Selling a car in Tasmania (TAS)

With modern technology paving the way towards the future, we now live in an era where any information can be readily accessed, making it ever easier to do things ourselves. As a result, selling a car has become much easier than before - thanks to the internet.

The role of the middleman is fast diminishing. People are ready to sell their vehicles all by themselves rather than having a broker or dealer do it for them.

This article will highlight tips to ensure you get the best market price for your vehicle and avoid getting ripped off. We will focus on the process you have to follow when selling your automobile in Tasmania.

Fastest Ways To Sell Your Car In Tasmania

These steps are the same whether you are selling a passenger vehicle or heavy vehicle. You can choose any of the following options whenever you are selling your vehicle in Tasmania:

Sell to a dealership

The only downside of selling to a dealership is that you will not get top dollar for it as the dealership will take a percentage of the selling amount.

Sell privately to a friend

If your friend has been eyeing your car for some time, you can choose to sell it to them. However, it is good to be aware that your friendship might go down the drain if something goes wrong after the sale. Also, do not allow your friendship to overlook things like not following through with all the paperwork. It might create a lot of problems later.

Sell to a car buying service

Same as the dealership, you will not get the best price for it compared to if you had sold it yourself.

What You Should Know Before Selling Your Car

Determine the vehicle's value

Some people treasure their cars and think they should sell for top dollar. In reality, the car's value is determined by market prices - just like any other product. Your car's value is influenced by things such as engine wear and tear (mileage), state, and service history. However, the most significant driver is still the market prices.

So what is the actual value of your vehicle? The best way to find this is to get a professional to do a valuation. They will give you an estimated price for your car.

Choose your selling method

If you are in no hurry and would like to get the best price for the car, then sell it privately. You can do this on a classified listing or auction website. You will need to be patient before you can get the offer that you were looking for.

Be prepared to show the car to several potential buyers, with no surety of success. Again, you will have the potential buyers come to your home (which is risky) and not to mention the endless negotiations and administration that is involved.

On the other hand, if you need quick cash and don't have the time to wait, then you can look for a car buying site or come into an agreement with a car dealer to part exchange.

The sale is typically guaranteed and you can have money in your account in the shortest time possible if you describe your car accurately. However, be prepared to lower your price if you opt for this option.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Selling A Car In Tasmania

There are many things you need to know when selling a car in Tasmania. If you follow the right channel, then you will be able to sell the vehicle without significant setbacks. Here are the things to consider:

Look for online deals

Get as much information as you can if you want to sell your car online. Go through all the options available before making any conclusions.

Get your car ready

First impressions are essential when selling a car. Give your car some thorough cleaning (both inside and outside). If there are any defects, make sure you have them fixed before the potential buyer examines it. Your potential buyers might offer a lower price if they spot any fault in the vehicle.

Be prepared to haggle

The best way to handle a negotiation is to arm yourself with information about the car. If the potential buyer wants to purchase it at a lower price, show them the vehicle's history and the true value. This may not always work, but it is good to have a counter argument should it arise.

Sell after funds transfer

If you are selling your vehicle privately, do not give the new owner the car keys until you’ve verified that the money has been sent to your account. If it is an electronic transfer, then you should check with your bank to ensure that the money is in the account.

Create a detailed checklist

Have a checklist of things you need to check before finally handing over the car keys to the new owner. Make sure the keys are there (including the spare keys) and all the paperwork. If these are missing, the buyer will have the leverage to lower the price.

If you follow the above mentioned tips, selling your vehicle becomes an easy task. There are many other details on how to sell your car in Tasmania. You’ll learn a lot about this as you continue to read this article.

Who Can Sell A Car In TAS?

To sell a car in TAS, you must have the vehicle's registered operator name(s). This information is always on the vehicle's registration certificate. If not, then you must have the authorisation to sell the car.

If the car you are selling is not registered in your name, you must avail a written consent to sell the car. Show it to the buyer.

If the car is registered in joint names, then both parties must put their signature in all the paperwork entailed in the car selling process.

What Do You Require To Sell Your Car?

You need to see if you are required to either return or transfer the vehicle’s number plate. You also need to provide a disposal notice. You can either do this online or by submitting a Notice of Disposal/Application for Transfer of Vehicle Registration form.

Using an online disposal portal

The Internet has made it easy to access and utilise some of the most essential services offered by the government. Here is what you need for online disposal:

• Vehicle registration number

• VIN/Chasis number

• Buyer and seller surname or company name

• Date of disposal

• Asking price or market value (the greater one) of the car

• A Tasmanian driver's license if either the buyer or the seller is an individual

• If it is a company or motor dealer, they must provide a Motor Registry Customer Identification Number

Using a notice of disposal form

As already mentioned, you can issue a Notice of Disposal by submitting a the required form. There are three main ways of presenting the form:

• Submit the form at any Service Tasmania shop‍

• By sending it via the post office

• You can send via email as well

NB: If the seller starts the process online, the buyer can still fill out the form and submit it.‍

You are given seven days to submit the notice of disposal after the sale. It will be processed, but you will not get any automatic verification. The only way to find out if your name has been removed is by contacting Service Tasmania. Allow them seven days after submitting the disposal notice.

On successful submission, your name will then be removed from the registration, and you will not be liable for the car for the intention of registration.

Getting Your Car Ready For Sale

Do a thorough cleaning

Clean the car well (you can even pay a professional to do it for you). Do a paint job if there are any scratches. This ensures that you sell the car at the price you quoted since the buyer won’t have any reason to quote a lower price.

Create an advertisement

Take good pictures showing different sides of the car. You can even do short videos and focus on the additional features that your car has.

Prepare all the documents

In TAS, the seller is obligated to fill up the Notice of Disposal form before transferring the ownership of the vehicle. You should do the paperwork in front of the buyer since it will be easier to get all the required information.

You will be glad to learn that there is no charge for transferring ownership to the person purchasing it if you sell a vehicle in TAS.

How To Handle Requests For Road Tests

Some states in Australia require every vehicle to have a roadworthy check before it is sold. Luckily, this is not a requirement if you are selling a vehicle in TAS. Therefore, you can proceed straight to a test drive.

If you have chosen to sell your vehicle through private means, a prospective buyer might want to go for a road test. Below are things you should take into account:

• Ensure you have the buyer's contact information, including the name, address, and telephone number.

• Check the buyer's driver's license before they get behind the wheels.

• If the buyer is genuine, they will have no problem coming to a public address to pick up the car. Always insist on them coming to your chosen address.

• Your insurance may cover you during a road test, but you need to check if the buyer is also insured to do a road test.

• To ensure road safety, check that the potential buyer follows all the rules of the road.

• When the buyer comes for the road test, always accompany them.

• You can ask a close friend or a relative to go with you when the buyer checks out the car and on the road test.

The above tips will ensure you quickly and safely sell your car and give the buyer confidence that they are dealing with a genuine seller.

Get A Professional To Evaluate Your Car

Determining the price is vital. The worst experience would be selling the vehicle at a loss because you set the price too low. You also don’t want to be in a situation where no one asks for or buys the car, all because you set your price too high. An evaluation can help you approximate the cost of your car.

Regardless, be ready to get some bargaining from the buyer. However, try and stick to your pre-determined price. You might as well use the services of a professional car dealer in TAS to evaluate and sell the car. It is one of the most accessible and convenient options. You will be able to sell faster through such professionals instead of selling on your own.