Your car has sold but the brokerage has not paid: a practical evidence checklist

A completed vehicle sale followed by non-payment is serious. The immediate priority is establishing the transaction, the amount contractually due, who received the buyer's funds and the genuine reasons given for delay. An unpaid debt is not automatically fraud.

Save the sale documents

Keep the signed SOR, minimum agreed net price, written approval of the buyer's offer, vehicle sales invoice if available, handover date, finance settlement statement and messages about when payment is due.

Establish the payment chain

Ask which legal entity invoiced the buyer; who received the purchase price; whether the finance company or buyer paid; what deductions were authorised; and when the net balance became payable. Preserve any payment records you have lawfully obtained.

Confirm promises in writing

Ask the trader to confirm the amount owed, any proposed deductions and an exact payment date. Save original chats and emails, including follow-ups when a promise changes. Keep third-party bank details and buyer information private.

Select a proportionate remedy

Consider a written complaint, letter before action, mediation or civil claim after checking the contract and correct defendant. Where credible evidence suggests dishonesty, contact police or Report Fraud. Freezing injunctions and complex tracing litigation are specialist, high-risk measures, not automatic remedies for late payment.

Official help: https://www.gov.uk/make-money-claim | https://www.gov.uk/options-if-youre-owed-money | https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights

Reviewed 23 October 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. This independent website is not a regulator or law firm. Legal rights depend on the particular contract and facts.