Mistakes Aussies Make When Selling Their Car – and How to Avoid Them
From pricing pitfalls to scammy buyers, here’s how to steer clear of common traps – and get the most for your vehicle.
Selling a car might seem straightforward, but it’s surprisingly easy to get it wrong, and costly if you do. Every year, thousands of Aussies miss out on hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars by falling into the same common traps: from overestimating their car’s value to handing over the keys to someone they shouldn’t have trusted.
To help Aussies get it right, online used car platform CARS24 has revealed the top five mistakes people make when selling their car – and how to avoid them to get the best price, fast.
1. Overpricing Based on Emotion, Not Market Value
It’s your car, and you know what it’s worth – or do you? Many sellers set their price based on what they paid, how well they looked after it, or what similar cars are listed for online. The problem? What you think it’s worth and what the market is willing to pay can be very different.
Tip: Use up-to-date market data or online valuation tools that reflect what similar vehicles have recently sold for – not just what they’re advertised at.
2. Listing at the Wrong Time
Timing is everything – and it can affect your sale price more than you’d think. Many sellers don’t realise that the market fluctuates across the year. For example, EOFY can be a busy time with people using tax returns to upgrade vehicles. Likewise, selling just before your rego renewal can help avoid added costs (and boost your pitch to buyers).
Tip: If your rego’s due soon or you're approaching a quiet patch in the market, consider selling a few weeks earlier than planned.
3. Falling for Lowball Offers or Time Wasters
Online listings can attract all sorts – and not all of them are genuinely interested. From persistent lowballers to buyers who go silent after a test drive, dealing with private buyers can be frustrating and often results in sellers accepting a lower price just to get it over with.
Tip: Set a minimum price and stick to it. Be wary of buyers rushing the deal or offering to pay without seeing the car – these are common red flags.
4. Getting Caught in a Scam
Scammers have become more sophisticated, and car sales are a prime target. Fake payment receipts, fraudulent identity documents and disappearing buyers are all increasingly common – particularly on social marketplaces or classifieds.
Tip: Only accept verified funds, and never hand over keys until money is confirmed in your account. If in doubt, consider a service that handles payment and pickup for you.
5. Forgetting About the Paperwork
Every state in Australia has slightly different rules around car transfers, roadworthy certificates, and registration – and if you’re not across the fine print, you could delay the sale (or worse, leave yourself liable if something goes wrong).
Tip: Check your state’s requirements for selling a vehicle. In most cases, you’ll need to provide a roadworthy certificate, proof of ownership and complete a transfer notice. If that sounds overwhelming, look for services that offer support with the admin.
The takeaway? If you’re selling privately, it pays to do your homework. But if you’re short on time (or patience), using a platform like CARS24, which handles valuation, paperwork, and even vehicle pickup, can take the stress out of the process – while still helping you get a fair price.
