Tips to get your car sold

Before you list your car for sale, or approach a car broker or dealer or put your vehicle up for auction, make sure that it is presented in the best light possible in order to attract the best price possible.

Here are some things that you can do in order to ensure that your vehicle has maximum appeal for a buyer:

Consider having your car detailed by a professional. This should cost only a few hundred dollars and save you a considerable amount of time and effort doing it yourself. If you decide to clean the car yourself, make sure that you do a thorough job, and don’t forget to clean those hard to reach areas.

Make sure that there are no loose objects in the car, that can rattle around and look untidy.

The smell of cigarette smoke inside your vehicle could be very off-putting to a prospective buyer. Do remember to clean the ashtray and lighter and get put a deodoriser in the vehicle for a few days, or as long as it takes for the smell to be neutralised. Don’t forget to remove the deodoriser when you show the car to prospective buyers.

Give the car a good wash and polish. Don’t forget the wheels, windows and all trim. Wash and polish the exterior including the wheels, windows and all chrome or stainless trim. Make sure that there is no polish residue left on the body once you are done.

It is best to sell your car after a service, or well before the next service is due, so that a prospective buyer doesn’t have the impression that you are trying to offload a vehicle that has something wrong with it.

Make an effort to indicate that you have maintained your vehicle well – ensure that the windscreen washer reservoir and radiator are topped up to the marks and that the tyres are at the correct pressure. Don’t forget about the spare wheel as well. Also make sure that you have the car’s service book available so that a potential buyer can see that regular services have been done.

Have the car’s current registration papers readily available.

If you still owe money on the vehicle to the finance house, contact them to find out what your obligations are in terms of settling the outstanding balance, and what process to follow in order to do this.

Finally, you could consider investing in a vehicle history report. There are several online services that can provide this service in Australia.

If you are looking to sell your car, then get in touch with the team at Carbiz!

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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.

1 August 2017