The Great Car Boot Reboot

by Nick Laight | Jan 23, 2026 | Blog | 0 comments

I’ve never been to a car boot sale.

It just wasn’t something we did when I was a kid.

And it wasn’t something I tried as a young adult either.

I presumed it involved wandering around a muddy field, browsing for plastic toys, musty clothing and tatty books….

Then haggling over a teacup, ashtray, or Action Man figure.

Surely it was just something for bored retirees and families with too much junk in their garage!?

Of course, I realise that this was wrong!

But living in central London meant that I had to travel miles to a car boot site, so I was never tempted to even give it a go.

However, in the 2000s I published the late great Avril Harper’s eBay Confidential.

She was a car boot obsessive and used them as one of her core go-to sources for reselling on eBay.

For example, she’d find an old magazine for pennies, cut out pictures of cute animals or vintage adverts, then sell them as multiple framed prints for huge margins.

So I knew there was money to be made for people who were interested in eCommerce – and who were prepared to spend a day at the weekend browsing a car boot sale.

It just wasn’t for me.

But now I’m tempted to make the effort to go to one.

Because it seems that they’ve undergone a bit of a reboot (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun!)

A Renaissance in Second Hand Treasures

Car boot sales are now, officially, cool.

Not only are they happening in remote muddy fields on the edges of small towns…. but in cities too, where you can browse without wearing wellies.

They’ve become popular with young shoppers, fashion fans, social media influencers, and entrepreneurs looking to flip unique vintage items for a profit.

For example, The Guardian recently profiled the Balham car boot sale, run by Steven Lopes, who also runs a second car boot in Peckham with his partner, Erin Murphy.

Murphy says that, six years ago, an average of 20 people came in the first months of their car boot sale opening.

Now around 1,000 to 2,000 people attend each time.

The same is happening at Rummage in the Range, in Manchester, where people queue down the street before it opens.

This is fuelled by hype circulating on social media, where attitudes to car boot sales have gained a lot of street cred.

According to one young car boot fan, “If you go out and say: ‘Oh I bought this at the car boot,’ I think it’s actually cooler than saying I bought this on Asos.”

There are other factors driving this too…

Reselling apps like Depop and Vinted have made second-hand shopping more popular, especially among younger people.
Buying and selling second hand is seen as more ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly that constantly buying new items.
In a world of mass-produced goods available online, people are increasingly interested in finding unique products – and they’re prepared to put more effort and time into seeking them out.
The cost of living crisis means that people are turning to less expensive sources of toys, clothes and electronics – and they’re also motivated to make money from their own unwanted belongings.

These are some of the reasons why the market for second-hand goods has soared to £4.3bn this year.

And it could be why the average Brit now spends £124.80 per month on second hand items… compared with £58.40 five years ago.

So there’s money to be made here!

For instance, the Guardian article featured Becky Chorlton, a fashion reseller and car boot content creator who has turned her passion into a full-time job.

She goes up and down the country, seeking out bargains, flipping them for a profit… and then sharing her experiences online to millions of followers.

So could YOU make money from car boots?

Well, you could become a car boot seller yourself… if you enjoy them, and have the time at the weekend.

But I think the best approach would be to use the occasional car boot sale as a source for interesting products that you can then flip online.

Think of them as a feeder for eBay, Etsy, Vinted and Depop where you buy at ‘boot prices’ and list them where buyers are searching for specific brands or items.

What to look out for

Here are some categories to start with….

Branded fashion – vintage Nike/Adidas, Levi’s, Y2K brands. decent trainers and quality coats.
Designer accessories like leather belts, wallets and sunglasses, even if scuffed
Retro tech – film cameras, Walkmans, cassette/CD players, iPods, early mobiles, gaming consoles and controllers
Games & media – Nintendo/PlayStation games, boxed retro titles
Toys – vintage and collectible toys like Action Man, Star Wars and Lego – as well as classic board games and puzzles.
Music – box sets, vinyl (iconic albums, first pressings) and memorabilia.
Homeware & ceramics – vintage Pyrex, Denby, mid-century, heavy-base cookware and good quality kitchenware.
Baby stuff – bundles of clean baby clothes, toys, and pushchair accessories.
Tools & garden gear – hand tools, power tools, and garden accessories.
Furniture – solid wood chairs, coffee tables and small furniture that can be painted or restored. To add value.

