Why use Skoot

A private car sale can be straightforward.

The difficult part is knowing what to trust and making sure the important parts of the sale are dealt with properly.

You may be dealing with someone you only know through an advert, marketplace or a few messages, while also handling a valuable car and a large payment.

And even if you have bought or sold privately before and know exactly what you are doing, the person on the other side may not.

Skoot gives both sides the same clear process to follow, helping you deal with the people, the payment, the paperwork and the handover once the deal has been agreed.

So what changes when you use Skoot?

QUESTION	WITH SKOOT	TYPICAL PRIVATE SALE
How do I know who I’m dealing with?	✓ Buyer and seller both verify their identity and address.	Often based on the details exchanged through an advert, messages and conversations between the two parties.
When is payment handled?	✓ The buyer puts the agreed purchase price in place before collection day.	Payment is often left until handover.
How does the seller know the money is ready?	✓ Skoot lets the seller know once the agreed purchase price is with us before handover.	They don’t. At handover, the payment will still be subject to banking limits, additional checks or transfer delays.
What if the car costs more than my daily banking limit?	✓ The buyer can build up their Wallet balance over several days if needed.	The buyer may need to arrange a higher transfer limit with their bank in advance or make the payment in branch.
Do the seller’s bank details need to be shared?	✓ No. The seller gives their payout details directly to Skoot.	Yes. If the buyer is paying by bank transfer, they need the seller’s bank details to make the payment.
What records will we have afterwards?	✓ Buyer and seller both receive the completed contract and receipt as a clear record of what was agreed, signed and paid.	The paperwork and records are arranged by the buyer and seller themselves.
Is there a clear process for both of us to follow?	✓ Both sides see the same transaction details and know what needs to happen next.	The process is usually arranged between the buyer and seller as they go.

More than a different way to make the payment.

A bank transfer moves the money. Skoot brings the sale together.

A bank transfer can move £20,000 from one account to another. But it doesn’t help you verify who you’re dealing with, keep the payment tied to the agreed sale, provide a contract and receipt or complete the handover.

Skoot is built around the sale itself, not just the payment.

Proper checks. Proper records. Proper banking infrastructure.

Behind the simple process are identity checks, DVLA vehicle data, dedicated banking and transaction records.

The money for your sale is kept separate in a dedicated account

Each Skoot transaction has its own buyer Wallet account, provided by Griffin Bank Ltd.

Money held for that sale is kept separate from Skoot’s business accounts and from other Skoot transactions.

Eligible deposits may also be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), subject to eligibility rules and limits.

Both sides verify their identity

Buyer and seller both verify their identity and address as part of the transaction.

That reduces some of the anonymity that can otherwise exist when two people have only dealt with each other through an advert, marketplace or messages.

Vehicle details you can check against the car and V5C

Skoot uses the vehicle registration to retrieve vehicle details using DVLA data, giving both sides information they can compare with the vehicle and the V5C.

The sale leaves a proper record.

Both sides can review the transaction details and paperwork before completion.

Once the sale is complete, buyer and seller receive the completed contract and receipt as a record of what was agreed, signed and paid.

One clear fee.

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

Whether you are buying or selling a £5,000 car or a £50,000 car, the Skoot fee stays the same.

No completed transaction, no fee.

£75

Each for buyer and seller.

Deal agreed?

Bring the rest of the sale together with Skoot. Buyer, seller, payment, paperwork and handover — all brought together in one process.

Buying a motorbike or motorhome privately? Skoot can be used for those private sales too.