We’ll go more into the details below, but the answer is clear: it is illegal to sell your car without insurance. Let’s take a look as to why this is the case, as well as some practical solutions to ensure a smooth and legal sale of your car.
Can I sell my car without insurance?
You cannot sell your car without insurance. It is the law for car sellers in the UK to have valid insurance cover on their vehicle; using a car without valid insurance is against the law, and can lead to serious legal consequences.
What happens if I try to sell my car without insurance?
If you try to sell your car without valid insurance, you might find yourself in one of several situations:
Registration transfer issues
The registration of the car won’t be transferred without valid insurance, so if the new owner is caught driving it before registering it in their name, you may be the one liable for paying the fines.
Seizure/impoundment costs
If the car is seized by police after you’ve sold it without insurance, you will be held responsible for the penalty and the cost of renewing the insurance to release it, even though it has a new owner.
Buyer concerns
Prospective buyers may be hesitant to buy an uninsured car as it could invalidate their own insurance. This will likely slow down the selling process for you, and you may not be able to sell the car at all.
Legal consequences
If your car is on the road, it must be insured. Failing to do so can result in a fixed fine of £300 and 6 points on your licence.
Alternatives to selling your car without insurance
If you don’t want to insure your car for an entirely new year because you’re looking to sell, there are some easy alternatives that help you stay on the right side of the law.
Third-party insurance
The easiest way to sell your uninsured car without incurring major costs is through third-party car insurance.
This type of insurance lets you legally sell your car as it focuses on the liability of the insurer towards damage caused to other vehicles or people involved in an accident, rather than yourself or your car.
Temporary car insurance
In some cases, you may choose to take out a temporary car insurance policy for your uninsured car. Temporary car insurance offers short-term comprehensive whilst you are in the process of selling your car.
Can I sell an uninsured SORN car?
If you’re selling a SORN (statutory off road notice) car that is also uninsured, you need to re-tax and re-insure it before proceeding with a sale, allowing test drives, or even moving house. Failing to do so could result in similar legal complications as noted above.
Sell your car easier than ever with Sell 2 Swansway
As you can see, selling your car without valid insurance is full of potential consequences. If you want to sell your car, you must have the appropriate insurance coverage in place before listing it for sale.
By doing so, you protect yourself from potential fines, penalties, and legal problems, whilst also giving any buyers peace of mind.
If you want to make selling your car easier than before, why not choose Sell 2 Swansway?
With completely free collection, instant valuations, and direct payments to your bank account, we’ve made selling a car easier than it’s ever been.
Just enter your reg and mileage details for a fair, accurate valuation that is locked in for 7 whole days, giving you plenty of time to think it through. No pressure here, just a hassle-free process, and a great price for your car.
Get started with Sell 2 Swansway with a FREE car valuation now.