Selling a car in New Zealand splits into two very different jobs depending on whether the car is still roadworthy. This guide covers both, plus the rules and official resources that catch people out.
Selling a roadworthy car
Protect yourself against situations that are not your problem, including speeding and parking fines for a car you no longer own. That happens when NZTA is not told about the change of ownership after a sale. It is best to hold on to the car until proof of the change of ownership has been supplied.
Beyond that, the usual advice applies: a current warrant of fitness and registration make the car easier to sell and worth more, a tidy service history helps, and photographs that show the actual condition save you time wasted on buyers who turn up and walk away.
Selling a car that is no longer worth repairing
Once the repairs cost more than the car, a private sale stops making sense and a wrecker is the better option. There is separate paperwork involved, including the notice of disposal and cancelling the registration, and getting it wrong leaves the vehicle sitting in your name.
That whole process is covered step by step in our guide to selling your car to a wrecker, including what wreckers actually pay and the mistakes that cost sellers money.
What is your scrap car worth?
There are no set rules here. A scrap car is worth what you are able to sell it for, but you can take some basic steps to make sure you receive market value.
The single biggest factor is whether the vehicle is still complete. A whole car has reusable components in it and is worth real money, even if it broke down, failed its warrant or was crashed. Once the engine, gearbox, wheels and panels have been sold off separately, what is left is a bare shell, and a shell on its own rarely covers the cost of collecting it. Selling the vehicle complete is the normal route: one transaction, free pickup, and cash on the spot. Our scrap car removal page explains how scrap pricing works.
For frequent vehicle sellers
Under the business.govt.nz guidelines you have to register as a motor vehicle trader if, in any 12 month period (it does not have to be a calendar year, just contiguous months), you sell more than 6 vehicles or import more than 3.
The Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 allows some exemptions, but they are unlikely to apply in most cases. In practice, most people selling the odd car on the side are nowhere near 6 in a year.
Official NZ resources for car buyers and sellers
A list of New Zealand government resources worth knowing before you sell:
- Consumer Protection publishes a detailed report on your rights when buying or selling a motor vehicle.
- NZTA covers the buying and selling notification process for both parties.
- govt.nz has a general checklist for vehicle sellers.
- The official rightcar.co.nz guidance on scrapping a vehicle explains why it matters.
Rightcar makes the point that it is important to choose a scrap buyer who will actually recycle the vehicle and ensure it comes off the road. DEOL Car Solutions takes scrap vehicles off the road and dismantles them.
Ready to sell?
If the car has reached the end of the road, send the details through the quote form for a cash offer with free pickup across Christchurch and Canterbury.