How to prepare your car before selling it
A one-afternoon checklist that makes the inspection go your way.
One afternoon, in this order
Empty it completely — boot, glovebox, door pockets, under the seats. Wash, vacuum, wipe every surface, clean the glass inside and out; the inside matters more than the outside. Check tyre pressures and top up the washer fluid. Replace anything blown or worn that costs under twenty dollars.
Photos, if you are listing it
Shoot in soft light — early morning or an overcast afternoon — with a clean background. Front three-quarter, both sides, rear, dash with the ignition on, seats, boot, odometer. Eight to twelve photos is plenty; the first one does most of the work.
The paperwork bundle
Rego papers, ID, both keys, service books, recent receipts, and the finance payout letter if there is a loan. Put it all in one folder. A seller who turns up organised gets a better offer, because the buyer's risk just went down.
Leave alone
Do not spend on paint correction, major mechanical work or accessories to sell the car. They almost never come back in the price. Honest, clean and documented beats expensively improved.
Ready for a real number?
Send your car's details to a licensed local dealer and get a no-obligation offer, usually the same day — paid by bank transfer or cash.
Sell your car in Launceston Anywhere in TasmaniaKeep reading
- How to get the best price for your used car →Cheap, honest things that move an offer up — and the expensive things that do not.
- What documents do I need to sell my car? →The short list that makes a sale take one visit instead of three.