Sell Your Car or Van in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is built almost entirely on Portsea Island, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the United Kingdom outside London. That island geography, combined with the city’s deep ties to the Royal Navy and a large university population, creates a vehicle market with its own particular characteristics. If you are looking to sell a car or van in Portsmouth, understanding those characteristics helps explain why so many local owners choose to sell directly to a buyer like us rather than go through the private market.
We buy cars and vans across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, including Cosham, Hilsea, Southsea, Fratton, Havant, Gosport and Fareham. Every purchase includes free collection and same-day bank transfer.
The Island Factor
Portsea Island is connected to the mainland by just three road routes: the M275 motorway from the north, the Eastern Road (A2030), and the smaller Portsbridge junction area. During peak hours, particularly around the naval dockyard shift changes, traffic backs up considerably on all three. This congestion means that arranging a private vehicle sale — where buyers need to visit, test drive and potentially return — is more of a hassle than it would be in a city with open road access in every direction.
When you sell to us, there is one visit. Our driver collects the vehicle from your address in Portsmouth, completes a brief inspection to confirm it matches your description, and the sale is done. No strangers visiting your home repeatedly, no juggling test drives around the M275 traffic.
Military Personnel and Vehicle Turnover
Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. HMS Nelson and the naval base at HMNB Portsmouth mean that thousands of service personnel are stationed in the city, with regular postings that take them elsewhere in the country or abroad. Military moves often happen on fixed timescales with limited flexibility, and selling a car privately within those timescales can be stressful.
We regularly buy vehicles from naval personnel and Ministry of Defence civilian staff who need a fast, guaranteed sale. Because we buy vans as well as cars, we also work with the naval supply chain contractors — businesses in Fareham, Gosport and along the M27 corridor — who need to turn over commercial vehicles without the delays of auction or trade sale.
Portsmouth’s Residential Areas
The city’s housing stock ranges from the Victorian terraces of Fratton and Buckland to the seafront flats of Southsea, the suburban streets of Cosham and Drayton, and the social housing of Paulsgrove and Leigh Park (technically in Havant, but closely connected to Portsmouth life). Each area brings different vehicle profiles.
In Southsea, where parking is notoriously difficult and residents’ permits cover limited zones, owners sometimes decide to sell a second car rather than pay for additional parking. In Fratton and the older terraced streets, cars are often parked on tight roads where door dings and minor damage accumulate — damage that puts off private buyers but does not affect our offers. We buy vehicles in any condition and price accordingly, so cosmetic wear is never a reason to avoid getting a valuation.
What We Buy in Portsmouth
The range of vehicles we purchase reflects Portsmouth’s diverse population:
- Running cars of all ages — from nearly new vehicles to older models with high mileage
- Non-runners and mechanical failures — free collection means the vehicle does not need to move under its own power
- MOT failures — no point repairing a car worth less than the work it needs
- Accident-damaged and insurance write-offs
- Vehicles on outstanding finance — we handle lender settlement directly
- Vans and commercial vehicles — panel vans, Lutons, tippers and pickups from Portsmouth’s trade and logistics businesses
Portsmouth’s ferry port, serving routes to the Isle of Wight (Wightlink and Hovertravel), France and Spain, also creates vehicle movement patterns. Some owners buy a car specifically for continental driving and sell it afterwards. Others find that a vehicle which has done multiple ferry crossings has accumulated salt exposure and underside corrosion that makes it harder to sell privately. We inspect and value every vehicle individually, and corrosion alone will not prevent us making an offer.
University of Portsmouth
With around 25,000 students, the University of Portsmouth is a significant presence across the city, particularly in the Guildhall and Southsea areas. Students who drive to university often live in shared houses where driveway space is non-existent and street parking is a daily battle. When the academic year ends, or when a student’s financial situation changes, selling the car quickly becomes the priority.
We offer a straightforward route: get a quote online, arrange a collection time, and receive payment the same day. No listing on marketplace sites, no dealing with time-wasters, and no need to keep the car taxed and insured while waiting for a buyer.
The Process
- Request a valuation — use our online quote tool with your registration number and approximate mileage. The offer is based on live market data.
- Arrange collection — pick a time that suits you. We collect from anywhere in Portsmouth, Cosham, Hilsea, Southsea, Fratton, and all surrounding areas.
- Receive payment — once our driver confirms the vehicle condition, you receive a same-day bank transfer. The whole process typically takes less than an hour of your time.
Nearby Areas We Cover
Beyond the island itself, we collect from Havant to the east, Gosport and Fareham to the west (both accessible via the M27 or Gosport ferry), and the wider Solent area. Fareham’s position between Portsmouth and Southampton makes it a natural corridor for commercial vehicle activity, and we buy from businesses there regularly.
Gosport, connected to Portsmouth by the ferry but without its own motorway access, is an area where vehicle collection services are particularly valued. Getting a non-runner from Gosport to a buyer elsewhere is difficult without a trailer; our free collection solves that problem entirely.
For a full overview of our coverage in the county, see our Hampshire locations page.
What You Need to Sell
Have your V5C registration document, photo ID, and all keys available. If the vehicle is on finance, bring the agreement details — we settle the balance with the lender and pay you any remaining equity. Service history and old MOT certificates help us value the vehicle accurately, though they are not essential.
Ready to find out what your vehicle is worth? Get your free Portsmouth valuation here.