Selling a used car or motorbike? The photos to take at handover, in case the buyer says you hid a fault or blames you later
Updated · 4 min read
When you sell a used car or motorbike, take dated photos and a short video of its condition at the handover: all sides, existing scratches and dents, the odometer, the dashboard, the keys and what comes with it, and the signed paperwork. Write down what you told the buyer and what you agreed, and keep it. If the buyer later says you hid a fault, that it was damaged when they collected it, or that a fine or accident happened on your watch, you have a record from the day.
A photo does not settle a dispute: who is responsible depends on what you disclosed, what you agreed in writing, the sale paperwork and the law where you live, and in many places a used-vehicle sale carries few or no promises if it is stated as sold as seen. But a dated record of how the vehicle looked, and what you showed the buyer, makes the conversation much easier. This is general advice, not legal advice.
Which photos should I take at the handover?
1. The whole vehicle from the front, back and both sides, in daylight, so the overall state is clear.
2. Every scratch, dent, crack and rust spot you know about, close up, with a coin or your finger for scale. Showing a flaw you disclosed is exactly what protects you later.
3. The odometer, switched on, so the mileage is readable, and the dashboard with the engine on to show any warning lights.
4. Tyres, lights and the windscreen, and for a car the inside: seats, boot and the spare wheel if there is one.
5. The number plate and the chassis (VIN) plate, only if you are happy for them to be in a picture you may share; cover or crop them before posting a listing publicly.
6. What is handed over: keys (how many), manuals, service book, spare parts, accessories.
Should I also film a short video?
Yes. One slow walk-around with the engine running, saying aloud the date and anything you point out, shows more than a dozen photos and is hard to argue with as a general impression. Keep it short and steady, and film the dashboard at the end.
What about the paperwork and the payment?
Photograph the signed sale or transfer paperwork, a written receipt that states what was paid and the price, the buyer's name and a way to reach them, and the date and time. Do not hand over the vehicle or sign over documents until the money has actually reached your account. What a sale needs in order to be valid, and when ownership and responsibility for fines move to the buyer, differs from place to place: check your local rules for transferring or cancelling the registration.
What should I write down?
- The date and time of the handover and where it happened.
- Anything you told the buyer about faults, repairs, accidents and mileage, and whether you said it was sold as seen.
- Anything the buyer checked or test-drove, and whether they raised any problem then.
- What was agreed on price, extras and any later repairs, in writing and confirmed by the buyer if possible.
- The buyer's name and contact, and the messages you exchanged. Keep those chats.
Why should I photograph disclosed faults too?
A photo of a scratch you pointed out, taken before the buyer drove away, supports "it was like that". Hiding or leaving out a defect is a different matter and can cost you, so be honest in the listing and at the handover; the record is there to show what you were open about, not to cover something up.
How do I show when my photos were made?
The iPhone Camera saves the date and time inside each photo, but a chat app or an email may strip it. Check that your phone's date and time are set automatically so the saved time is right. A date printed on the image itself stays visible wherever the picture goes.
Frequently asked questions
- What photos should I take when I sell a used car or motorbike?
- All sides, every scratch and dent you know about, the odometer and dashboard, the keys and what comes with the vehicle, the signed paperwork and the handover, ideally with a short walk-around video.
- Can the buyer still complain after I sell a used vehicle?
- They can try. What you owe depends on what you disclosed, what was agreed in writing and the law where you live. A dated record of the vehicle's condition and of what you told them helps you answer.
- Should I photograph damage I told the buyer about?
- Yes. A photo taken before the buyer left shows the flaw was there and visible at handover. Be honest in the listing: hiding a defect is a different matter.
- Should I post my number plate or VIN in the listing photos?
- Many sellers cover or crop the plate and VIN in public listing photos. Keep an uncropped copy privately for your own record.
- Will these photos protect me from fines or accidents after the sale?
- Not on their own. When responsibility passes to the buyer depends on the transfer or registration rules where you live, so check those and keep the signed paperwork and receipt together with the photos.