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When the going gets tough or you are just due for a new vehicle, you may consider selling your car for quick cash. But with all the regulations, advertising, and paperwork, how exactly do you sell a car in Queensland?
In this article, I will walk you through the entire process of selling your car whilst following the rules in QLD.
As a bonus, I will also add some tips and tricks to make the sale easier whilst allowing you to get the most value out of your car sale.
As the process of selling a car can be fairly involved, we have broken it into five parts. Complete one step at a time and let’s get your car sold!
The very first thing you should do when you’ve decided to sell your car is to prepare the necessary paperwork which is pretty easy to get.
All you need is a Certificate of Inspection (COI) which you can obtain from approved inspection stations. For light vehicles, this is also called a safety certificate.
Note that as of September 01, 2021, you no longer have to obtain and display the safety certificate before offering your car for sale in Queensland.
However, you still need to obtain it before the car changes hands to your buyer. It will also be needed for changing the registration.
If, however, you are unable to obtain a safety certificate because your car is no longer in a safe and legal condition, you still have a few options to choose from:
If your vehicle is running on gas fuel (LPG), you also need to obtain a gas certificate from an authorized gas installer.
When selling anything, it is a good practice to present your sale item in the best way possible. This can make your item, in this case, your vehicle more attractive to potential buyers and can even allow for a higher selling price.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most money when selling your vehicle:
The aim of this step is to make it look as good as possible to create that desire in the eyes of prospective buyers.
Discover your car’s market value by using online market research tools. Enter your car’s make and model into multiple online platforms to see what other people are selling your make and model and get a rough guide of price points.
Consider the repairs, personalizations, and mileage of your car. Then adjust your selling price accordingly.
You must check multiple marketplaces. Alternatively, contact local car buyers for a free quotation.
One thing to remember is that private buyers like to negotiate. So make sure your asking price allows for some wiggle room if a buyer offers you less.
This way you can drop your price slightly and still be happy with the price, plus the buyer is happy as they received a perceived discount.
The next step would be to list your car for sale. This can include putting a For Sale sign on the car itself and driving it around town, or leaving it parked on a busy street.
You may also consider dedicated car selling websites like carsales.com.au or general e-commerce websites like eBay, Gumtree, or Facebook Marketplace.
Include all the relevant information in your advertisement such as:
Include lots of recent photos that were taken during the preparation stage. Make sure the photos are clear and are taken just after the car was cleaned and detailed, preferably in a well-lit setting.
It also helps if you can include your reasons why you’re selling your car. Be honest with all the information to avoid problems later on. This means explaining any issues or stating you are looking to upgrade.
Meet with your buyer in a neutral environment. Be mindful that some buyers may bring a friend, so you could do the same. If possible, seek assistance from a friend who is knowledgeable about cars.
In some cases, the buyer will request to do their inspection with their mechanic. They are allowed to do so but they are responsible for covering the cost.
After a visual inspection, the next practical step is a test drive. Just make sure you view their license to make sure they are legally allowed to drive. Also, go with the buyer as they complete the test drive.
Prepare to answer any relevant questions that they might ask about the vehicle. The more knowledgeable you are about your car, the easier it is to sell it.
If they are interested this is the point they may start to negotiate on your price. If you have done your research you should know what is a fair price for your vehicle.
There is nothing wrong with dropping your price to gain a sale. Just don’t sell yourself short. Likewise, no one will pay an overpriced amount, so you need to be reasonable with the final sale price.
When the buyer decides to buy the car, you should only accept cash, instant bank transfer or a cheque from a trusted bank. Or better yet, have them hand over the cash to your local bank and transfer it to your account immediately.
While completing the sale you should also complete the transfer of registration paperwork. This includes making sure the buyer and seller have the other parties’ full contact details.
As the seller, you want to make sure the vehicle is transferred out of your name as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may find infringement notices that are incurred from the new owner are sent to you with you being held responsible.
If you’re paying for the car’s registration using debit, be sure to remove it. You should also cancel and stop the payment for the car’s insurance as it is no longer yours to insure.
Selling a car in Queensland can be a quick or laborious task. There are many steps involved but once you have done it a few times it becomes quicker to complete.
If your vehicle is in demand and your asking price is fair, you will find that selling a car can be quick. However, if the car has issues or is old and unwanted, you may be waiting weeks or even months to sell it.
In either case, you should consider selling it to an auto dealer like Sell Used Car. We make the whole process easy. Simply give us a call and we’ll take care of the rest.
Often, we take your car and provide cash within the same day. On top of that, we can also provide your next car purchase, making your new car replacement fast and easy.
