Out with the old and in with the new! It’s time to hand over the keys to your old car and congratulate the excited, new owner. You’ve followed the selling checklist, giving your car a deep clean, obtaining a roadworthy certificate, researching an appropriate selling price and organising the relevant paperwork. Once the deal is sealed, there are a few final housekeeping matters that need to be taken care of.

Follow the final checklist of what to remember when selling your car and enjoy a smooth and seamless private sale!

1. One final search for personal items

Even the tidiest kept cars can house random items, so be sure to double check for personal items that could be hiding, including coins, aux cords, pens, shoes etc.

You want the new owner to feel as though they’re receiving a new car! Do your best to not leave remnants of your ownership behind.

2. Prepare a receipt of sale

While it’s not a legal obligation, it’s always a good idea to keep a record of the sale. Write down the car make, model, registration number and mileage, along with the date of the transaction. Give a copy of the receipt to the buyer and keep one for your own records too.

3. Transfer the registration

This is one of the most important things to remember when selling your car! The registration of a vehicle in Queensland needs to be transferred over to the new owner within 14 days of the handover. The transfer can be done by the seller or the buyer, however we recommend ticking it off your selling checklist to guarantee it gets done within the 2 weeks. The last thing you want is the new owner’s speeding fines or parking tickets!

As a seller, you can transfer the registration online. Once you have lodged the application, the buyer can then complete the process by registering the vehicle in their name. To complete your part, you will need to obtain a few details from the buyer, including their driver’s license number, name and email address. You will also need to provide the date of sale, dutiable value and the odometer reading when completing the form.

If you are completing the registration transfer in person rather than online, you will need to fill out Part B of the vehicle registration transfer application and have the buyer sign the relevant section.

Find out more about transferring your registration in QLD on the Government website.

4. Update or cancel your insurance

Once the sale is complete, remember to give your insurance provider a call, or jump online to update or cancel your coverage. If you’ve purchased a new car, notify them of the change immediately to ensure you’re still covered on the road.

If you no longer require car insurance, cancel your policy and remove any direct debit payments.

5. Notify & update your toll payment provider

If you have an account with Linkt (the toll payment provider in QLD), be sure to update your account details online to avoid any fines. Head to the manage your account section and enter your new registration details. Completing this immediately will ensure you don’t end up paying for the buyer to get from point A to B.

Once you’ve completed what you need to do when selling your car, you can cruise the streets carefree, satisfied with the success of your personal sale! If you’re ready to sell your current car, contact the team at Cars Brisbane today or get a free quote online!