Car Boot 2026.

Well, we did our car boot sale today.

Not hugely profitable, (£46) but we got rid of some stuff, which was the aim.

DH did well with old tools, a couple of old chairs, a Jigsaw summer dress, a pair of M&S wide legged trousers, a few books and games, toys, plants, bits of costume jewellery.

I had hoped to sell a Dormeo bedding set, but didn’t, and a few more clothes, but overall, a pleasing result.

Many items were 50p or a £1.

We took a big big box of assorted plant pots (free) and they all went! One lady insisted on giving a donation. We were just glad to get rid of them.

It was a lovely warm day, and enjoyable.

I never take anything good or worth having because quite simply it won’t sell

That’s quite a sweeping statement though.

I bought a nest of tables at a car boot sale a couple of years ago. (I know they are not ‘in’ nowadays, but no matter).

Really solid, pine tables. I asked the price and when she said ‘A fiver’, I didn’t barter.

Win win. I was thrilled with them, and am sure she was chuffed at not having to take them home again.

(It was getting to the end of the morning).

Millie22

No offence but absolutely never.

Years ago when our children were small we had a go at a car boot but times have changed and I just give things away now.

The things we take to boot sales are the things we haven't been able to give away, rusty tools, plastic boxes, odd hanks of different coloured rope or string, sheets of polythene, things that are broken or half there.

It constantly amazes me at boot sales at the things people will buy. I never take anything good or worth having because quite simply it won't sell.

Calendargirl

Janiepops

Body bag??😱
Think you mean ‘bum bag’, !! ( unless you’re planning to suddenly drop dead!!!

You are absolutely right, yes I did mean ‘bum bag’.

But seeing as it goes across my ‘body’…?

Isn't there something called a cross body bag which is basically a shoulder bag that you hang from your shoulder to your opposite hip? (nothing to do with cadavers as far as I know)

Totally of topic. It amuses me that Americans call 'bum bags' 'fanny packs.'

No offence but absolutely never.

Years ago when our children were small we had a go at a car boot but times have changed and I just give things away now.

I love it. Bought and sold loads. I only sell what i would be happy to buy myself. You need to ignore the rubbish. There are real bargains to be had. Just like car boots. Lovely things at great prices. And if you dont like what youve bought or it doesnt fit or whatever then pop it back online and sell it on.

Is Vinted any good? I looked at clothes on there and it looked like a load of rubbish. Also prices were so low it didn’t seem worth bothering with. Would be interested to hear people’s experiences.

Have sold at and enjoyed many car boot sales over the years. Never made a fortune but with a young family it all helped. And doing it with friends or family made it fun. Now I’m older I would struggle with the loading up, setting up, dismantling, storing away palaver. Enter stage right - Vinted!! Soo easy to use and the perfect alternative for me. Can sell just about anything. All from comfort of my own sofa !

When my niece was about 16 we did a few together. I had done some previously so on the way there I was giving her the heads up on what to expect. People pinching, haggling and trying to go through your stuff while you are still unpacking the boot! I said “one of us must stay near the boot while we set up”

As we drove through the gates this woman was almost leaping on the car and peering through the windows. She started banging on the windows shouting “how much is the china hen”. I kept driving and said “just ignore her”. She actually ran alongside us banging on the window. When we parked up and got out she was literally trying to get in the boot! She was trying to get to a china hen in which you store eggs. I stood in her way and she was asking how much it was. I said “£6”. She said “There’s one on another stall for £5”. I told her to go and buy that one then. Many years on my niece still laughs about that.

pce612

Is a ‘car boot’ sale indoors (no cars) not just a jumble sale???

That would be a table top sale 🙂.

Gosh what a fun thread to read. I have done loads of car boot sales in the past, always by myself except for when the children were small and they wanted to do one selling their toys to buy new ones for the money they made. I loved doing car boot sales. I find it hard now but still do fetes and fairs but at more civilised times and always with another volunteer. I also sell on Vinted which I like, always price everything slightly higher than what I expect to get so there is room for bartering, which is what people appear to love. Good luck with your car boot sales everyone. Such fun.

Well done you but cannot be bothered with all the faff! 🤣

The last one I did with my son i made £9. I said never again. I just donate to charity shops now, but it was fun doing it.

Janiepops

Body bag??😱
Think you mean ‘bum bag’, !! ( unless you’re planning to suddenly drop dead!!!

You are absolutely right, yes I did mean ‘bum bag’.

But seeing as it goes across my ‘body’…?

Body bag??😱
Think you mean ‘bum bag’, !! ( unless you’re planning to suddenly drop dead!!!

M0nica

Scribbles

I've browsed around a few but I don't think I've ever bought anything. I prefer places like the "antiques centres" at Elsecar and Hemswell where you might find anything from a Georgian silver inkpot to a 1960s Woolworth's plastic bracelet. I love the brocantes and braderies in France and Belgium, too and have brought several bargains home in the past.

However, I know I couldn't bear to try selling my cast-off "stuff" at a car boot. I'd definitely suffer psychogical trauma when people pawed through my things and rejected them or offered 5p for a 50p frying pan!

You are looking for the wrong things at Boot Fairs. Boot fairs are for the stuff in garages and garden sheds. Anything decent we sell elsewhere, but when moving house it is ideal for surplus rusty tools, building materials (we once sold 6 uarry tiles for a £, plastic storage boxes, bits of string.

