How do I sell my car?

Selling a car can be a daunting exercise for even the most seasoned car expert.

But carsales is here to simplify the process and break it down to ensure you get the best price for your car and have an easy, fuss-free sale.

Once you’ve decided to sell your car, the very first step is to make it presentable.

That could mean anything from a simple spring-clean to a thorough vacuum and polish, or even a professional interior/exterior detail, plus repairing dents or scratches and ensuring your servicing is up to date.

Of course, all of these things are optional and you don’t want to ‘over-capitalise’ by spending money you’ll never get back. But as the saying goes, first impressions count, and a well-presented vehicle will increase its value and can mean the difference between a fast or a slow sale.

On top of that, going out of your way to take some eye-popping photos of your car will make it stand out online. Click here for our top tips on taking great car pics.

The next step is to ensure you’re asking a fair price, particularly if you’re in a hurry to sell.

We always recommend starting a little higher, because buyers will almost always try to negotiate a lower price. If you’re unsure what your car is worth, use our free online valuation tool.

Also do your research by checking out similar makes/models (with similar kilometres) and what they’re advertised for on carsales.

Don’t like dealing with buyers, hate haggling or simply want to sell your car ASAP? Then take advantage of carsales’ free Instant Offer service.

If you’re primed and ready to go it alone, here are some tips on selling your car for the best price.

Now, it’s time to advertise baby! Using your fabulous photos – and even a video if you’re feeling extra creative – it’s time to lure in potential buyers with a great ad description (the more entertaining, the better) and plenty of accurate information.

Talk about the history of the car, how many owners it’s had (if you know), whether it’s been garaged and why you’re selling.

Other things buyers will be keen to know is whether it’s been serviced regularly and if it comes from a smoke-free family (or at least hasn’t been smoked in everyday).

Here at carsales, we make selling your car easy, with tips and tricks on our site to help you through the entire process.

You can start here and if you get stuck, visit carsales seller’s help page here.

Once you’ve advertised your car, get ready for the calls/emails to begin. If it’s your first time selling a car or you’re feeling a little rusty, click here for our guide on dealing with buyers.

When agreeing to meet up, it’s always a good idea to meet in a neutral environment like a shopping centre car park for example.

Checklist - How do I sell my car on carsales?

You have absolutely no obligation to let someone test drive your car and sometimes sellers might even offer to take the buyer for a drive instead, which is better than nothing.

But if you’re happy to let the potential buyer test-drive your car, you – or someone you trust – should accompany them on the test.

This ensures a few things: they can’t steal your car (or at least it’s more difficult for them to), there’s a witness in case they gutter-rash your rims (or worse) and you can make sure nothing illegal goes on in your car.

Before you let someone behind the wheel of your car – remembering that it’s still registered under your name – make sure you check they have a valid driver’s licence. If you have a smartphone, take a photo of their licence or, if possible, get a photocopy of their licence before setting off.

If you’re alone, tell a friend or family member your plans.

As mentioned above, meeting in a public place is usually a safe bet. Common areas like a shopping centre (with a clear meeting point to avoid confusion), fast-food car park or even the local library.

There’s also ‘safety in numbers’ as they say, so employ the company of a friend or loved one to join you when meeting buyers.

Same goes for the buyer, particularly when carrying cash.

What documents you’ll need to sell your car

Once you’ve agreed on a price and all parties are happy to proceed, there are just a few more things you’ll need to do and it all comes down to the paperwork.

It can be tedious but it’s arguably the most important step, so click here for everything you need to know before letting your car go.

So, your new-car warranty is about to end – or just has – and you want to sell your car?

No worries, click here for more warranty information.

Always make sure to use a secure payment method.

While a bank cheque is the most common and trusted method in Australia, good old-fashioned cash works well if you’re selling your car for $5000 or less. But even then, carrying large sums of cash presents an obvious safety risk.

If both of you have access to an instant bank transfer method (like Osko) you’ll be able to have the money transferred straight into your bank account. Keep in mind things like daily transfer limits (on the buyer’s end) and Osko’s maximum transfer amount of $30,000 for carsales.com.au purchases.

If in any doubt, call or visit a bank branch.

Give yourself a pat on the back because you’ve now jumped the most difficult hurdles.

With that in mind, don’t get complacent as there are still a few more loose ends to tie up, like cancelling insurance, transferring registration and sorting your toll-road account/s.

Click here for more information on what to do after selling my car.

Related: How to write an ad for my car
Related: Top tips and help for selling a vehicle
Related: Five things buyers asked me when selling my car