Car Boot Preparation Checklist

Treat each boot sale like a sourcing trip where you go prepared, with clear intentions.

First, find a decent car boot sale to target.

You could check local Facebook groups and also google “car boot sale near [town or area]”. It’s likely there will be a local listing site that covers these.

You can also try these websites: Find Car Boot and Car Boot Junction

Once you’ve a target in mind, you’ll need the following…

Cash – these are mainly cash-based events, so carry plenty of £1, £2 and 50p coins plus small notes. A £20 float is a minimum.
Kit – take large IKEA-style bags, spare carrier bags, tape measure, phone with data, battery pack, and hand wipes. Consider a small torch for car boots in winter.
Research list – go in with a written list of brands, model numbers and ‘instant buy’ price ceilings for your niches (e.g. “any working Sony Walkman under £5”).
Postage & packaging price estimates – get to know about the standard brackets and thresholds of postage (e.g. under 2 kg Royal Mail small parcel vs courier) before you go.
Reselling Apps – make sure you have eBay, Vinted or Depop on your phone for quick sold-listings checks when you are actually there.

Seasoned car boot shoppers recommend that you get there early for the best stock.

After you arrive, do a quick circuit first to find some obvious winners, then do a slower second pass for more speculative buys.

Working out your profit margins

Assume that every sale will involve some haggling…

So build in 20–30% room from your target buy price when you make your opening offer.

Then aim for at least 3-5 times the markup on low-ticket items (e.g. pay £2, sell for £10–£15).

To ensure you make a profit, use the eBay ‘sold’ filter on the app and look at actual completed prices for similar items.

Knock off 10–20% from the price in your head to be conservative and to account for its condition.

To calculate the costs per item include:

Purchase price at the boot sale
Fee for your chosen resell platform (if one applies)
Postage and packaging costs

For example you might pay £3 for a retro game that you can realistically sell on eBay for £18.

But you might factor in £1.80 in fees, minus £5 postage, which would give you £11.20 in profit..

Here is a very rough guide to general prices you can expect to pay…

Branded clothing – Typical boot price is £2–£6 per item. Typical resale is £12–£30 for solid brands in good condition. But unique standouts can push higher.
Designer accessories – Typical boot price is £5–£25 depending on brand and quality. Typical resale is £30–£120 in most cases.
Retro tech & cameras – Typical boot price is £5–£20 for cameras and small retro tech. Typical resale is £20–£80 for working, desirable models.
Vinyl & media – Typical boot price is £0.50–£3 per item. Typical resale is £8–£30 for sought-after records or games.
Homeware – Typical boot price is £1–£7 per piece for decent quality or vintage. Typical resale is £12–£45 depending on brand, style and condition.
Baby goods bundles – Typical boot price is £2–£8 per bundle of items. Typical resale is £10–£30 per bundle online for mixed branded items.

Of course, these are very broad estimates.

You should try and research specific categories and niches where there’s potential to find rare items that give you much bigger returns.

Where to Flip Your Finds

When it comes to flipping, your choice of platform could include:

Vinted – for selling clothes, shoes, and accessories. It’s peer-to-peer, meaning you deal directly with buyers. You keep 100% of the sale (the buyer pays Vinted’s fee).
eBay UK – The marketplace for just about anything, from collectibles and electronics to clothes and furniture.
Etsy – Known for handmade goods, Etsy also allows vintage and upcycled items. Perfect for retro clothing, collectibles, or refurbished home items.
Depop – popular with younger buyers who love vintage clothes and streetwear.
Shpock – also popular for clothes, electronics, and small furniture. Quick and easy to list.
Gumtree – The local marketplace for selling anything from sofas to bikes. It offers free or low-cost listings, which makes it ideal for bulky items you can’t ship.
Preloved – A site for classified listings.
Discogs – The marketplace for vinyl, CDs and tapes. Excellent for niche genres and rare finds.

It’s best to focus on perhaps one or two of the above options, depending on what categories you prefer to specialise in.