, including identity verification, setting up the payment, reviewing the transaction documents and completing handover.

A clear process from agreed sale to handover.

You’ve found the car, or the buyer, and agreed the deal. Skoot helps you take care
of what happens next.

Skoot brings the payment, identity checks, vehicle details and paperwork together in
one simple, easy-to-use process. Starting a transaction takes just a few minutes, and
from there Skoot takes some of the guesswork out by showing buyer and seller what needs to happen and when.

Start a transaction

Enter the registration of the vehicle you want to buy or sell, agree the price and invite the other party.

Verify your ID

Once you’ve both accepted the transaction, you’ll each verify your identity and address using bank-grade identity verification. This reduces anonymity, and Skoot provides the buyer with the seller’s ID-verified name and address so they can compare them with the registered keeper details on the V5C logbook before completion.

Set up the payment

Buyers: Transfer funds to your Skoot wallet before collection day. This gives you time to deal with bank checks, transfer limits and funding over several days if needed.

Sellers: Confirm the account you want to be paid into. We check the bank details against your verified identity to help make sure the payment is sent to the right account. Your bank details stay private within Skoot and are not shared with the buyer. Once the buyer’s payment is with Skoot, you can arrange handover with more confidence.

Skoot also prepares the transaction documentation for both parties to review before you meet.

Complete the sale

Buyer and seller review the details, sign the agreement and confirm completion.

Skoot holds the agreed payment before handover and, once the sale completes, sends it to the seller’s verified account. Both parties receive a receipt and a copy of the agreement as a clear record of the transaction.

What changes when you use Skoot?

A bank transfer only moves money. Skoot helps organise the private sale around the payment.

WHAT CHANGES?	WITH SKOOT	TYPICAL PRIVATE SALE
Knowing who you're dealing with	✓ Included	Usually not
Payment before handover	✓ Payment transferred to Skoot before collection day	Transfer usually happens on the day
Larger payments	✓ Buyer can build up the balance over time	Banking limits may delay completion
Payment confidence	✓ Once the sale is complete, Skoot sends the agreed payment to the seller’s verified bank account.	Seller may rely on screenshots or assurances
Seller bank details	✓ The buyer never sees the seller's bank details	Seller will need to share bank details directly
Payment fraud risk	✓ The buyer pays Skoot, not relying on bank details shared by the seller	Bank details may be sent by text, email or marketplace message and could be changed or misdirected
Sales agreement and receipt	✓ Included	Usually limited or informal
Completing the sale properly	✓ Guided process from setup to handover	Often improvised
If the sale is cancelled before completion	✓ Money held with Skoot is automatically refunded to the buyer	Deposits or direct transfers may need to be recovered separately

Sort the payment before collection day.

One of the most stressful parts of a private sale is the payment itself.

With a normal bank transfer, the buyer often tries to send a large payment at handover. That can lead to banking limits, fraud checks, delays, pending-payment confusion or uncertainty over whether the money has genuinely arrived.

Skoot changes the timing.

The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before collection day, giving time for bank checks, transfer limits and payment preparation to be dealt with in advance. The seller then knows payment is already with Skoot before releasing the vehicle.

It also means the seller does not need to send their bank details directly to the buyer. The buyer pays Skoot through the guided process, reducing reliance on bank details shared by text, email or marketplace message.

Benefit For Buyers

Prepare payment before collection day, deal with banking checks in advance and build up your balance over several days if needed.

Benefit For Sellers

Know payment is already with Skoot before releasing the vehicle, rather than relying on a same-day transfer, screenshot or separate deposit.

Benefit For Both

Avoid last-minute payment delays, deposit confusion and uncertainty at handover.

What you’ll see in Skoot.

The Skoot platform guides both parties through the key steps needed to complete the transaction properly.

One clear fee.

No percentage fees and no hidden charges. Most importantly, fees are only payable once the transaction successfully completes.

No completed transaction, no fee.

£75

Each for buyer and seller.

A digital process, backed by real support.

Skoot is designed to guide both parties through the transaction step by step.

And if you need help, real UK-based support from the Skoot team is available during the process.

Digital where it should be. Human where it matters.