I’m going travelling for six months and have decided to sell both my Mazdas. First up is a 2006/55 Mazda 5 Sport 2.0d (143) with 63,000 miles and full service history. Firstly I will seek to sell to my known circle but, if no success, have considered using one of the buying agencies who have quoted £5,280 (subject of course to inspection, at which stage I expect them to reduce due to alloy blemishes - which aren't too bad).

Reading your advice I have looked into BCA at Brighouse and they gave me a guide price of £4,900 to £5,250 and put a reserve on the latter amount. With costs of £420 that would take me well below £5,000 even if I was to achieve reserve. In your experience of car auctions is it common for reserve prices to be exceeded? I fully appreciate that it all depends on who is bidding on the day but I have no way of knowing if there is a fair chance of doing better at auction.