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Sell your car fast, without selling it cheap
Speed usually costs money. It costs less when several dealers are competing for the same car on the same day.
The realistic timeline
A private sale takes between two and eight weeks in most Australian markets, and that is measured from the day you list, not the day you decide. Competing dealer offers compress that considerably:
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Submit the vehicle | About a minute |
| Offers returned | Within 60 minutes, business hours |
| You choose an offer | Whenever you like, offers hold 7 days |
| Inspection at your address | Usually next business day |
| Payment by transfer | At collection |
Submitting early in the business week helps. Buyers price against their current stock position and want room to inspect and settle before the weekend, so Monday to Wednesday moves faster than late on a Friday.
How to not lose money in a hurry
The expensive version of selling fast is accepting the first number you are given because you are under time pressure. The fix is not to slow down, it is to get several numbers at once rather than sequentially.
- Do not recondition first. Tyres, paint and detailing are retail costs you will not recover at wholesale, and they delay you by a week
- Do disclose everything. An accurate description means the offer holds at inspection instead of being renegotiated in your driveway, which is where fast sales fall apart
- Have the paperwork ready. Registration papers, both keys, service records and, if there is money owing, a current finance payout letter
- Do not renew a full year of registration just before selling without asking whether it changes the offer. Frequently it does not change it by anything close to the cost
When you need it gone this week
Common reasons sellers need speed: a new car arriving, relocating interstate or overseas, a deceased estate, a separation, a lease ending, or simply a car sitting unused and costing registration and insurance.
In all of those cases the practical question is not what the car might fetch in six weeks of patient listing, it is what it will fetch by Friday. Written offers answer that directly, and you can still walk away from every one of them.
Start here
About a minute, free, and no obligation to accept anything.
Common questions
How long does the whole process take?
The form takes about a minute. Offers come back within 60 minutes during business hours, and most sellers who accept an offer have the car inspected and paid out within two to three business days.
How is the offer decided?
Each dealer prices your car against what they can retail it for, minus reconditioning, holding cost and margin. Kilometres, service history, tyres, panel condition and how quickly that model is selling in their state all move the number. Because several dealers price it independently, the spread between them tells you a lot about what the car is genuinely worth.
What happens if the car is not as described?
The offer is subject to a physical inspection, which is normal for every dealer purchase in Australia. If the car matches your description, the offer stands. If the inspection finds something undisclosed, such as accident damage or a mechanical fault, the dealer may revise the offer and you are free to walk away.
Can I sell a car that still has finance on it?
Yes, and it is common. The dealer pays out your financier directly and you receive the balance. If you owe more than the car is worth, you cover the shortfall to release the security interest. Ask your financier for a payout letter before you start so everyone is working from the same figure.
Do I need a roadworthy certificate?
Generally not when you are selling to a licensed dealer, because the dealer handles compliance before they retail the car. The rules differ by state, so confirm with your state road authority if you are unsure. If you sell privately instead, a roadworthy or safety certificate is your responsibility in several states.
See what dealers will actually pay
One form, five dealer offers in under 60 minutes during business hours. Free, and you are never obliged to accept.
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