A car trade-in is often the quickest way to move on from your current car, but it is usually not the way to get the most money for it. Consumer Affairs Victoria and NSW Government guidance both say you may get more by selling privately, but finding a buyer takes more time and effort.
A fair trade-in price comes from three habits: price the new car on its own, collect several written offers for your old one, and compare the total changeover cost. This guide also covers loan payouts and state handover paperwork, checked against official sources in October 2026.
Price the new car before you mention the trade
Start with a written drive-away price, not a list price, for the exact new car with no trade-in attached. Through Carseekers, you can ask authorised dealers to compete on a drive-away price for the variant you have chosen, then check that quote on its own merits.
Only then bring the trade-in into the conversation, and ask for the changeover figure: the total you will pay to hand over your car and drive away in the new one. Consumer Affairs Victoria and NSW guidance both recommend asking the dealer for that total.
A generous trade figure can hide a smaller discount on the new car. If one dealer offers $2,000 more for your car but quotes $2,500 more for the new one, that deal costs you $500 more. Knowing where dealers make their margin helps you spot where the money moved.
Work out what your car is really worth
Both Consumer Affairs Victoria and NSW guidance suggest checking prices for similar models in similar condition. Match the year, variant, kilometres, service history and condition as closely as you can.
Use advertised prices as comparison points, not as sale prices. Victorian dealer stock listings show what retail buyers are being asked to pay. A dealer buying your car still has to prepare and resell it, so expect trade offers to sit below those figures.
Then collect written offers from at least three different kinds of buyer: the dealer supplying your new car, another dealer, and a wholesaler or instant-offer service. Treat an online estimate as provisional until someone has inspected the car, and ask each buyer what could reduce the figure.
If one offer is far above the rest, find out what conditions come with it before you rely on it.
Trade-in, private sale or auction: what each route costs you
Trade-in. The simplest route: no advertising and no strangers at the door. Ask to hand your car over when you collect the new one, so you are not left without a car. The cost, as both state consumer guides note, is usually a lower price than a private sale.
Selling to a dealer can also skip a pre-sale inspection. VicRoads lists private-to-dealer transfers as not needing a roadworthy certificate, and Queensland does not require a safety certificate for vehicles traded to a licensed motor dealer.
Private sale. Often the best price, but you handle the advertising, enquiries, inspections, test drives and payment. In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says you must give the buyer a roadworthy certificate less than 30 days old when selling a registered car. Transport Victoria says the cost depends on the car's age, type and condition.
In Queensland, you need a current safety certificate before selling a registered car to anyone other than a dealer. As of October 2026, you may be fined more than $700 without one, and the inspection fee for a car up to 4,500 kg gross vehicle mass is $102.70.
A private buyer misses out on dealer-sale protections such as a cooling-off period and a dealer warranty, as Moneysmart points out, so expect close inspection and negotiation. Check how your insurer covers a test drive by a stranger.
Any manufacturer's warranty still running on your car generally passes to the new owner unless its terms say otherwise, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria, so mention it to buyers.
Instant-offer services and wholesalers. Quick, but any online figure depends on the inspection. Before you hand over the car, get the final price and the payment date in writing.
Auction. Consumer Affairs Victoria notes that an auction house may charge commission. Ask about fees, reserve prices and payment timing before you book the car in.
To choose, subtract a private sale's inspection, advertising and time costs from the price you can realistically expect, then compare the result with your best written trade offer. Other states and territories have their own rules, so check your road agency's selling page before you advertise.
Still owe money on the car? Sort the payout first
Ask your lender for a written payout figure valid to your expected handover date. Service NSW says to make sure all financial obligations are met before you sell.
If a dealer will pay out the loan as part of the trade, get the payout amount and any surplus or shortfall in writing before you sign. Private buyers will want proof: Moneysmart tells them to make sure the debt is paid out and the security interest removed before completing the purchase.
A secured car loan is normally recorded on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) against the car's VIN. After the payout, check the registration has gone. As of October 2026, an online PPSR search costs $2.
If the lender has not removed it, use the PPSR's amendment demand process to ask the secured party to remove it. After at least five business days, you can apply to the PPSR or a court. The PPSR route is free but can take weeks or even months, so start early.
