Tips on how to get top cash for your car today

Finding out your car is no longer drivable can feel like a nightmare. But a car that won’t start, or one that has been written off, rarely has no value at all. Most vehicles still have parts that are worth something, so your old car may be worth more than you think.

Or perhaps your car runs perfectly well and you simply don’t use it any more. Either way, you want a fair amount of cash for it without a drawn-out process. Here are our team’s tips to help you get top cash for your car.

Do your research

The first step to securing a good deal is careful research. Look at what cars like yours are selling for, matching the make, model, year, kilometres, body type and trim level as closely as you can.

A few places to start:

• Online classifieds, to see current asking prices for comparable cars
• Price guides and valuation tools, which give a range based on age and kilometres
• Dealer listings, which show the retail end of the market

Keep in mind that advertised prices are asking prices, not sale prices, and that a dealer’s retail figure includes their preparation costs and margin. Condition, service history and the number of previous owners all move the number up or down. For a faster way to get a realistic figure, see our guide on how to find out how much your car’s worth quickly.

Once you know the range, you’ll recognise a top offer when you see one, and you’ll know when to walk away.

Be strategic

Research tells you what a good deal looks like. Strategy helps you actually get it.

Naturally you want the highest price possible, but asking well above the market tends to backfire. Buyers stop calling, the car sits unsold and its value keeps slipping. A better approach:

• Set a realistic minimum. Decide the lowest figure you’ll accept before you speak to anyone, so you aren’t deciding under pressure.
• Get more than one offer. Comparing several quotes is the easiest way to see whether an offer is genuinely strong.
• Present the car well. A clean car with its service books, both keys and any minor faults fixed makes a better impression on every buyer. Our checklist for preparing your car for sale covers the details.
• Weigh speed against price. A private sale may return a little more, but it costs you time, advertising and dealing with strangers. A cash buyer gives you speed and certainty in return.

Sell spare parts from a car that isn’t worth selling whole

Sometimes selling the entire vehicle as a working car isn’t an option, usually because it has been written off or isn’t worth repairing. Depending on whether it is a statutory or repairable write-off, and on your state’s rules, it may never be registered again. In these cases, selling the usable parts can still recover a reasonable sum.

Parts that tend to sell quickly include:

1. Engines
2. Transmissions
3. Seats and interior trim
4. Wheels and tyres
5. Body panels, lights and mirrors

Mechanical parts from popular models are usually the easiest to move, because plenty of owners are looking for replacements. Selling parts one at a time does take effort, though. If you’d rather not deal with it, a licensed wrecker or auto recycler will buy the car whole and handle the dismantling for you.

Establish ownership

Exchanging a car for cash, whether it drives or not, may seem simple, but it still needs the right paperwork. Before you sell, make sure you can show the car is yours to sell.

Reputable cash-for-cars businesses, dealers and wreckers will ask to see ownership and identity documents before they do business. Have these ready:

• Your current registration details
• Photo ID, such as your driver’s licence
• The service logbook and receipts for recent work
• The original purchase paperwork, if you still have it
• Details of any finance still owing on the car

Registration papers on their own don’t prove legal ownership, which is why the other documents help. If you still owe money on a secured car loan, the lender’s interest is usually recorded on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) and must be paid out before ownership can pass cleanly. That doesn’t stop you selling, though. Read how selling a car under finance works.

Being organised does more than keep the sale moving. A full service history and clear title give buyers confidence, and confident buyers make stronger offers. Once the sale is done, remember that most states require the seller to notify the registration authority of the change of ownership, so keep a signed receipt with the buyer’s details.

How Sell Your Car Australia works

If you have a late-model car, Sell Your Car Australia can make the process simple. We’re currently buying vehicles from 2021 or newer with 100,000 km or less. We buy any make Australia-wide, with particularly strong demand for European and prestige cars, utes and SUVs.

1. Fill out our short online form. Request a free, no-obligation valuation with a few details about your car.
2. We call you quickly. Our team gets in touch to talk through the car with you.
3. You receive a genuine cash offer. It’s a real offer from people who buy cars, not a data-driven estimate.
4. Deposit and inspection. Once you accept, we can pay a deposit quickly and then inspect the car.
5. Get paid, then we collect. The balance is paid into your account, and we only collect the car after the funds have cleared.

Cars under finance are fine. We work with your lender to settle the loan, which typically takes 2-3 business days.

Sell Your Car Australia is operated by Autohaus Australia Pty Ltd, a licensed motor dealer (MD 077404), and our owner has worked as a valuer, wholesaler and licensed dealer since 1992. If you have questions before you start, call us on 1800 73 55 73.