John Clark boasts over 50 years of experience in buying and selling cars, vans, and motorbikes. We know our stuff. This experience helps us find the best price for your vehicle no matter the model or make.
As we buy your car for cash there are no third parties involved making this a smooth, streamlined, and pain-free experience. This refined process can also save on having to pay middlemen a cut or any additional fees.
Everyone wins!
You might be wondering why you should sell your car to us over one of the other online alternatives. Apart from our high-quality customer service and deep knowledge of the automotive industry, there are a few key benefits.
There are many factors that will affect the condition of your car - the age, mileage, condition, specification, warranty, and number of previous owners. Furthermore, seasonality can also affect what a vehicle is worth as a convertible is likely to be valued slightly higher in the summer months than during the depth of winter.
To help you understand how we measure a vehicles price we split it into three categories – showroom condition, average condition, and below average condition. Below is a breakdown of how certain factors can influence which category your car might fall into and we would advise that you are as honest as possible at this stage to get a true picture of what your car is worth.
It may seem obvious but getting out a bucket and sponge and making your car look as good as new will help it to appear more appealing.
Ensure that you have all service history and MOT information to hand as not only does it help with the value but will need to be provided with the car at the point of sale. It would also be a good idea to have an up to date MOT carried out too.
Check all the electrics to ensure that it is all working correctly. If not, it might be an idea to see whether it is financially viable to get elements repaired prior to trying to sell your car.
if you have damage on the car you may wish to consider getting it repaired prior to getting your car valued.
the lower the mileage the better, so if you can restrict your driving time to keep your miles lower this will help.
it is always helpful to have two keys so get them ready too.
You will need to provide us with your vehicle’s registration and mileage and your basic contact information. Once you have completed the details you will receive an instant valuation on the screen.
Having a vehicle that is still covered by the manufactuer’s warranty will certainly influence the value of your car for the better. The benefit to the buyer is that they have peace of mind that your car is still covered by a warranty.
The more owners a vehicle has had the more likely it is that the vehicle has undergone different driving styles, varied care in terms of looking after the car and inconsistencies in terms of regular servicing which as a result will have a negative impact on the valuation of a car.
How many miles is on a car is a key indicator of how much it is worth with the general rule being the lower the mileage the more it will retain its value, plus it also indicates how much more life the vehicle has left in it.
The ultimate answer to this question is no – you cannot avoid car depreciation, but you can minimise its impact. Typically a new car will lose 50 to 60% of its value in its first three years, with the majority of the decrease occurring in year one and gradually tapering off during year 2 and 3. The best advice to offer is when you buy a car consider a popular model that has minimal running costs and this should help to reduce depreciation.
Once again this is a matter of popularity. If you love bright, vivid and bold coloured vehicles the likelihood is that you will find that your resale value will be less than the same car that is in black, silver, white, grey and blue as these tend to be more popular.
If you wish to sell your car to us, we will obviously have received your registration and know you have a private plate. But you should certainly discuss this matter with your dealership as unless you specifically inform us that you wish to retain the number plate then it would simply be sold with the vehicle.
John Clark – ‘Simply Sell My Car’ Terms and Conditions (B2B and B2C)
1 These terms
1.1 What these terms cover. These are the terms and conditions on which we purchase a vehicle from you, the customer, following a valuation being given of your vehicle on our website at: www.john-clark.co.uk/simply-sell-my-car/ (“our Website”).
1.2 Why you should read them. For your own benefit and protection, please read these Terms and Conditions before you enter your vehicle’s registration number on our website. These tell you who we are, how to obtain a valuation of your vehicle, when a contract between us is formed, how you and we may change or end the contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. If you think that there is a mistake in these terms, please contact us to discuss.
1.3 Are you a business or a consumer?
In some areas you will have different rights under these terms depending on whether you are a business or consumer. You are a consumer if:
a. You are an individual; and
b. You are selling us a vehicle and that sale is not connected to purposes concerning your trade, business, craft or profession.
If you are not a consumer, you are a business. Provisions specific to businesses only are also highlighted as such.
If you are a business, or are enquiring about selling a vehicle on behalf of a business we will need additional documentation. You must show us a valid VAT registration, and a valid VAT invoice from the business which owns the vehicle. These requirements are outlined further below.
1.4 If you are a business customer this is our entire agreement with you. If you are a business seller these terms constitute the entire agreement between us in relation to us buying your vehicle. You acknowledge that you have not relied on any statement, promise, representation, assurance or warranty made or given by or on behalf of us which is not set out in these terms and that you shall have no claim for innocent or negligent misrepresentation or negligent misstatement based on any statement in this agreement
2 Information about us and how to contact us
2.1 Who we are. The parent company of our group is John Clark (Holdings) Limited a company registered and established in Scotland. Our company registration number is SC098411 and we have our registered office at Alliance Centre Greenwell Road, East Tullos Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3AX. Our registered VAT number is 671087234.
