- For sellers
Selling a car privately?
Skoot helps you complete the sale safely, securely and transparently.
Found a buyer for your car, motorbike or motorhome? Skoot helps you verify who you’re selling to, know payment is with Skoot before handover and follow a clear process through to completion.
- What to do
Before you release the vehicle to a private buyer.
Selling privately can help you achieve a better price than selling to a dealer, part-exchanging or using an instant car-buying service.
But it also means dealing directly with the buyer, sorting payment, preparing the paperwork and deciding when it is safe to hand over the vehicle.
Skoot brings the key parts of a private sale into one clear process.
01 How do I know the buyer is serious without a deposit
Skoot is deliberately designed so you do not need to rely on a separate holding deposit. A buyer who joins the transaction, verifies their identity and sends the total agreed price to Skoot before handover has moved beyond casual interest and demonstrated their commitment to completing the sale.
02 How can I give the buyer confidence in my sale?
Your identity and address are verified before the transaction continues. The buyer can compare your ID-verified name and address with the registered keeper details on the V5C logbook, giving them more confidence in who they are buying from and in proceeding with the sale.
03 Is payment really available?
The buyer transfers the full payment to Skoot before collection day, and we let you know once the money is with us. That means you can arrange handover knowing you are not relying on screenshots, assurances or a large same-day bank transfer at handover. The money is with Skoot before handover. Once the sale is complete, Skoot sends the agreed payment to your verified bank account.
04 Do I need to share my bank details?
No. You confirm the account you want to be paid into and your bank details are checked against your verified identity. They stay private within Skoot and are not shared with the buyer.
05 What records will I have of the sale
Skoot prepares a sales agreement for both parties to review and sign. Once the sale completes, you both receive a copy of the completed agreement and a receipt as a clear record of the transaction.
06 How do I complete the handover properly?
Skoot guides both sides through reviewing the transaction details, signing the agreement and confirming completion, so payment, paperwork and vehicle handover follow a clear order. You aren’t left trying to manage everything alone on collection day.
- Before Handover
Know payment is ready before you release the vehicle.
One of the most stressful parts of selling a vehicle privately is knowing when it’s safe to let it go.
With a normal bank transfer, payment often happens at handover, leaving you waiting for funds to clear and wondering about delays, banking limits or unreliable screenshots.
Skoot changes this. The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before collection, allowing time for any banking issues to be resolved. You’re notified once the money is with Skoot, so when it’s time to hand over the vehicle, you know the payment is already in place.
Benefit 1
Avoid same-day payment uncertainty
Do not rely on the buyer arranging one large transfer at the point of collection.
Benefit 2
Sell higher-value vehicles more confidently
The buyer can build up their Skoot wallet balance over several days if the vehicle price is higher than their daily banking limit.
Benefit 3
Focus on handover
Spend less time waiting for payments and more time checking the vehicle details, paperwork and completion steps.
Keep your bank details private.
In a typical private sale, sellers often send bank details to the buyer by text, email or marketplace message.
That can create risk. Details can be mistyped, misunderstood, changed in messages or used outside the transaction.
With Skoot, your bank details are not shared with the buyer. You provide them to Skoot and they are checked against your verified identity to help ensure you’ve entered the correct details.
The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before handover. Once the sale is complete, Skoot sends the agreed payment to your verified bank account. Your £75 fee is deducted from the sale proceeds.
This means you are not receiving money directly from an unknown or potentially compromised buyer bank account, and your bank details aren’t being passed around in messages for somebody else to replace. A much clearer and safer payment setup.
How Skoot Helps Protect Your Sale
Find answers to the most common questions about how Skoot keeps your car purchase secure, simple, and stress-free.
Category Title 1
What about deposits?
Skoot is designed to help buyers and sellers move towards handover without needing a separate deposit.
The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before handover and you are notified once the money is with us, so you don’t need to rely on a separate deposit as your main sign of commitment.
This helps keep the main payment process inside Skoot rather than relying on separate transfers, screenshots or informal deposit arrangements.
It also means you do not need to share your bank details directly with the buyer just to receive a deposit.
A clearer way to sell privately.
Selling privately can feel uncertain if you haven’t done it before, or if you’re dealing with a buyer you don’t know.
When should you accept payment? What should you check? What paperwork should you prepare? When is it safe to hand over the vehicle?
Skoot gives you a clear process to follow from transaction setup to completion. Both parties are guided through the key steps, including vehicle details, identity verification, getting payment sorted, documentation and handover.
That means you aren’t left trying to work everything out for yourself on collection day.
- 4 easy steps
How selling with Skoot works.
Start Your Transaction
Enter the registration of the vehicle you want to sell, agree the price and invite the buyer — or join a transaction if the buyer has already invited you.
Verify your ID
Once both parties have accepted the transaction, you’ll each verify your identity and address using bank-grade identity verification. Your ID documents remain private, but the buyer can compare your verified name and address with the registered keeper details on the V5C logbook.
Set up the payment
The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before collection day and you’ll be notified once the money is with us.
As the seller, you confirm the account you want to be paid into. Your bank details are checked against your verified identity to help ensure payment is sent to the correct account. They remain private and are not shared with the buyer.
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.
Once the sale is complete, Skoot sends the agreed payment to your verified bank account, less your £75 Skoot fee, and both parties receive a receipt and a copy of the agreement as a clear record of the transaction.
Why sellers use Skoot.
Skoot helps sellers complete private vehicle sales with a clearer process and more reassurance than arranging everything informally.
Benefit 1
Filter for serious buyers
Skoot cannot stop low offers or speculative enquiries, but a buyer who is willing to proceed through Skoot has moved beyond casual interest. They need to join the transaction, verify their identity and prepare payment before handover, giving you a clear sign that they are serious about completing the sale.
Benefit 2
Give the buyer confidence in your sale
The buyer can compare your ID-verified name and address with the registered keeper details on the V5C logbook, helping them feel more confident about who they are buying from before the sale completes.
Benefit 3
Know payment is with Skoot before handover
The buyer transfers payment to Skoot before collection day, so payment is not left until the point of handover
Benefit 4
Keep your bank details private
Your payout details stay within Skoot and are not shared directly with the buyer.
Benefit 5
Reduce screenshot and pending-payment uncertainty
You are not relying on screenshots, payment confirmations or assurances that a transfer has been sent.
Benefit 6
Support higher-value private sales
Buyers can build up their Skoot wallet balance over several days if the vehicle price is higher than their daily banking limit.
Benefit 7
Follow a clear process
Skoot guides both parties through the key steps needed to complete the private sale properly.
- Pricing
One clear fee.
No percentage fees and no hidden charges. Most importantly, fees are only payable once the transaction successfully completes.
Whether you’re Selling a £5,000 vehicle or a £50,000 vehicle, the Skoot fee remains the same.
No completed transaction, no fee.
£75
Each for buyer and seller.
- Fixed fee
- No percentage charges
- No hidden charges
- Only payable on successful completion
- Built For
Selling privately? Read these next.
Helpful guides for sellers who want to complete a private vehicle sale properly.
01 You’ve Agreed The Deal. Now What?
What to do after agreeing a private vehicle sale and before handover.
02 Before You Meet Checklist
What to prepare and confirm before meeting the buyer to complete your sale.
03 Avoiding Private Sale Scams
Common private-sale risks and practical steps you can take to reduce them.
04 Handover Checklist
What to check on collection day before signing, confirming payment and handing over the vehicle.