carsales Instant Offer allows eligible sellers to receive an obligation-free offer for their car from an accredited dealer.
Your Instant Offer is conditional on your car matching the information you provide and meeting the Instant Offer terms and conditions. If you accept the offer and the sale proceeds, it can often be finalised in as little as 24 hours.
How does Instant Offer work?
Visit carsales Instant Offer and enter your car’s registration number and the state where it is registered.
Provide any additional information requested, such as the make, model, year, condition and odometer reading.
In most cases, your Instant Offer will appear within a few minutes.
Accept your Instant Offer before it expires. It is usually valid for seven days.
An accredited dealer will contact you to arrange an inspection.
During the inspection, the dealer will check that your car matches the information you provided and meets the offer conditions.
The dealer will confirm the final purchase price. You can then decide whether to proceed with the sale.
If you proceed, you can drop your car off at the dealership or use a collection service, where available. Additional fees may apply for collection.
Payment is usually made to your chosen bank account by the next business day.
You don’t need to advertise or detail your car, and a roadworthy certificate isn’t required for Instant Offer.
Who can use Instant Offer?
Instant Offer isn’t available for every seller or car.
To use Instant Offer, you must:
Be at least 18 years old
Have the right to sell the car
Have the car in Australia and available for sale
Have a car that meets the age, odometer and other eligibility requirements
Some cars and sellers are excluded. This includes motor vehicle dealers, some cars previously used for commercial purposes and cars outside the Instant Offer service area.
See the Instant Offer terms and conditions for the full eligibility requirements.
Who buys my car?
carsales works with accredited dealers across Australia who buy cars directly from sellers.
If you accept your Instant Offer, carsales will share your contact and car details with the matched dealer. The dealer will then contact you to arrange an inspection.
How is my Instant Offer calculated?
Your Instant Offer is calculated using the information you provide and market data, including recent sales of similar cars.
The offer is conditional on your car matching the information you submitted and meeting the Instant Offer conditions.
How long is my Instant Offer valid?
Your Instant Offer is usually valid for seven days, unless a different expiry date is shown.
If it expires, you’ll need to request a new offer. The new amount may be different because car prices can change with the market.
How do I view my Instant Offer on the carsales website?
Sign in to your carsales account.
Hover over your name.
Select My Instant Offers.
How do I view my Instant Offer in the carsales app?
Sign in to your carsales account.
Select your initial in the top-left corner.
Select Instant Offer.
How do I accept an Instant Offer?
Sign in to your carsales account.
Go to My Instant Offers.
Select your current Instant Offer.
Follow the prompts to accept it.
Accepting an Instant Offer doesn’t require you to complete the sale. You can change your mind before signing the contract of sale.
Why is my Instant Offer shown as a range?
Your Instant Offer may be shown as a range when more information or an inspection is needed before the price can be finalised.
carsales may not be able to provide an immediate offer if:
There isn’t enough pricing data
Your car has unique specifications
Your car may not meet the offer conditions
If your car can be priced manually, you may receive an offer by email or SMS within one to two business days.
What conditions does my car need to meet?
During the inspection, the accredited dealer will check that your car matches the information you provided.
This may include checking:
The make, model, badge and build year
The odometer reading
The interior and exterior condition
The service and repair history
Whether there are mechanical problems or rust
Whether any components aren’t working
Whether the car has illegal modifications
Whether the car has previously been written off
Whether the car has clear title
Service records may include logbooks or service receipts.
Can the accredited dealer change my Instant Offer?
Yes. Your Instant Offer remains conditional until the car has been inspected.
The accredited dealer may adjust the price or choose not to proceed if the car:
Doesn’t match the information submitted
Has a different build year or badge
Has missing service history
Has damage that wasn’t included in the condition report
Has mechanical problems, rust or components that don’t work
Has illegal modifications
Doesn’t meet the Instant Offer conditions
If the price changes after the inspection, you can decide whether to proceed with the sale.
How do I arrange the inspection?
After you accept your Instant Offer, the accredited dealer will contact you to arrange a time and location.
The inspection may take place:
At the dealership
At your preferred location using a mobile inspection service, where available
After the inspection, the dealer will confirm the final purchase price. If you proceed, they will help you complete the ownership transfer documents and finalise payment.
What should I bring to the inspection?
Bring:
Proof that you own the car, such as a registration renewal notice in your name
Your car’s service history and repair receipts
All sets of keys
Your driver’s licence
If finance is owing on the car, ask your lender for a letter showing the outstanding payout amount and bring it to the inspection.
Can I sell a car that has finance owing?
You may be able to sell a car with finance owing through Instant Offer.
Before the inspection, contact your lender and request a letter showing the outstanding payout amount. Give this to the accredited dealer, who will explain how the finance and payment will be finalised before the sale is completed.
The sale may take longer to process when finance is owing.
How and when will I be paid?
The accredited dealer will pay the money into your chosen bank account after the sale and handover have been finalised.
Payment is usually made by the next business day. If finance is owing, allow additional time for the payment and loan payout to be processed.
Do I need to arrange transport after the sale?
If you take your car to the dealership, you’ll need to arrange your own transport home.
Collection from your preferred location may be available through participating dealers. Availability and fees vary.
Can I change my mind after accepting?
Yes. You aren’t required to sell your car until you sign the contract of sale.
If you decide not to proceed, you can request another Instant Offer later or advertise your car privately.
How can I contact the accredited dealer or get help?
After accepting an Instant Offer, you can find the dealer’s contact details on the acceptance page.
For help from carsales, use the chat option on the Instant Offer page or call 13 72 53.
Where can I find my car’s build year?
The build year is the year your car was manufactured. You may find it on the build plate in the:
Engine bay
Door sill
Door pillar
Boot
The build year may be different from the compliance date or the year the car was first registered. Your registration documents may not show the correct build year.
See the Instant Offer terms and conditions for the complete eligibility and offer conditions.
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.