Creating an ad but can’t find your vehicle on the list? Don’t stress! This could be for a few reasons. We’ve outlined some of the more common reasons below to help guide you through the vehicle selection process.
Imports and custom builds/kit cars
First things first – is your vehicle an import or a custom build?
Vehicles that weren’t officially released to the Australian market can still be listed on carsales, but we research them on a case-by-case basis as the manufacturer doesn’t provide us with the vehicle information directly.
So if you’ve got a Japanese import, or maybe you brought your car over with you from another country and its time to sell, you’ll just need to provide the details of your vehicle using the custom ad form. You can access this form by choosing “import or custom car” from any step during car selection. It’s also useful to attach photos of the build/compliance/import plate when creating your ad to help us find the details of your specific vehicle.
Some common examples: Nissan Skyline, Toyota Estima, Mitsubishi Evo, GMC trucks, AC Cobra, VW Beach Buggy, Chevy Pickups
Check the build year
Vehicles on carsales are listed by the year they were built by the original manufacturer. If you’re having trouble finding your specific car, it’s worth checking the previous year’s group.
It is often the case that cars are manufactured late in the year and don’t arrive to be complied until the next year. It’s a good idea to physically check your vehicle’s build plate where possible to confirm, as most dealer paperwork will reference the compliance date or first registration date.
Where can I find the build and compliance plates on my car?
Option Packs/Special Editions
Sometimes vehicles sold as a special edition are configured in a way that you buy the base vehicle, and then add an option pack, as opposed to it being sold as a standalone model. In this case, all you’ll need to do is select the base vehicle and add the option pack later on in the process.
Some common examples: Ford Ranger Wildtrak X, Audi S Line, Holden Colorado LSX
Check the model year
Sometimes after you answer the questions about your vehicle, you are left to choose from two (or more) options, with the only difference being the [MY] – or model year - at the end (e.g. a 2021 build vehicle may be MY21 or MY22). You can check the model year of your vehicle by looking at the 10th character in the VIN. Refer to the chart below. For example, if the 10th character is N, the vehicle is an MY22.
This will work for most newer/current models in the Australian market.
Here are a few examples:
- 2017 Subaru XV with a VIN of JF1GT7KL5JG023640 – the 10th character is J, indicating that the vehicle’s model year is MY18
- 2014 Volkswagen Amarok with a VIN of WV1ZZZ2HZEA003889 – the 10th character is E, indicating that vehicle’s model year is MY14
- 2007 Holden Commodore with a VIN of 6G1EK52B47L922545 – the 10th character is 7, indicating that the vehicle’s model year is MY07
This will work for most newer/current models in the Australian market.
Utility vs Cab Chassis
The easiest way to tell these apart is by looking at the back. A utility will have a built-in tub on the back, usually made from the same body material and painted to match.
A cab chassis is like a blank canvas. It has the same passenger cabin, but it doesn’t have a built-in tub, instead it will just have bare chassis rails. This allows for a variety of equipment to be fitted to the back, with the most common being the steel/aluminum tray, in a classic silver finish. Some popular cab chassis examples include the Ford Falcon RTV, and Holden One Tonner.
An important note on aftermarket trays/boxes – we can only list the base specifications of your vehicle as provided by the manufacturer, which won’t include any aftermarket parts/conversions etc. Be sure to note these in the comments section of your ad.
Some commonly requested vehicles, and where to find them:
Land Rover Discovery 4
Vehicles built up to December 2013 use the old naming convention (Make: Land Rover, Family: Discovery 4) The vehicle has LAND ROVER badging across the bonnet.
Vehicles built from January 2014 use the revised naming convention (Make: Land Rover, Family: Discovery) The vehicle has DISCOVERY badging across the bonnet.
Ford Territory (7 Seat)
The 7 seat configuration is an option pack for these vehicles. You will need to select the base 5 seat vehicle initially, and then add on the 3rd row seating option later in the process.
Mercedes Sprinter AWD
This is an option pack on these vehicles. You will need to select the base 2WD equivalent and add the AWD option later in the process.
Subaru WRX
The naming conventions for these changed in late 2013, where the WRX became a separate family, branching out from under the Impreza.
Vehicles built up to November 2013 use the old naming convention (Make: Subaru, Family: Impreza, Badge: WRX)
Vehicles built from December 2013 use the updated naming convention (Make: Subaru, Family: WRX)
Holden Utes
The naming conventions for these changed in December 2000, where the Holden Ute became a separate family, branching out from under the Commodore.
VP – VSIII (1992 – 2000) Holden > Commodore
VU – VFII (2000 – 2017) Holden > Ute
Ford Ranger Wildtrak X
This is an example of a special edition vehicle as an option pack. You’ll need to select the base Wildtrak variant and add the “Wildtrak X” option pack later in the process.
If you’re still unsure or need some assistance finding your car on carsales, please feel welcome to contact our Customer Service Team.
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