Improving the resale value of your car

The best way to ensure that you will eventually get the best possible resale value for your car, is to keep it well maintained. Ensure that you service your vehicle on time, and that the service books are kept up to date. Also avoid excessive kilometres – anything over 30 000 km per year for a large car or SUV, or 20 000 km per year for a small, sports or prestige car will negatively affect your potential resale value. If possible, try to sell your vehicle before reaching 100 000 km or just before the end of
the new-car factory backed warranty expires, as this can give the buyer peace of mind.

Another thing to consider, if you are buying a new car and want to ensure that your resale value is protected as far as possible, is the colour of the vehicle. Avoid loud or fashionable colours – stick to the basics. A purple or pink car could be worth a lot less than an identical model in a more
conservative colour.

Also, if you are buying a new vehicle, try to avoid optional equipment – rather go for the next model in the range which will have a higher book value. Buyers will normally ignore those additions that are not visible, so, if you must, go for extra items that will be hard to miss, such as alloy wheels, spoilers or a sunroof. Having said this, be careful about adding a sunroof to a regular family car as this probably won’t add anything to the potential resale value, while if the vehicle is a BMW or Mercedes Benz, it would be expected.

Don’t allow anyone to smoke in your car! The smell of smoke is virtually impossible to eradicate in a vehicle. There are many buyers who will not consider buying a smoker’s car, and will not even view such a vehicle.

Another big deterrent is the presence of animal hair in a vehicle. Animal hair is very difficult to remove, even with an industrial vacuum cleaner.
When the time comes to sell your vehicle, remember that holiday months such as December/January and April could be a bad tine to sell. If your car is a convertible, rather put the car up for sale in summer.

For current selling options, explore selling your car with Carbiz or contact the Carbiz team about your vehicle.

Back to News

You may find these interesting

What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Coming back to find your parked car damaged is never fun, but knowing how to respond correctly can save you time, money and stress.

Firstly, understand that getting upset is natural, but taking a deep breath will help you make better decisions. Examine your car thoroughly and document any visible damage, taking multiple photos from different angles, including close-ups of dents, scratches or broken parts, and capturing the surrounding area, such as road signs and markings, for context.

Next, see if you can locate the driver responsible. Sometimes, people leave a note with their contact information and insurance details. If there’s no note, look for witnesses nearby who may have seen what happened. You can also check for CCTV from nearby businesses, homes or on the street, as some areas have coverage. If you’re unsure, consider contacting the local council to find out whether cameras are in place that might have captured the accident.

If the driver didn’t leave a note, or if they did but are unresponsive or the information they provided seems incorrect, contact the police to report the accident and provide all the information you have, including photos, footage and witness statements. Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it can be useful when dealing with insurance.

If you’re still having a hard time getting a hold of the at-fault driver and therefore cannot claim directly through their car insurer, it’s time to lodge a claim with your own insurance provider, if you have one. Provide them with as much information as possible, including the police report. From there, your insurer can determine whether your coverage, along with the information you have, will cover the damage to your car.

If your car insurer happens to find information about the at-fault driver and is able to have them lodge a claim so the costs of the damage are recoverable, you can contact Carbiz for a replacement car while your car is being repaired or until it’s been deemed a total loss. This ensures you’re not left without a car during this time, giving you peace of mind and the ability to keep your life moving.

For help organising your next steps, read our car accident insurance claim checklist and explore accident replacement vehicle options.

What It Means When Your Car Is Declared A Write-Off After An Accident

Updated 6 October 2026.

When an insurer declares a car a write-off, it has assessed the vehicle as a total loss under the policy. The damage may make repairs unsafe, or the cost of repairing the car may make a repair uneconomical. A write-off does not always mean the car is visibly destroyed.

How is a write-off decision made?

The assessment can take account of the vehicle's value, repair costs, salvage value and the policy terms. There is no single repair-cost percentage that determines every write-off across Australia. Ask the insurer for its assessment and the basis for its decision.

A total-loss insurance decision and a vehicle's written-off registration category are related but different matters. Whether a car can return to the road depends on the damage classification and the rules of the relevant state or territory.

Statutory and repairable write-offs

Statutory write-off: the vehicle meets specified damage criteria and cannot be re-registered for road use.
Repairable write-off: repairs may be technically possible, but the vehicle has been assessed as uneconomical to repair. This label does not itself authorise repairs or guarantee re-registration.

Requirements vary across Australia. In NSW, an eligible written-off light vehicle needs an Authorisation to Repair from Transport for NSW before work begins. Only limited applications are considered, and vehicles with statutory write-off damage are excluded. Approval, compliant repairs and the required inspections are separate steps.

What happens to your insurance payout?

The settlement depends on your cover and circumstances. It may be based on an agreed value, a market value or a replacement-vehicle benefit if your policy provides one. An excess, outstanding premium or finance arrangements may affect the amount you receive. Ask for a written breakdown before accepting the settlement.

Keep the assessment, photographs, policy documents and correspondence together. If you disagree with the valuation, provide relevant evidence and use the insurer's complaints process. See AAMI's explanation of total-loss claims for an insurer's example; your own policy determines your cover.

Getting around after a not-at-fault accident

If you need a replacement vehicle, tell Carbiz that your car has been declared a write-off. Eligibility, vehicle availability, the hire period and the terms of the agreement need to be confirmed for your circumstances. A write-off does not automatically entitle everyone to unlimited hire.

Contact Carbiz to discuss your accident replacement vehicle options. For a practical checklist, read what to do after receiving a write-off decision.

3 August 2017