Brits may be missing out on an average of £1,600 by not checking the value of their car before they put it up for sale.  

According to new research, 45% are unhappy about the amount of money we get for our vehicles, with a quarter saying they’ve lost out because they didn’t know its true value.

The root of the problem, according to the study commissioned by Autotrader, is that 44% of British drivers don’t know what their car is worth or how to check it. (51%). 

Experts at the automotive marketplace say that this means the average person could miss out on £1,600 - a month’s salary after tax for many.

Erin Baker, editorial director at Autotrader, said: “So many people worry they’re not getting the best deal when they sell their car, and the research shows that fear is justified.”

The survey suggests that a major issue is misconceptions around car sales and valuations. Almost a third (29%) of those polled think that getting a car valued takes several hours rather than a few seconds. 

Meanwhile four in ten drivers (41%) say finding out their car’s real value worries them, while 33% cite not knowing who to trust as their biggest frustration when buying or selling a car.

To help car owners quickly and confidently know what their car is worth, Autotrader has teamed up with viral food duo SpudBros to open the Autotrader drive-thru in Manchester today. 

Customers can pick up a loaded jacket potato while getting their car value in under 10 seconds using the company’s valuation tool. 

The platform uses live market data from millions of listings to give drivers a clear, realistic view of what their car is worth right now to help them decide when to sell, how to price, or whether to hold onto it.

Erin said, “We partnered with SpudBros to make car valuations something people actually want to do. By combining their creativity and huge social reach with our live valuation tool, we can give drivers clarity in under 10 seconds, all in a fun, approachable way. 

“The reactions we’re seeing at the drive-thru show just how powerful that combination can be.”

Jacob & Harley Nelson, founders of SpudBros added: “We wanted to do more than just serve food. This was about creating a moment people remember and partnering with Autotrader let us surprise people with something genuinely valuable: the real price of their car.

To value your car for free in under 10 seconds, visit HERE