2.2 In addition to our ultimate parent company as per Clause 2.1 above, the group trades under the following wholly owned subsidiaries, all with its registered office at Alliance Centre Greenwell Road, East Tullos Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3A: John Clark (Aberdeen) Limited, Specialist Cars (Aberdeen) Limited, Pentland Motor Company Limited, Clark Commercials (Aberdeen) Limited, Morrisons (Land Rover) Limited, Motorchoice (Scotland) Limited. The subsidiary concerned with the vehicle we purchase from you (“the Dealership”) will be the party you enter into a contract with and will be specified when we email you with our valuation. The Dealership specified is where delivery of your vehicle, and where the provision of any keys, documents, service records, certificates, manuals, checks, or any other items requested by us should be made.
2.3 How to contact us. Initial contact should be made with the Dealership. If the issue is not resolved you can contact our head office by writing to us hello@simplysellmycar.co.uk or Alliance Centre Greenwell Road, East Tullos Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3AX.
2.4 How we may contact you. If we have to contact you, we will do so by telephone or by writing to you at the email address or postal address you provided to us as your preferred means of communication.
2.5 "Writing" includes emails but not fax. When we use the words "writing" or "written" in these terms, this includes emails.
3 Valuation of your vehicle
3.1 By entering your vehicle registration number on our website, you are asking us to provide a valuation of your vehicle. During the process you will be required to enter your email address. We will send the valuation of your vehicle to you by email (“the Valuation”).
3.2 The Valuation is not an offer by us to purchase the vehicle.
3.3 The Valuation is based on the information you provide to us via our Website. Unless you declare otherwise, the Valuation is also based on the following assumptions:
3.3.1 you are the registered keeper of the vehicle and you have title to sell the vehicle;
3.3.2 the vehicle is free from any charge or encumbrance e.g. finance, other than that disclosed to us by you;
3.3.3 the vehicle has a minimum of 3 months MOT;
3.3.4 the vehicle has a comprehensive service history and vehicle manuals;
3.3.5 the vehicle is not imported;
3.3.6 the vehicle has no major mechanical faults;
3.3.7 the vehicle has no major exterior and/or interior damage;
3.3.8 the vehicle has not at any time been subject to an insurance write off or used for private hire, driving tuition or as a police or emergency service vehicle;
3.3.9 the vehicle has no personalised registration plate, or, if the vehicle has a personalised registration plate it will remain with the vehicle and no value is assigned to it;
3.3.10 the vehicle is not a non-runner (i.e. its engine can be started);
3.3.11 the vehicle has two sets of keys;
3.3.12 the locking wheel nut is available (if applicable);
3.3.13 the vehicle is in good condition for its age and mileage;
3.3.14 the vehicle has never been modified and is factory specification; and
3.3.15 we receive all relevant documents, service history, manual and/or other information relative to the above on request.
(“the Assumptions”)
3.4 The Valuation will be valid for 7 days, subject to a satisfactory appraisal of the vehicle within those 7 days (see Clause 4).
3.5 We reserve the right to revise the Valuation if:
3.5.1 the vehicle does not conform to the Assumptions and you have not provided us with or are unable to provide us with the items listed in Clause 3.3.15;
3.5.2 you provide any incorrect information to us about the vehicle;
3.5.3 the vehicle has any mechanical defects;
3.5.4 the condition of the vehicle has a significant impact on the Valuation;
3.5.5 the mileage has increased by 1,000 miles or more since the date of the Valuation;
3.5.6 we become aware of any other factors which you did not disclose but which would affect, or would have affected the Valuation of the vehicle;
3.5.7 more than seven days have elapsed since we provided the Valuation of the vehicle.
3.6 We reserve the right to withdraw the Valuation at any time and for whatever reasons prior to a legally binding contract being created between you and us (see Clause 5).
3.7 The Valuation includes VAT (where applicable).
4 Vehicle Appraisal
4.1 Before making you a formal offer to purchase the vehicle, we will carry out an onsite or video appraisal of the vehicle and its service records and other information supplied under Clause 3.3.15 (“the Appraisal”).
4.2 The Appraisal will confirm:
4.2.1 whether or not we consider that the vehicle conforms to the Assumptions;
4.2.2 whether or not we consider that the information provided by you in relation to the vehicle is accurate and complete;
4.2.3 whether or not the vehicle has no mechanical defects;
4.2.4 Business term - whether the Vehicle is VAT registered; and
4.2.5 Business term - whether we are satisfied with the VAT invoice you or your business/company has provided.
4.3 If we are satisfied following the Appraisal, we may, at our full discretion, make you an offer to purchase the vehicle.
