A Guide to Selling a Car in NZ: Where to Sell, How Much to Sell
David Harris
| Last Updated: November 2021 If you’re selling your car but don’t know where to start, you’re on the right page, as we’ve collated the best places for selling a car in NZ here for you!
Digital technology has changed the way people do business. By advertising your car online, you can find a buyer way easier than what people used to do in the past.
Also, we featured a few car-buying companies who can buy your car irrespective of its model and production year—and give you fair cash for it!
But first, we’ll discuss the price range of selling a car in NZ New Zealand. This will give you some idea of how much you should sell your car in NZ to a buyer for a great deal.
The Price Range for Selling a Car in NZ
As we know, the price you can get for selling a car depends on its make, model, condition, and age.
To know the best price to sell your car for, you have to research the market.
Find out how much others sell a similar car, compare different prices on TradeMe, or better yet, get your car appraised by trustworthy organisations like AA, for one.
When selling a vehicle in NZ, you’d want to go for a price that’s fair but not too low for you and your buyer so that you’ll get a good profit.
Below is a price range table of various car brands in NZ sold on TradeMe:
| Car Manufacturer | Price range (TradeMe) |
| Chevrolet | $7,990 – $189,800 |
| Ford | $2,990 – $199,990 |
| Honda | $6,995 – $69,990 |
| Kia | $2010 – $80,740 |
| Mercedes Benz | $7,995 – $199,999 |
| Porsche | $29,995 – $189,000 |
| Toyota | $6,990 – $149,995 |
Furthermore, let’s compare the same car brands, this time with Auto Trader NZ:
| Car Manufacturer | Price range (Auto Trader) |
| Chevrolet | $4,500 – $259,800 |
| Ford | $1990 – $245,800 |
| Honda | $1,490 – $79,999 |
| Kia | $3,980 – $79,990 |
| Mercedes Benz | $3,500 – $325,000 |
| Porsche | $8,995 – $299,990 |
| Toyota | $1,800 – $149,995 |
Note that for both TradeMe and Auto Trader, you will need to pay a listing fee for a set period. After that period ends, you have the option to renew your ad at a price as well.
If you’re selling your car on a Facebook group, there is no listing fee so this will help you save up on your expenses.
The Best Places for Selling a Car in NZ
Now that you know the price range for selling a car in NZ, let’s round up the best places for selling a car in New Zealand!
1) TradeMe
| BEST FOR | High-market visibility |
| SERVICES | Car buying |
| ADDRESS | HQ: Wellington, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Contact them here |
| AVAILABILITY | Monday – Sunday |
| PRICES | Under 10 Cars Listed within 12 months Listing Fees Classified: $9.99 – $199.99 Auction: $19.99 – $199.99 Note: Listing durations are 90 days max Renewal Fees Classified: Free – $59.99 Auction: $19.99 – $59.99 Note: Renewed listing durations are 30 days max 10 Cars or More Listed within 12 Months Listing Fees Classified: $9.99 – $349.99 Auction: $19.99 – $399.99 Note: Listing durations are 90 days max Renewal Fees Classified: $4.99 – $174.99 Auction: $99.99 – $399.99 Note: Renewed listing durations are 90 days max For more information, kindly click here |
TradeMe is an NZ-based, reliable online platform where you can sell your car. The site attracts thousands of buyers every day, which can help you make a quicker sale.
Listing your car on TradeMe is very easy. You just need to enter your licence plate, choose whether to sell by classified or auction, and supply the photos and description of your car.
A listing fee will apply depending on your asking price and how long you plan to advertise your car. There’s also a renewal fee after a 1- or 3-month period.
A cool feature is the background check in which buyers can see if your car is damaged or stolen. This allows you to establish trust with them.
And you can contact their support team 7 days a week by filling out a form on their Contact Us page and they’ll take it from there.
Pros
- Thousands of buyers daily
- Background-check feature
- Free online support
Cons
- Expensive listing fees
2) NZ Backpacker Car Buy & Sell Facebook Group
| BEST FOR | Backpacker cars |
| SERVICES | Car-buying |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Contact them here |
| AVAILABILITY | 24/7 |
| PRICES | Free listing |
Need to sell your backpacker car in NZ? You should post it on Backpacker Car Buy & Sell, one of the biggest New Zealand-based Facebook groups.
With Backpacker Car Buy & Sell, there are better chances of finding a trustworthy buyer for your vehicle. Apart from that, you won’t have to pay any listing fee at all!
But take care, don’t just set your car to the highest price or post randomly and aggressively. Chances are you will irritate other buyers and can be penalised for that.
To be safe, you have to read their terms and conditions before you post your car for sale.
