Car Boot Online
Trading Standards Service
Cultural and
Community
Services
Department
Do you sell at car boot sales?
If you sell at boot sales, you cannot afford to ignore this information
Each year, many millions of pounds are spent at car boot sales. If you
participate at these sales, regularly or otherwise, it is in your interests to
read this information. It will help you decide whether you are a ‘trader’ and,
if so, what you must do to comply with the law. It is also designed to help
genuine private sellers decide what they should and should not sell.
Unfortunately, what started as an informal and friendly means of recycling
unwanted goods has been tainted by the activities of a few rogues who
have conducted trade under the guise of private individuals and thereby
tried to escape their liabilities to buyers. Trading Standards have
discovered the sale of stolen, unsafe and counterfeit goods at boot sales.
Are you a trader?
A survey showed that most people who sell at boot sales don’t consider
themselves to be in trade. Many, however, admitted selling at such sales
several times a year. Trading Standards reports that up to fifty per cent of
participants are regulars at such events.
So, when does the law consider you a trader? There is no hard and fast
rule, but ask yourself the following questions:
• Are the goods you are selling your personal property? If not, and you
buy goods in specially to resell, for example from newspaper adverts
or a cash and carry, you are very likely to be a TRADER.
• Do you attend boot sales regularly – once every couple of months or
more? If so, you are likely to be a TRADER even if boot sales are
not a major source of income.
• Do you employ anyone to help you with sales? If so, you are
probably a TRADER.
• Do you sell similar goods at other venues – e.g. markets, in the
street or from home? If so, you are almost certainly a TRADER.
• How much of your income is derived from participation in car boot
sales and for what pe