Safety tips for sellers

Selling your car with carsales is easy but there are some personal and vehicle safety considerations to keep in mind. We’ve put together a few simple steps which you can follow to protect yourself online and in person through each stage of the car selling process. 

 

Step 1: Creating your ad 

  • Ensure you choose a secure and unique password for your carsales account. 
  • Consider using carsales' exclusive Privacy Protectvirtual phone number service for your ad. Any potential buyer that rings the virtual number will be redirected to your designated personal number, without the caller ever seeing your actual number.
  • Ensure your ad has the correct vehicle information and quality photos. Potential buyers will be suspicious of your ad if the information does not add up. 

 

Step 2: Deciding your selling price 

  • Do your research to help determine a realistic market price that suits your needs but does not make potential buyers suspicious of your ad. 
  • Use the carsales PriceAssist tool to help you choose a price that is both consistent with market prices and suits your ideal time to sell. 

 

Step 3: Managing enquiries from buyers 

 

Step 4: Arranging inspections 

  • Arrange to meet at a neutral location like a police station car park or service station forecourt and try to take someone with you. 
  • Make sure you take key information like registration details, vehicle log books and roadworthy certificates with you for the inspection. 
  • Before anyone takes your car for a test drive, ask to see their licence. Bring a pen and paper so you can make a record and use your judgement about whether you should tag along for the ride. 
  • Ensure that your car insurance covers anyone who may test drive your car. Some insurers will only cover the car if the owner accompanies the buyer on the test drive, but conditions between insurers can vary. We'd suggest contacting your insurer to check your car is insured during any test drives and conditions around that coverage.

 

Step 5: Accepting offers 

  • Know how much you’re willing to accept and prepare to negotiate to a minimum price 
  • Do not take your ad down until you’re certain you have received payment from the buyer – it won’t cost you extra to have the ad up for longer. 
  • Ensure your vehicle transfer paperwork is in order to ensure a smooth sale. 

 

Step 6: Receiving payment 

  • Do not rely on proof of payment from the buyer. Check with your bank, PayPal or any other provider that the money has been transferred through that it has cleared. Make sure you can see the funds in your account before your car changes hands. 
  • Give the buyer a receipt to confirm you’ve received their payment. 
  • Check our security updates regularly for important information. 

 

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Related articles: 

I’ve sold my car. What do I do next? 
How do I remove my ad? 

Any information on this page is provided as a guide only. It is not professional or expert advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The content may not be appropriate, correct or sufficient for your circumstances and should not be relied on as the only reason you do or don’t do anything.
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