‘Excuse me, you’ve forgotten your dog!’ Weird items left in part-ex cars

We’ve all been guilty of stashing away clutter in our car boots, but surely we’d be sure to have a proper clear out before part-exchanging?

Well, it seems some drivers are so excited to drive off the forecourt in their new motor, they often overlook some weird and wonderful items…

Unusual items left behind

How do you manage to leave a pet behind?! It beggar’s belief, but a dog was by far one of the most remarkable finds, listed by Motorpoint and its sister company Auction4Cars.

Underwear, a set of false teeth and a wedding ring have also been discovered in part-exchange vehicles brought in by customers since the firms’ physical reopening on 12^th April.

One customer left behind their adult DVD collection, leading to a potentially embarrassing conversation – assuming they had the courage to pick it up – while another forgot a tree.

Nikki Bamford, head of customer services at Motorpoint, said: “We are all guilty of leaving things behind when we are in a rush, such as our phones, wallets and keys, so it’s certainly only natural that our customers do the same in the midst of their excitement and eagerness to drive away in their new car.

“We have however been left a little bit taken aback with some of the strange things that have been left in some of our customers’ old cars. Thankfully, we’ve been able to reunite most items with their rightful, and in the case of the dog, relieved owners.”

How to prepare your car for part-exchange

Besides clearing out all the items in your car, there are some other quick wins before part exchanging which may help bump up its value.

• Give it a clean – impress the dealership by giving your car a thorough wash and vacuum, so they’re seeing it at its best.

• Have the correct documents – dealerships want to see a valid MOT certificate, log-book and the service history of your car. Be honest.

• Think about timing – certain vehicles are more desirable to dealerships during certain times of the year. There’s more interest for convertibles in the summer, for example.

• Do your research – before you hit the dealership, have an idea of your car’s current value. If you don’t get offered the price you want, don’t be afraid to walk away and try elsewhere.

• Remove any light scratches – get rid of them with a car scratch remover kit. Read the instructions carefully and, if in doubt, ask an expert.

For more tips on preparing your car for part exchange, read our DIY guide to repairing and checking it.