What happens on the day of collection?

1. Arrange collection

Your car will be collected at a time that suits you from your home, workplace, or any nominated address once you’ve accepted your sale offer. 

Most collections take place within 3 to 7 working days once the sale is confirmed. 

The process follows these steps:

• Upload documentation. Once the sale is confirmed and you’ve accepted the offer, we ask you to upload relevant documents to our system. We will review and share these with the dealer to authorise the handover. Uploading your documents as soon as we request them is the best way to speed up your collection date.
• Book your slot. Once your documents are processed, the dealer (or one of our trusted transport partners) will contact you within two working days to arrange a convenient time for collection. Keep an eye on your email, calls and texts - the dealer may reach out directly. 
• Stay updated. Keep an eye on your inbox – we will email you throughout the process to ensure everything is progressing smoothly. 

Reminder: Your vehicle must have at least two weeks of MOT validity remaining to be eligible for collection. If this is not the case, we advise you to renew it before it goes into the auction. 

2. How collection works

The dealer has the choice of sending one of their own representatives or using Motorway's in-house transport service, Motorway Move. Either way, you can choose the time and date that suits you. 

If the dealer uses Motorway Move, we will email you to ask for your preferred collection dates and you won’t need to get in touch with the dealer; we’ll handle the collection logistics for you.

If the dealer is arranging collection themselves, they will get in touch with you through phone or email, usually within two working days of documents being uploaded and approved. We’ll email you at every step of the process. 

3. Collection day

The collection process takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, although this can vary from dealer to dealer. We advise you to have your car cleaned and presented exactly as you photographed and described it. 

• Inspection and check: The dealer checks your car to ensure it matches the details and photos you shared. This involves a look over the bodywork, interior, and general mechanics. It may involve a short test drive and the use of OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) readers.

• Payment and paperwork: Once the dealer is satisfied that the car is as described, they’ll make the payment (and clear any outstanding finance, if applicable) and take the vehicle away. If there’s undeclared wear and tear, the dealer might need to adjust the final price to account for it. Funds may take up to 2 hours to get to your account, depending on the transfer method used and your bank's processing times. 

• Service fee: In most cases, dealers use our in-house payment system, Motorway Pay, to send payment for your car. In this case, your service fee is automatically deducted from your final payment. If your dealer makes a bank transfer directly to your account, you need to pay the service fee after your sale. We’ll send you a secure, online payment link once your sale is complete. Read more in our full guide on service fees, including how much you’ll need to pay. 

Once the car's been collected, notify the DVLA to transfer legal ownership. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it. This is important as the legal responsibility falls to the seller of the vehicle.

For any help during the collection, call our Driveway Support Team on 0203 977 0166.