Is it possible to sell a second-hand car in France without speaking French?
The paperwork required could make a sale difficult without assistance
There are many ways to sell second-hand vehicles in France but this can be challenging if you do not speak French
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Reader Question: I want to sell my second-hand car and buy a new one, but I am not comfortable speaking French. What are my options? Does a site similar to Autotrader in the UK exist?
The process for selling your second-hand car in France is similar to elsewhere. However, doing so entirely in English may be difficult.
It will be even more challenging if you have a right-hand drive car, although it is possible to sell these cars in France.
Read more: Is it possible to sell a second-hand right-hand drive car in France?
There are many websites that specialise in second-hand cars, including largus.fr, lacentrale.fr and capcar.fr.
While none of them offer English as a language option, you could try translating them in your web browser and using an online translation programme to write in French.
This is by no means a perfect solution, but it could solve your problem.
Another idea, if you live in an area with many English-speakers, is to advertise through social media pages, such as ‘Facebook Marketplace’.
You can make your post entirely in English, and ask people to respond likewise.
Read more: How safe are purchases on French classified websites?
You can also try to sell your car via word of mouth, however depending on where your car is parked you need permission to place a ‘for sale’ sign on it.
Read more: Are there rules for putting a ‘for sale’ sign on car on French street?
However the paperwork for a sale is in French.
A friend who is fluent in French, or alternatively a translator, could help with this.
Plan ahead before visiting a dealership
Alternatively you can take your car to a garage or dealership.
You can read about how to do this in more detail below.
Read more: Selling a used car in France - explained
It would be wise to firstly consult a price comparison website (such as L’Argus) to check your car's market value.
If you are concerned about being taken advantage of due to your limited French, go with someone who is fluent in French to translate for you, or even an interpreter (for around €100 an hour) if your car is worth the extra expense.
Note that dealerships and garages will purchase your car at a low price to make a return on the onward sale.