With a balloon payment or guaranteed future value, the lump sum still owed is part of the payout. Moneysmart's car loan guidance notes that the full guaranteed value depends on conditions, such as staying within a kilometre limit and returning the car in good condition, within fair wear and tear.
When the car is worth less than the payout, you have negative equity. Moneysmart warns that a sale price might not cover the full debt, leaving you still paying off the loan. This guide to negative equity on a car loan explains the options, including the cost of rolling a shortfall into the next loan.
If you are borrowing for the next car, compare any dealer finance offer with other lenders, as Moneysmart suggests. Loanseekers can help you compare car finance options; approval, rates and terms depend on lender assessment.
Prepare the car without overspending
Service NSW suggests washing the car, removing rubbish, paperwork and valuables, considering a professional detail, and photographing it, including any damage or scratches. Those photos also record the car's condition when each offer was made.
Gather the service history, all keys, the owner's manual, registration papers and any recent inspection reports. Complete records help you justify your price.
Get quotes before fixing anything, and ask buyers whether a repair would change their offer, because an expensive repair may not return its cost. Describe known faults honestly and in writing.
Lock the trade-in figure in writing
Treat a verbal number as a starting point, not a commitment. Get the trade-in figure in writing with the date, the odometer reading at inspection and any conditions, such as a kilometre limit or the car's condition at delivery.
If the new car will take time to arrive, ask how long the figure holds and what happens if delivery is delayed. In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says a licensed trader's new-car contract must include trade-in details where they apply. Check the contract figure matches the written offer.
Do not sign anything that transfers ownership until you have received your payment, or the car you are getting in the trade. Consumer Affairs Victoria and NSW guidance both give this warning.
Handover: paperwork, toll tags and your data
NSW. Lodge a notice of disposal within 14 days of the sale. It is free, but a late fee may apply. If you sell to a dealer, Service NSW says to include the dealer's licence number and registered business name on your proof of sale.
Victoria. For a private sale, complete the notice of disposal with the buyer within 14 days and keep a copy of the transfer form. VicRoads says that when a dealer is involved, the dealer manages the transfer.
Queensland. On the day of sale, complete Part B of the registration transfer form and have the buyer sign it. Until the transfer is finalised, you may be held accountable for offences committed by the buyer.
Remove your toll tag and take the registration number off your toll account, as NSW and Queensland guidance recommend. Unpair your phone, clear saved addresses and garage-door codes, and remove the car from any manufacturer app. Keep your insurance until the car has changed hands.
A fair trade-in price is one you can check: a standalone drive-away quote, several written offers, a confirmed payout figure and a contract that matches what you were promised.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
How long is a roadworthy or safety certificate valid when selling a car?
In Victoria, a roadworthy certificate is current for 30 days from issue, and VicRoads says a car that fails can be reinspected within 14 days without paying the full fee again. In Queensland, a safety certificate from a private seller lasts 2 months or 2,000 km, whichever comes first, and covers only one sale. Rules elsewhere differ, so check your road agency.
Can a business sell my car for me before paying me?
Be careful. Consumer Affairs Victoria says a licensed motor car trader must pay you for your car, or provide a trade, before trying to sell it. In NSW, a dealer selling your car on consignment needs a written agreement and must pay you the agreed amount from a trust account within 14 days. Confirm who insures the car while the dealer has it.
Can I keep my personalised number plates when I sell my car?
In NSW, Service NSW lets you swap personalised or special plates for general-issue plates and keep them, move them to another vehicle registered in your name, or include them in the sale. If they go with the car, tell the buyer about the transfer fee and any ongoing fees. Other states have their own process, so arrange it before handover.
Do I pay transfer fees or stamp duty when I sell my car?
Usually not in Queensland or Victoria. Queensland says the seller pays no fees to transfer registration out of their name, and VicRoads says the new owner pays the transfer fee and motor vehicle duty on most private transfers. In NSW, the seller's notice of disposal is free, although a late fee may apply.
What happens to my rego direct debit when I sell my car?
In Victoria, completing the notice of disposal online automatically cancels direct debits for that vehicle; if you do not lodge online, cancel them yourself before the transfer. Queensland recommends removing the direct debit before the transfer is lodged, ideally on the day of sale. Check your own state's process so payments stop when ownership changes.