Sell your S3. Get paid before it leaves.

The quickest way to a fair offer on an S3 is to know exactly which version you have, what it left the factory with and what has changed since. Have those answers ready, along with your service records and both keys, and the valuer can price your car on the call instead of pricing the unknowns.

Which S3 do you have?

The S3 comes as a five-door Sportback or a four-door sedan. Both use a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive, according to CarExpert’s Australian specifications. Buyers usually search for one body style or the other, so it is the first thing a valuer asks.

The bigger split is whether your car was built before or after the update that reached Australia in the first half of 2025. CarExpert reported these changes:

If you are not sure which version you have, the build date on your paperwork and the VIN settle it. Give us either on the call. A newer S3 is not automatically the easier car to sell, though. An earlier one with full records, two keys and no surprises can be simpler to price than a later one with gaps.

Factory options worth mentioning

Factory-fitted options are part of the car’s specification, so list them when you send your S3 through. Your original invoice or delivery paperwork shows what the car was built with.

• Premium Plus package. On the current-shape S3 as first priced for Australia, CarExpert listed it as adding a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, surround-view camera and a power driver’s seat with memory. A Premium Plus package was offered again with the 2025 update.
• Launch Edition package. Offered with the 2025 update.
• Akrapovič titanium exhaust. A factory option for the updated Sportback and sedan, according to CarExpert.

Dealer-fitted accessories and aftermarket parts are a different matter. Keep the invoices, keep any original parts you removed, and read our guide to accessories, modifications and resale value before spending money reversing anything. Our longer guide to selling an S3 without the low-ballers covers tunes, exhausts and wheels in more detail.

What the inspection looks at on an S3

The inspection happens after you accept our offer, at a time and place that suits you. On a performance car, the inspector spends most time on the parts that work hardest:

• Tyres: matching brands, even wear across each tyre and the tread left.
• Brakes: a lip on the discs, vibration under braking or a pad warning.
• Wheels: kerb marks on low-profile rims.
• Gearbox: smooth take-off and clean shifts from the dual-clutch automatic.
• Dash warnings: any message, including one that comes and goes.
• Signs of a tune: changed software, intake or exhaust parts.
• Keys and records: both keys, and a service history that matches the kilometres.

If your servicing was recorded digitally, ask an Audi service department for a printout before the inspection. Tell the valuer about anything you already know, such as tyres due or a kerbed wheel. The offer then reflects it from the start, rather than changing at the inspection.

Recalls and warranty: sort them before you sell

An open recall doesn’t stop you selling, but buyers check for one by VIN. Search your 17-character VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au, the Australian Government’s recall site. Then ask an Audi service department whether any recall or service campaign is still open on your car. Recall work is done free at a dealer for the brand, so book it in if you have time, and keep the job card. Our guide to checking for open recalls walks through the search step by step.

Know when your factory warranty started and whether a prepaid service plan is still running, because both come up on the call. On the newest S3s in our range, a good share of the warranty may be left. Our guide to whether remaining warranty adds value explains what to check in your booklet.

When to sell your S3

Three things are worth weighing:

• The next update. CarExpert reported in June 2026 that an updated A3, S3 and RS 3 is due in Australia in the first half of 2027. It gets bigger screens, with the climate controls moved into a new panoramic display. When it lands, your car becomes the outgoing version. Nobody can say in advance what that does to used prices, and we don’t try.
• Kilometres. We buy S3s with 100,000 km or less. If yours is getting close, an offer now keeps it inside that range. Already over? Send it through anyway and we will tell you straight away if we can help.
• Big bills coming up. If a major service, new tyres or brakes are due, get an offer first. Then you can decide whether the work is worth doing before you sell.

Selling an S3 that is still under finance

You can sell your S3 with money owing on it. Ask your lender for a payout figure before the call. Our guide to car loan payout letters explains what it shows and how long it lasts.

We deal with your lender directly to pay out the loan, then pay any equity into your account. Cars under finance usually take 2 to 3 business days to settle. If you owe more than the car is worth, the difference has to be covered before settlement, and we show you the numbers before you decide.

Paperwork and handover

We prepare the sale paperwork and help with the transfer of ownership. In most states you still lodge a notice of disposal yourself, and we’ll make sure it’s done correctly: it’s usually a quick online form. When you sell to a licensed dealer, the private-sale roadworthy or safety certificate rule usually doesn’t apply. Rules differ by state, so we confirm what applies to your S3 on the call.

Before collection day, take out your e-tag, unpair your phones, clear saved addresses and remove the car from any manufacturer app. Leave a factory reset of the infotainment system until the money has cleared. Keep your insurance active until the car has been collected.

How selling your S3 to us works

Send us the details or call 1800 73 55 73. You get a genuine offer by phone from a licensed dealer run by a valuer who has priced cars since 1992, not an online estimate. Accept it and a deposit is often paid the same day. The inspection follows at a time and place that suits you, and the balance goes into your bank account. We collect the car, anywhere in Australia, only after you confirm the funds have cleared. The valuation is free, with no obligation and no fees taken out of the offer. There is more detail on how it works.