MOnica have you never seen Bargain Hunt? Or you’ve obviously been going to the wrong car boot sales? LOTS of varied ‘stalls’ on offer at many local boot fairs here . Many turn up with Trestle tables and very decent stuff all priced, obviously pros, but still bargains to be found. Others turn up with black bags on the floor and display their goods there. It’s a complete miscellany of things and sellers. You might be only selling the contents of your garden shed, but others bring vintage clothes, books, jewellery …all sorts! It’s great fun both doing one or just visiting, but sadly I can’t get up early any longer and have no transport now…! And here in Wales 9/10 …it rains!

pce612

Is a ‘car boot’ sale indoors (no cars) not just a jumble sale???

A few ‘indoor’ car boot sales I have been to have been in huge old empty warehouse type buildings where the cars were in there too … huge open doors to drive in.
Another one used an old multi story parking garage …all cars and vans inside.

It is like everything else in life, one persons fun day out is someone elses idea of hell

My mother loved car boot sales. She would be up at the crack of dawn, chivvying my father along as he had to drive her 😁 He hated it.

She had a good eye for bargains though, bought stacks of Barbie dolls and Action men before they sold for hundreds. She sold some but the rest were played with by GC after they had been cleaned up. She once bought what looked to me like a black plastic necklace for a pound and it turned out to be jet.

I haven't been looking for anything in particular, M0nica. As I said, I've browsed around a few but not seen anything that grabbed me. If I'd needed a second hand, slightly crazed bread crock or the hearth brush missing from Grandma's old companion stand, I'd have snapped it up without haggling. And, if I ever want to part with a carved wooden cat or that slightly wonky standard lamp, I'll ask someone else to take them to a boot fair for me because I really couldn't bear the anguish of seeing them rejected. 😅

Scribbles

I've browsed around a few but I don't think I've ever bought anything. I prefer places like the "antiques centres" at Elsecar and Hemswell where you might find anything from a Georgian silver inkpot to a 1960s Woolworth's plastic bracelet. I love the brocantes and braderies in France and Belgium, too and have brought several bargains home in the past.

However, I know I couldn't bear to try selling my cast-off "stuff" at a car boot. I'd definitely suffer psychogical trauma when people pawed through my things and rejected them or offered 5p for a 50p frying pan!

You are looking for the wrong things at Boot Fairs. Boot fairs are for the stuff in garages and garden sheds. Anything decent we sell elsewhere, but when moving house it is ideal for surplus rusty tools, building materials (we once sold 6 uarry tiles for a £, plastic storage boxes, bits of string.

I've browsed around a few but I don't think I've ever bought anything. I prefer places like the "antiques centres" at Elsecar and Hemswell where you might find anything from a Georgian silver inkpot to a 1960s Woolworth's plastic bracelet. I love the brocantes and braderies in France and Belgium, too and have brought several bargains home in the past.

However, I know I couldn't bear to try selling my cast-off "stuff" at a car boot. I'd definitely suffer psychogical trauma when people pawed through my things and rejected them or offered 5p for a 50p frying pan!

You’re right Franbern.

When we started doing car boots, most of the stalls were genuine ‘car booters’, but the big site we used to go to is mostly traders now, more of a huge market.

So we now go to a local school car boot, which is mainly folk like us, trying to get rid of stuff from the loft, garden, bric a brac, toys, games, books, clothes….

£5 fee for the car, lots of space to set up, and hopefully a nice day brings out the bargain hunters.

🤞

Like Franbern we always cover our costs and make a profit at car boot sales.

Car boot sales are not places to sell if you want a decent return on the sale of any of your stock. We price nothing, and almost give it away. Stuff we do not sell is more likely to end up on the tip than at a charity shop.

Our best sellers are boxes of rusty tools, plastic boxes and anything someone can just pick up and walk off with, but we have sols small items of furniture and currently have 3 random stools/chairs awaiting a sale . They are the remains of a lot of 4 I bought at auction because I wanted one in particular. I think I paid £10. I hope to make a profit on the deal selling them indvidually at £3 - £4 each

Originally, I started going to these as a buyer. Very short of money, would look at toy stalls, and then as my chlldren grew up and went on to Uni, looked for things for them to take with.. Crockery, cutlery, saucepans, mirrors, etc. etc.

Then I started doing them myself - by myself.. First one I went to = my car following a friends car (she was experienced), I was totally bemused by the 'trader' who descended on me as soon as I parked up - and started to take things from my car - I had packed it so carefully. From then on, I would just say to these people, very definitely - that I did not sell any items before I had totally set up.

Would take pasting table. clothes airer (to hang clothing items on), garden chair, packed lunch, sun hat, had a cross body bag - but notes, etc. kept safely in car. Most things priced so people did not have to keep asking me - but a notice saying 'If you like it - make me a reasonable offer'.

would ask neighbouring stalls to keep an eye on things when I made a quick loo run.

The one I mainly attended was very large, and attracted many people coming to look around. Back then only the stall holders were charged.

Once I had covered the cost of the place, I was in profit and always made enough to make it worthwhile for me. Would usually do two or three a year. In the past few years, I have been joining my daughter once a year at a late morning one (means we do not have to be there at the crack of dawn).

As this one always has lots of space between each car (at least it was easy for us to have our own tables side by side. But, she has now finished her de-cluttering - and even with her doing the driving and setting up/taking down the tables, I now find it too tiring - will not be doing any more.

It does seem as there are more and more actual traders as these boot sales these days, and fewer and fewer of genuine car boot sellers. Or perhaps I am just getting cynical.