10 mistakes to avoidwhen selling a truck.

The mistakes

1. Leaving it too long. A parked-up truck loses value every month, as batteries die, tyres perish and the market moves on.
2. Spending money before selling. Repairs and cosmetic work rarely add as much to the price as they cost. Ask a buyer first.
3. Poor photos. Dark, blurry or partial photos lead to cautious offers. See our photo guide.
4. Hiding faults. They’re found at inspection, and a last-minute price drop wastes everyone’s time.
5. Forgetting what’s fitted. A crane, tail lift, wet kit or fridge unit can be worth thousands. Make sure the buyer knows.
6. Accepting unsafe payment. Never release a truck until cleared funds are in your account. Be wary of cheques, unusual escrow services and overpayment scams.
7. Not settling finance. Finance must be cleared before ownership passes, so get the settlement figure early.
8. Forgetting the paperwork. Tell DVLA, remove the truck from your operator licence, and download the tachograph data. See our paperwork guide.
9. Losing a private plate. If you want to keep a cherished registration, take it off before you sell.
10. Only getting one price. A free valuation costs nothing, and it gives you a benchmark to judge other offers against.