Munie is an online auction site where members can buy and sell second-hand vehicles. Users can list vehicles they want to sell and see bids coming in.

Richard Berry, marketing manager for the Cooper Group explains that the website aims to provide a completely transparent way for trading vehicles.

“The Munie concept developed when group Managing Director, Ian Cooper became a little frustrated with the traditional auctioning process. He found that there were too many uncertainties when buying vehicles from auction, such as the actual condition of the vehicle. Vehicles are sold as seen and buyers cannot be sure what they are actually acquiring. It can also be an expensive process with collection charges, buyers premiums and sales commissions” he explains.

Moreover vehicles that are sent out for remarketing can sit in a yard for months on end before the vehicle is actually sold, with its worth depreciating on a daily basis. With Munie, vehicles do not even have to be taken out of active service to be sold.

“As a seller on Munie.co.uk, you can completely control the process as well as seeing exactly what is going on whilst selling the vehicle in the most cost effective manner.

“For buyers we have incorporated features in the website that are designed to give them peace of mind as to what they are buying,”

The user can choose a listing lasting from 7 to 28 days. He explains that there is a choice of three types of listings: a standard listing, an advanced listing and premium listing. The standard listing is the cheapest of the three and is meant for vehicles at the lower end of the market. It allows the seller to key-in all vehicle details plus add a picture and an additional description. The advanced listing allows even more photographs and text.

Richard believes that munie.co.uk has a large advantage over competitors from the features Coopers have added to the site. For example, Coopers have enlisted the help of the Freight Transport Association to provide independent vehicle inspections. Sellers who choose to advertise their vehicle as premium listing get this inspection from Freight Transport Association included. The independent audit, the HPI check, a reduced pollution certificate as well as an MOT check can all be uploaded when choosing the premium option.

Richard believes the buyer can rest assured that he is acquiring a genuine piece of equipment from munie.co.uk, because the website is policed and monitored very carefully to prevent any criminal activity.

He concludes by saying that selling a vehicle via munie.co.uk is much more cost effective than by using an auction house. “Auction houses can charge clients a fee for picking the vehicle up and then they will charge the client commission anywhere from six to fifteen percent of the final purchase price. Let’s say the vehicle is worth £20,000 and they charge you 10 percent, it will cost you £2,000. If you use the Premium listing on our website it will only cost you £295.”

The whole concept is designed to be cost effective and easy to use providing an alternative to the traditional means of trading used equipment and vehicles.