4.4 We reserve the right to instruct a third party to undertake the Appraisal on our behalf.
4.5 We may agree to carry out the Appraisal at a location other than our property. If we travel to a location and decide, at our sole discretion, that the vehicle does not materially adhere to the information you provided to us, we reserve the right to charge you a reasonable fee to cover the transportation and labour costs concerned with the Appraisal in question.
5 Our contract with you
5.1 Below, we set out how a legally binding contract between you and us is made.
5.2 Once the Appraisal has been carried out by us, we will either:
5.2.1 confirm the Valuation;
5.2.2 provide you with a revised valuation; or
5.2.3 advise you that we will not be making an offer to purchase the vehicle.
5.3 When we confirm the Valuation or provide you with a revised valuation, that will constitute our offer to purchase the vehicle from you at the price stated in the Valuation or the revised Valuation (“Purchase Price”), subject to these terms and conditions and our Purchase Invoice (“the Offer”).
5.4 A binding contract between us will be made when you provide written Acceptance of the Offer by signing the Purchase Invoice.
5.5 We may withdraw the Offer at any time prior to it being accepted by you in writing.
5.6 The Offer at all times remains subject to:
5.6.1 you delivering the vehicle to us at the Dealership or an agreed location;
5.6.2 you providing us with all copies of the vehicle’s keys;
5.6.3 you providing us with the vehicle’s V5 vehicle registration document;
5.6.4 you providing us with the vehicle’s service history;
5.6.5 you providing us with the vehicle’s unexpired MOT certificate which must have at least three (3) months left until expiry;
5.6.6 you providing us with the vehicle’s manuals and any other information reasonably required under Clause 3.3.15;
5.6.7 you providing us with any of the vehicle’s accessories (including but not limited to locking wheel nuts, SD Vehicles etc);
5.6.8 satisfactory HPI and NMR Checks;
5.6.9 the vehicle not being subject to a finance agreement or us being able to settle any outstanding finance (see Clause 6);
5.6.10 Business Term - the vehicle being VAT registered; and
5.6.11 Business Term - you providing us with a valid VAT invoice.
5.7 “Delivering” includes us collecting the vehicle from you at a pre-agreed location.
5.8 Except in the case of us collecting the vehicle and anything listed in Clause 5.6 from a pre-agreed location under Clause 5.7, anything listed in Clause 5.6 will be ‘delivered’ or ‘provided’ when it is in the possession of the Dealership specified on the Order Form and accepted by a member of our staff.
5.9 If your vehicle has a private registration and you do not want to retain the private registration you agree:
5.9.1 to use all reasonable endeavours required by you to transfer the private registration; and
5.9.2 that you will be responsible for any and all fees, charges, payments, or other sums due under any process required to transfer the private registration along with the vehicle.
5.10 If your vehicle has a private registration plate and you notify us in the Purchase Invoice that you do want to retain the private registration, or assign it to another vehicle, you agree:
5.10.1 to remove or assign the private registration from the vehicle and register that removal or assignation with the relevant authorities, including the DVLA;
5.10.2 that you will be responsible for paying any registration fees, charges, or sums concerned with removing or assigning the private registration;
5.10.3 that you will provide us with any chassis numbers that you are aware of concerning the vehicle;
5.10.4 that you will provide us with the original number plate assigned to your vehicle by the DVLA, if applicable; and
5.10.5 that you will notify us of any correspondence you receive concerning the removal or assignation of the private registration.
5.11 If your vehicle has a private registration we agree to use all reasonable endeavours which are required by us in order to remove, transfer, assign, or in any other way deal with the private registration including:
5.11.1 providing any documentation required to the relevant authorities, including the DVLA; and
5.11.2 making the vehicle available for inspection if a relevant authority requires such an inspection.
5.12 If, after we have taken possession of the vehicle we discover any issues with the vehicle which materially affect its value, which were not disclosed to us, and could not have reasonably been discovered during the Appraisal, we reserve the right to charge you a reasonable sum equating to the deduction in value of the vehicle due to the issue discovered, which you shall pay to us within fourteen (14) days of receipt of our invoice.
6 Payment
6.1 Prior to payment of the Purchase Price we will carry out an HPI & NMR check (“the Checks”). A HPI Check verifies the vehicles history including ownership, MOT status and any other relevant information such as any outstanding finance. An NMR confirms the mileage history of the vehicle.
6.2 If the Checks are satisfactory to us, we will pay the price by electronic transfer to the bank account of the registered keeper of the vehicle as soon as reasonably practicable and in most cases, on the day you accept our Offer.
6.3 If the Checks highlight any issues that concern us, payment of the Purchase Price to you may be put on hold to allow us to complete further investigations which may lead to the contract being rescinded.
