Just to update on how things went.
I decided to try motorway.co.uk and the experience was very positive.
I went onto their website on Monday afternoon, took photos and uploaded details. The car was sold, paid for and collected on Thursday at a price my mam was very happy with.
I put the details into a well known car buying service and was given a price within 30 seconds, with a headline price of £3385 , given it had a few imperfections and processing fees I guess I would have got £3000 at best.
A similar company based locally offered £100 more but again before inspection.
Motorway initially valued the car at £3500 and then at £3400 when i described imperfections.
They auction the car within their dealer network and I got a best bid of £3938 subject to matching the description. The dealer arrived 2 days later having travelled 150 miles or so and was very reasonable. He pointed out a couple of minor imperfections I'd missed and we agreed that the one of the scratches i'd mentioned would need paint rather than polishing and we quickly and amiably agreed to discout the price by £100.
He paid online and drove the car away.
I guess a car bought by a car buying company for £3000 probably costs a trader £4500 at auction, so all parties gain from the deal.
My dealings with motorway were fine, they answered all calls and kept me informed at each stage. I guess the caveat is that they don't actually buy the car , they introduce you to the dealer who buys it. In my case the dealer was prompt, and easy to deal with. He was an established independent dealer with a single site premises.
It is a bit like an ebay auction but within a controlled environment with serious buyers who have been vetted in some way.
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