If you have an advance train ticket you can no longer use, you can sell it on SaveMyFare rather than let it go to waste. Wondering how to sell my train ticket? This guide covers what tickets are eligible, how to set a price, how to list, and what happens once a sale completes.
What tickets you can sell
If you have an unwanted train ticket you can no longer use, SaveMyFare accepts advance train tickets that are non refundable with the original operator. The ticket must be unused, valid for a future date, and transferable, meaning the travel entitlement can be passed to another person without being tied to a named passenger or loyalty account.
- Advance tickets bought through National Rail, train operators or booking platforms are usually eligible.
- Tickets linked to a specific railcard or named passenger may have restrictions, so state these clearly in your listing.
- Tickets that have already been scanned or used are not eligible.
- Season tickets and monthly passes cannot be listed.
If you are unsure whether your ticket qualifies, check whether the barcode is intact, the travel date is still in the future, and the booking is held in a format you can share, such as a PDF, e-ticket email or digital wallet entry.
How to price your ticket
To sell an advance train ticket, set your asking price below the original face value. Buyers use SaveMyFare because they expect a saving, so a listing priced at or above the original cost is unlikely to sell.
- A discount of 20 to 50 per cent on the original fare tends to attract buyers quickly.
- The closer the travel date, the sharper the discount needs to be.
- SaveMyFare charges a small platform fee on completion, so price with this in mind if you want a specific net return.
- You can edit your asking price after listing if you want to adjust it.
The original face value you enter is shown to buyers alongside your asking price, so they can see the saving clearly. Do not inflate the original price. List the amount you actually paid.
How to list your ticket
Creating a listing online takes a few minutes. You will need the ticket details in front of you before you start, and the actual ticket file itself, since that is what gets checked and later sent to the buyer.
- Log in to your SaveMyFare account and go to Sell.
- Enter the origin, destination, travel date, departure time and ticket type.
- Upload a clear photo, scan or file of the ticket, with the barcode fully visible.
- Set your asking price and confirm the original face value.
- Submit the listing.
From here, what happens depends on the upload itself. If it passes all our automated checks, meaning the barcode, route, date and ticket type all match what you entered, the listing is verified and goes live straight away with no wait. If anything does not check out cleanly, such as a blurry barcode or a mismatch between the ticket and the listing details, it is held for manual review by our team before it can go live. Most listings clear the automated check and are live within minutes.
Can I just sell my train ticket on eBay or Facebook?
You can try, but a general marketplace has no way to check whether your ticket is genuinely transferable, and it does not stop you accidentally reselling it above the price cap the National Rail Conditions of Travel allow. SaveMyFare checks each listing against those conditions before it goes live and handles the transfer to the buyer automatically once it sells, which a listing on eBay, Facebook or Gumtree cannot do. See our guide to selling an Advance ticket on Facebook, Reddit or eBay for the full risks of using a general marketplace instead.
What happens after a sale
When a buyer completes a purchase, your listing moves to a sold state and you will be notified. Because your ticket was already verified and stored at listing time, it is sent to the buyer automatically once payment clears. There is nothing further for you to forward or upload.
Payment is held securely by SaveMyFare rather than released straight away. Your payout is processed 48 hours after the travel date, once the journey has taken place, with the platform fee deducted before funds reach you.
Why the original ticket file matters
Because delivery to the buyer is automatic, the file you upload when you list is the exact file the buyer will receive. Do not crop, blur or partially hide any part of it. If the booking includes a seat reservation, make sure that detail is visible in the upload too, since it travels with the ticket.
Do not list a ticket you do not actually have to hand, a ticket with a damaged or unreadable barcode, or one you are not confident is genuinely valid. Since the same file is used for both verification and delivery, an incomplete or unclear upload can delay your listing going live or cause problems for the buyer later.
Tips for a smooth sale
- List as early as possible. Tickets listed well before the travel date have more time to attract a buyer.
- Upload a clean, complete copy of the ticket the first time, since this is what gets sent to the buyer automatically.
- State any restrictions upfront. If the ticket requires a specific railcard, includes a seat reservation, or is valid on one train only, put that in the listing description.
- Do not list the same ticket on multiple platforms at the same time. If it sells elsewhere, cancel the SaveMyFare listing immediately.
Selling an unused rail ticket through SaveMyFare is straightforward when the listing is accurate and the uploaded ticket is clear and complete from the start.