Swapping Step-by Step Guide
It's easy to swap!
Become a Registered User
First you need to register on the site to use the swap facility. Register now if you have not already done so.
This will create an account on the site for you. Once you have completed the registration process, an account activation email will immediately be sent to you at the email address you supplied.
Please be sure to check in your junk email box, spam filters may direct this message there because swapmywheels.com is not yet an address recognised by your computer. Please use the facility "Allow this sender" or "Add this sender to Safe Senders List" and this will ensure all future emails go to your inbox.
Then click on the link in the email and you will instantly become a swapmywheels.com registered user. It's very quick and easy. Once registered you can then go on to create an advert for your vehicle on the site.
Create a new advert - Step 1 - Vehicle Description
You now need to complete a description of your vehicle. Use the drop down menus to select the make, model, etc, ensuring you complete all the fields. If your vehicle is not listed, categorise it as "other" in the drop down menu and then describe it in the free text box at the bottom of that page titled "Vehicle Description", stating its make and model in the first line of the box.
To ensure your vehicle appeals to as broad a range of potential swappers as possible, please make use of the wide class groupings i.e. for cars: 4x4, MPV, classic car, family saloon, hatchback, estate, cabriolet/soft-top, etc and for bikes-all rounder, sports, trailie, cruiser, etc
The free text box titled "Vehicle Description" at the end of this section allows you to describe special or unusual features of your vehicle, for example: new tyres, new brakes, specialist sound system, custom paint-job, luggage systems, sports exhausts, crash damage, minor scratches and scrapes, etc. This will make it easier for a potential swapper to understand the state and condition of your vehicle. The more accurately you describe your vehicle the more likely you are to make a good, clean swap. Click here to create an advert now.
Get Your Vehicle Valued
Now price your vehicle. Click on this link to go to Parkers Guide where you can get a guide price for your vehicle. Please note that the Used Bikes section is in the bottom right hand pane of the page when then link opens. Use either the "Sell or part exchange this car" or "Buy this car" buttons it doesn't matter which. You don't have this option for bikes
We encourage all our users to use this link as it means everyone is pricing their vehicle from the same source. Once you have done that close the guide page and enter what you believe your vehicle is worth, taking into account its mileage, condition, modifications/customisation and any accessories you may have added.
Remember these items are now second hand and adding the new price you paid for them to the Parkers Guide price may make your vehicle appear over-priced and discourage potential swappers. Be realistic.
Create a new Ad Step 2 - Add Photographs
Next you need a photograph of your vehicle. Although you do not have to attach a photograph it will assist you and a potential swappers a great deal if you do. Everyone likes to see what they're getting.
You can attach up to 6 photographs to your listing. Download them from your camera to a place you can find them again on your PC (My Pictures is a good option!) and then use the "Browse" button to add them to your listing.
Uploading the photographs can take some time dependent on the speed of your internet connection and the quality of the photographs (about 30 seconds per photo on a good broadband connection). Remember to click on the "Upload Photos" button once you have selected an image and repeat the process for each photo.
Try to get photographs of the best and worst aspects of your vehicle so that there are no surprises for a potential swapper when you meet. If there is, they may pull out when they see your vehicle. This wastes your time and theirs.
The first photo you upload will appear as the default main ad photo, but you can select which one you wish by checking the box under each photo.
What do you want to swap your vehicle for?
Now your vehicle is on the site what next...You now need to enter what type of vehicle you are looking for. This is essentially the same process you used for entering your own vehicle's description. However here you can be very specific (e.g. VW Golf GTI-2003, Green with less than 20,000 miles or Honda Fireblade, 2004, yellow with less than 5000 miles using the advanced swapping facility) or you can search on a broader basis (600cc+ trail bike worth the same as my machine) Obviously the more specific you are the less likely you are to get many potential swaps, however it is worth starting with your ideal and then making your search broader dependent on your results. Click here to Find wheels to Swap.
Preview and Edit Your Listing
Click on the buttons in this section to preview your ad and then use the Edit buttons to add or delete elements of the description until it is as you wish it to be.
Go Live
You have now done all the hard work click on the "Submit Advert" button to make your ad go live on the site.
Your Search
You now have to find something you want to swap your vehicle for. Use the search dropdown menus to enter what you are looking for and the site search engine will identify potential swap partners for you based on your criteria.
Alternatively you can go into your account and next to each vehicle you have listed you can click to view adverts that match the criteria you entered. You may be presented with the statement "Sorry, but there are no vehicles that currently match your search criteria". It may take a few weeks/months dependent on who has listed what and whether it matches your swap criteria. Be patient it will be worth the wait.
The Swap
If you see something you like, click on the "Want to Swap" button and this will present you with a list of the vehicles you have advertised on the site, select one, or if you wish to buy instead, enter the amount you are prepared to pay in the box provided. You can make any additional comments in the free text box provided.
If you are happy click the "Make Offer" button and an email will be sent to the other vehicle owner informing them of your offer.
This information will appear in their and your account information. You need to keep checking your email inbox (and Junk Mail just for safety's sake!) and "My Account" to see who is interested in swapping with you.
Please note you are not committed to the swap and either of you can cancel the swap if you wish. Either by clicking the "Withdraw my offer" or "Remove swap from list" button. You can also see the status of your swaps, which vehicle you are swapping, "Your vehicle", "Their vehicle", the "Date" and a "Status" column which will tell you if the swap is either "Waiting for decision" or "Swap accepted".
If you decide not to swap even after clicking "Swap accepted" you can cancel the swap by clicking the "Remove swap from list" button.
Once you have clicked "Swap accepted" the other user's email address and telephone number will be sent to you so that you can speak directly with each other.
Vehicle Verification
Once both of you have reached an agreement you should now exchange Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRNs-the number plate) so that vehicle verification can begin, should you wish.
The RAC website will verify the make colour and year of registration for free, click on the "Data Search" link in the left hand column then type the VRN into the box , alternatively click here to go straight there.
If you wish to conduct a more detailed check, you can use a company called HPI, click here to see what they do (They supply a report which will cost you around £40 and will tell you the vehicle's history; whether it's stolen, if there is outstanding finance, if it is an insurance write off etc, click here to see what a sample report looks like.
To conduct this check you will need to get the chassis number (on the V5). from the owner.
If you want to conduct a less expensive and simpler check using your mobile phone, try using a facility provided by RegCheck. (For more details go to their website http://www.regcheck.co.uk ). All you need to do with this service is to text the word CHECK, followed by the VRN to 87202 and they will immediately send you back 3 SMS messages with useful info from the V5 (abbreviated chassis and VIN number, whether stolen or if there is outstanding finance, etc). This costs you £4.50 the first time you use the service and £3 for every subsequent report.
We have found this service very useful as you can conduct this check whilst you are with the vehicle owner and can look at all the relevant documentation and whether it corresponds with the chassis plate, etc.
Confirm Swap
Once you are happy with the checks you have done confirm the swap by telephone/email or by using the "Post Comment" facility and arrange a convenient place for you both to meet.
Meeting to Swap
We recommend a public place, ideally accompanied by a friend. Click on the "Safe Swapping" link at the top of the page for some useful tips. Remember to take your V5, any cash/cheques to cover the difference in value between your vehicles and ensure you have the necessary insurance cover for the new vehicle.
Problems
Best of luck with your swap. If you have any problems with a swapping partner or any listing please email us at abuse@swapmywheels.com and we will do our best to resolve the issue. Thank you for using swapmywheels.com