6.4 If the Checks indicate that the vehicle is subject to a finance agreement with a third party, we may agree to proceed with the purchase provided that:
(i) we have received from the third party a written statement confirming the amount that is required to settle the finance agreement (“the Settlement Figure”);
(ii) we have received from you written authority to pay the third party the Settlement Figure; and
(iii) the Purchase Price is equal to or greater than the Settlement Figure.
6.5 If the circumstances set out in Clause 6.4 are met, we will pay the Settlement Figure to the third party within ten business days and any balance of the Purchase Price to the registered keeper, after allowing for payment of the Settlement Figure to the bank account, in three business days.
6.6 If, for any reason, once a contract has been agreed, you do not want to proceed with the sale and seek to take ownership of your vehicle back, we reserve the right to refuse such request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we shall use our reasonable endeavours to meet such request and return possession and ownership of your vehicle back to you, subject to receiving the Purchase Price from you in cleared funds. If we agree to a request under this Clause 6.6, we reserve the right to charge you a reasonable sum to cover the costs of transporting the vehicle back to you and/or the administration of the transaction.
7 Ownership and risk
Ownership
7.1 The ownership in your vehicle will transfer from you to us once you have received payment of the Purchase Price (or part payment if we require to pay a third party to settle outstanding finance on the vehicle) in cleared funds.
7.2 If we agree to a request under Clause 6.6, the ownership in the vehicle will pass from us to you once:
7.2.1 we have received the full Purchase Price from you; and
7.2.2 we have received any sums charged under Clause 6.6.
Risk
7.3 You remain fully responsible for insuring your vehicle until risk in the vehicle has been transferred to us.
7.4 Risk will pass to us when we, or a third party acting on our behalf, takes possession of the vehicle.
7.5 If we agree to a request under Clause 6.6, the risk in the vehicle will pass from us to you once the vehicle is delivered back to you. This may be delivering it to an agreed location or leaving it for you to pick up at the Dealership at an agreed time and date.
8 Your personal data
8.1 Where any devices are fitted to the vehicle store data, or the vehicle itself stores data, such as telephone systems, satellite navigation systems, trackers, or telematics systems, you agree to remove your personal data from the vehicle or the accessory prior to delivering the vehicle to us.
8.2 If you fail to remove your personal data from the vehicle we will remove it ourselves, without notification.
8.3 We will process such personal data about you in so far as necessary in order to perform our contractual relationship with you and/or other related matter under or in relation to these terms. This includes name, address, bank details and vehicle registration. If you do not provide us with this information we will not be able to purchase your vehicle. We will only share your personal data if we use a third party to undertake an Appraisal or pick up your vehicle or if we need to liaise with any third party finance company that may have provided you with finance to purchase your vehicle and which is still outstanding when we purchase the vehicle from you. We will only keep your personal data for as long as necessary to perform the contract and thereafter to comply with our legal obligations. You have certain rights in relation to your personal data. To understand these please see our privacy notice at [https://www.john-clark.co.uk/site/privacy-policy/].
9 Our responsibility for loss or damage suffered by you if you are a consumer
9.1 We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss and damage caused by us. If we fail to comply with these terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking this contract or our failing to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if either it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen, for example, if you discussed it with us during the process.
9.2 We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors; for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
10 Business Term - Our responsibility for loss or damage suffered by you if you are a business
10.1 Nothing in these terms shall limit or exclude our liability for:
10.1.1 death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors (as applicable);
10.1.2 fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
10.1.3 any matter in respect of which it would be unlawful for us to exclude or restrict liability.
10.2 Subject to Clause 10.1:
10.2.1 we shall not be liable to you, whether in contract, delict (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, for any loss of profit, or any indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with any contract between us; and
10.2.2 our total liability to you for all other losses arising under or in connection with any contract between us, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall be limited to the purchase price of the vehicle.
11 Jurisdiction and applicable law
11.1 Which laws apply to this contract and where you may bring legal proceedings if you are a consumer. These terms are governed by the law of Scotland and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of this contract in the Scottish courts. If you live in England and Wales, you can bring legal proceedings in respect of this contract in either the Scottish or the English and Welsh courts. If you live in Northern Ireland, you can bring legal proceedings in respect of this contract in either the Northern Irish or the Scottish courts.
11.2 Alternative dispute resolution if you are a consumer. Alternative dispute resolution is a process where an independent body considers the facts of a dispute and seeks to resolve it, without you having to go to court. If you are a consumer and are not happy with how we have handled any complaint, you may want to contact the alternative dispute resolution provider we use. You can submit a complaint to The Motor Ombudsman via their website at www.themotorombudsman.org. The Motor Ombudsman will not charge you for making a complaint and if you are not satisfied with the outcome you can still bring legal proceedings.
11.3 Which laws apply to this contract and where you may bring legal proceedings if you are a business. If you are a business, any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with a contract between us or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Scotland and the courts of Scotland shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute or claim.