Having organised, well-monitored listings and legit buyers, Backpacker Car Buy & Sell is one of the best places for selling a car in NZ.
Pros
- No listing fees
- Organised car listings
- Strict monitoring by group administrators
Cons
- Only for road-trip cars
- Lower prices
3) Sell My Car Fast
| BEST FOR | Any car model |
| SERVICES | Car-buying |
| ADDRESS | 1/19 Birmingham Road, East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 0800 909 070 [email protected] |
| PRICES | Get an appraisal for your car here |
Besides car-listing sites and FB groups, you can also start selling your car in NZ through car-buying companies. One of the best companies for this is Sell my Car Fast.
Sell My Car Fast buys cars of any year, make, and model so long it meets their requirements.
Whether you have a fuel-efficient Toyota, classic Volkswagen, powerful Ford, or luxurious Mercedes Benz, they can purchase your car.
The quoting will only take 10 minutes where you provide the details of your car like the brand, condition, and location. Also, you will need to schedule a date so that the team can come to where the car is and assess it in person.
You will have to show them your car’s title and your driver’s licence too. They can remove your car on the same day and pay you right then and there.
Pros
- Free 10-minute appraisal
- Same-day car removal
- Pays by cash or bank transfer
Cons
- Lower price offers compared to others
4) Turners
| BEST FOR | Quick cash or cheque |
| SERVICES | CashNow Trade-in Sell by auction |
| ADDRESS | New Zealand-wide |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Phone: 0800 887 637 Overseas: +64 9 525 1920 Email: [email protected] |
| OFFICE HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8.00 AM – 6.00 PM Saturday – Sunday: 9.00 AM – 5.30 PM |
| PRICES | Auction Fees include: Seller’s fee Administration fee For more details, kindly click here |
Turners is a respected Kiwi company that buys and sells vehicles including cars, motorbikes, trucks, boats, and caravans.
You can sell your car in NZ and get cash from them in 2 ways: through CashNow or auctions.
For CashNow, you need to schedule an appraisal for your car with them. If approved, you will get your cash or cheque in your bank account within 24 hours.
You can also have your car auctioned and let the market decide on what your car is worth. The buyer who bids the highest price will be the one to purchase your car.
The process will be stress-free, as the Turners staff will handle everything to put your car up for auction from promotion to ownership change.
And when you sell your car at Turners, not only will your car get exposure from the Turner website but also on major car sale websites in New Zealand!
Pros
- Hassle-free experience
- Fast cash or cheque
- Reliable customer service
Cons
- Expensive seller fees
5) Atlas Auto
| BEST FOR | Damaged or poorly maintained cars |
| SERVICES | Selling Cars, SUVs, 4WDs, Vans, Trucks, Buses, and RVs |
| ADDRESS | New Zealand-wide |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 0800 99 7000 [email protected] |
| OFFICE HOURS | Monday – Friday: 7.30 AM – 5.30 PM Saturday: 7.30 AM – 1.00 PM Sunday: closed |
| PRICES | Get an appraisal for your car here |
Worried that you can’t sell your damaged or wrecked car? Well, today’s your lucky day as Atlas Auto can buy your car regardless of its condition.
Sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, RVs, utes, and people movers—you name it and they will give you a price equivalent to its fair market value. Subject to their evaluation, of course.
They cover the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Taranaki regions. They pride themselves on arriving and removing your car on time.
What’s more, their team is readily available to support you throughout the selling process and answer any queries you may have about selling your car in NZ from Monday to Saturday.
Pros
- Simple car-sale process
- Punctual and helpful team
- Cover Waikato and the Bay of Plenty Regions
Cons
- Lower cash amount compared to private sellers
Customer Reviews
Atlas Auto delivers exceptional and hassle-free service for a lot of customers, which is why it’s one of the best companies for selling a car in NZ.
Here’s what Ronald has to say of Atlas Auto:
“I sold one of cars to Atlas. The service was outstanding. Through phone and even personally. I will highly recommend there services. I had some dealings with them in past Had the same treatment.”
Moreover, Cortez said this:
“Sold at great price. Was very happy . Good conversation. And sorted all problems fast . Do recommend.”
FAQS about Selling a Car in NZ
And that’s it for our list of the best places for selling a car in NZ! Our advice to you is to be patient in selling your car so you won’t miss out on better prices.
Do you have any questions or suggestions for us or our list? If you have one, kindly message us and we’ll check them out.
Ready to get a new car? If so, you can read about the best car finance companies in Auckland where you can get a lower rate to pay off the rest of your balance.
And in case you want to enjoy the benefits of using a credit card when buying your new car, we also have a comparison of the best credit cards in NZ.
