Sell your Q5. Get paid before it leaves.

What buyers check on a used Q5

Anyone buying a late-model Q5, whether a private buyer or a dealer, works through much the same list. Know it before you sell and you’ll have fewer surprises at inspection and fewer reasons for an offer to change.

• Service record. CarExpert’s reviews give the Q5’s service interval as 12 months or 15,000 km. Buyers look for every service done on time. Many newer Audis keep the record digitally, so ask an Audi service centre for a printout.
• Wheels and paint. Large alloys kerb easily. Buyers also look for bumper scuffs, stone chips on the bonnet and parking marks on the doors.
• Cabin wear. The driver’s seat bolster, the steering wheel and the boot floor show how the car has been used.
• Screens and cameras. Expect the touchscreen, phone pairing, reversing camera, parking sensors and driver aids to be tested.
• Both keys. A missing key is an easy reason to offer less. If you only have one, ask an Audi dealer what a replacement costs before you decide whether to replace it.
• Recalls and warranty. Dealers search the VIN for open recalls and ask when the factory warranty started.

Fix what you can fix cheaply. For everything else, say so up front. A fault mentioned on the phone is priced in once. A fault found at inspection becomes a renegotiation.

Which Q5 do you have?

Two generations of Q5 have been sold new in Australia since 2021, and buyers price them separately.

The facelifted second-generation Q5 arrived in early 2021 with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. CarExpert reported the SQ5 TDI, with its V6 diesel, returning as the range-topper. The Q5 Sportback followed later in 2021, and a 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid later joined the range in both body styles. The number in each name, such as 40 TDI or 45 TFSI, tells you the power level.

The third generation arrived in 2025 with a new cabin and simpler names: Q5 TFSI, Q5 TDI quattro and SQ5. Audi says the Sportback versions reached Australia in December 2025. The entry Q5 TFSI is front-wheel drive, and the SQ5 now has a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. CarExpert reported a 200kW Q5 TFSI quattro sport and a Q5 e-hybrid quattro plug-in hybrid joining the range, with deliveries from the first half of 2026.

Engines, grades and options that change the offer

Two Q5s from the same year can be priced a long way apart. These are the details a valuer asks about first.

• Engine. Diesel, petrol, plug-in hybrid and SQ5 each have their own buyers. The new SQ5 is petrol, so an SQ5 TDI is a different car and is priced as one.
• Drive. In the new range, check whether yours is the front-wheel-drive Q5 TFSI or one of the quattro models.
• Body style. Some buyers want a Sportback and won’t consider the SUV, and the reverse is just as common. Say which you have.
• Trim and packs. Sport and S line trims, a panoramic roof, upgraded audio, upgraded headlights and driver assistance packs all count. The build sheet or original invoice is the easiest proof.
• Plug-in hybrid extras. For a 55 TFSI e or an e-hybrid, have the charging cables ready. Our guide to selling a plug-in hybrid covers what buyers ask.
• Modifications. Aftermarket wheels, wraps, exhausts and engine tunes narrow the pool of buyers, and a tune can raise warranty questions. If you kept the original parts, tell us.

Recalls, warning lights and warranty

Three quick checks are worth doing before you call anyone.

Open recalls. Search your VIN on the Australian Government’s recall site, vehiclerecalls.gov.au. Recall work is done free at the dealer, and a finished recall removes one more question from the buyer’s list. Our guide to checking for open recalls shows how.

Warning lights. A light on the dash at inspection changes the conversation. Ask a workshop to read the fault code first, so you know whether it’s a sensor or something bigger, and tell us what they found.

Warranty. CarExpert’s 2021 reviews list a three-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty for the Q5, and its 2023 review of the plug-in hybrid lists five years. So a 2021 Q5 is now past its original cover unless it was extended, while a later car may still have time left. Check your start date in the service records or with an Audi dealer. Service plans vary too: some transfer with the car and some don’t, so read the terms.

When to sell a Q5

The new-generation Q5 is now in showrooms. Drive reported the range starting at $81,000 before on-road costs for the front-drive Q5 TFSI. That is a new-car list price, quoted for context, not what a used Q5 is worth. No published data yet shows how the new model has moved used Q5 prices, so be wary of confident predictions either way.

Your own timing usually matters more than the market’s:

• Kilometres. Our buying range ends at 100,000 km. If yours is getting close, a valuation now gives you a figure while it’s still inside the range.
• Warranty end date. Remaining factory warranty is something a buyer can count on. Once it runs out, it’s gone.
• A major service due. Weigh the cost of the service against leaving a gap in the record, and mention it when you call.
• Loan or lease dates. A balloon payment or the end of a novated lease is a natural point to sell, as long as you know the payout figure first.

Finance, leases and paperwork

You can sell your Q5 with money still owing on it. If it’s under finance, the lender’s interest shows up on the PPSR, so the loan has to be paid out as part of the sale. We deal with your lender directly to pay out the loan, then pay any equity to you. It usually takes 2 to 3 business days to settle. If you owe more than the car is worth, the difference has to be covered before settlement. There’s more on selling a car under finance.

On a novated lease, there’s a payout to settle and many people sell the car to cover it. Check your lease contract and talk to your provider. If the Q5 is registered to an ABN or used in a GST-registered business, GST may be included in the price, and the ATO notes luxury car tax can also apply when a GST-registered seller sells a luxury car. Talk to your accountant before you sell. Selling your personal car? GST doesn’t apply.

We prepare the sale paperwork and help with the transfer of ownership. In most states you still lodge the notice of disposal yourself, usually through a quick online form, and we help you get it right. Usually no roadworthy or safety certificate is needed when you sell to us, but rules differ by state and we confirm what applies on the call. Our state-by-state selling guide has the details.

Before the car goes, unpair your phone from the infotainment system, sign out of any connected apps, and clear saved addresses and garage door codes.

Selling your Q5 to us

We buy Q5s, Q5 Sportbacks and SQ5s that are 2021 or newer with 100,000 km or less. Older or higher kilometres? Send it through anyway and we will tell you straight away if we can help. The offer comes by phone from a licensed dealer run by a valuer who has priced cars since 1992, not from an online estimate.

If you accept, a deposit is often paid the same day. The inspection happens after that, at a time and place that suits you. The balance goes into your bank account, and the car is collected only after you confirm the funds have cleared. Collection is anywhere in Australia, arranged by us. The valuation is free, with no obligation and no fees taken out of the offer.

See how it works step by step, or get a free valuation for your Q5. You can also call 1800 73 55 73. We buy other Audis and prestige cars the same way.