How to get the most value for your car

The time has come to sell the old girl and upgrade to something newer. Hmm...Where do you start?. Selling your car can seem like a stressful process but it doesn't need to be, if you're in the process of selling/upgrading your current car then you've come to the right place. We are gonna break down the process for you and explain the differences between selling privately or to a dealer so you can ensure you're getting the most money for your current car.

How much is your car worth?

First things first before we go into the process of trying to sell your car you must determine what your car is worth. There are many factors to consider to determine to true value of your car such as:

  • Vehicle age
  • Kilometers travelled
  • Service/mechanical history
  • Ownership history
  • Model variants
  • Exterior body work and paint condition
  • Interior trim levels and condition
  • Engine and drivetrain condition
  • Suspension and underbody condition

A great way to determine a ballpark value for your car would be to do an online search. Jump on trade me and in the search box look for a vehicle within the same make, mode, year, body type, transmission and fuel type and see what comes up. Look at the results similar to your car showing similar condition and KMS travelled. This will give you an indication on what you could potentially sell for, however you must keep in mind unless you are a car dealer you can't compare yourself to one. A car dealer can always ask more for a car as they have to put some sort of guarantee or warranty on the cars they sell. If anything happens to a car they sell it will fall under the consumer guarantees act which at times means they will have to repair the car at their expense. The consumer guarantee act generally does not apply to private sellers such as you.

Alternatively you could get your vehicle appraised by a third party, this can be done at most local car dealers these days but you need to be careful as to who you choose as most of these dealers that appraise the car are generally looking at buying your car to sell, so the offer put forward might be a trade value and not retail. A good tip if you're looking at getting your vehicle appraised is to go to a few different places for comparison or book in a free vehicle appraisal with Smpl Kiwi here :https://www.smplkiwi.co.nz/products/appraise-my-car. We don't buy cars directly from our clients as we are not car dealers so we let you know the true value of your car, both trade and retail prices.

Understanding the difference between trade and retail (selling to a dealer or privately) 

Now that we have an idea of what your car is worth we need to look at the options of where you could potentially sell your car. In this section we will cover the differences between selling to dealers or selling privately. 

Firstly let's look at selling to a dealer or trading in for your new car and settling the difference with cash or finance. One thing that's really important to understand is if you're willing to sell to a dealer or trade in for your new car then be prepared to take a lower price for your car, keeping in mind when a dealer takes on your car they need to spend the money to get it ready. They need to hold money in the car to allow for price drops in the market and for any unforeseen repairs which may occur, even a dealer doesn't know how long it may take to sell the car. A dealer will base their offer on current market reports and any internal reports they may have access to. So if a car is worth 20k they may put an offer forward of 14k  less any repairs needed, meaning if your car needs $1k in repairs then the final price given could be 13k.

Now let's look at selling privately (retail sale). Selling your car privately is the best way to get the most money back for your car, however it is up to you to ensure what you are selling is worth the money you're selling it for. This process can take some time but if you aren't in a rush to sell then this can be the best option for you. Being upfront and honest about your vehicle as the seller will help increase the chances of a sale and allowing buyers to carry out mechanical inspections on your vehicle will build confidence around the purchase. Let's look at an example on a possible outcome, please note the example provided is for reference purposes only.

We have a 2010 Toyota Highlander, we have established the retail value for this vehicle is $19990 (sold through a dealer network). A trade value if sold to a dealer could be $14000 less any repairs needed (this is a quick cash out option). Now if we list this vehicle a private sale for lets say $19500 ONO and no work is needed you may just get a buyer come along and offers you $19000, that's an extra 5k in your pocket, even if they put a lower offer, lets say 17k that is still a extra 3k in your pocket.

If you think a private sale is the best option for you then let jump in to the next step, or if you're looking at selling to a dealer you may still want to carry out the next step to get the most returns from a dealer. 

Preparing your car for sale

To maximize returns for your car it's always a good idea to get it spruced up before putting it up for sale. Have a good walk around your car and note down any dents, dings or scratches, also look at the interior condition and note down any defects. Being upfront about the minor details will set the expectation to the buyer well before they decide to view or test drive your car. Go through this checklist to ensure everything is in check.

  • Make notes or exterior condition - consider getting repairs in you feel it may affect the price significantly
  • Make notes of interior condition
  • Wash, wax and vacuum the car and wipe down all trims and windows (a good option might be to get the car fully detailed by a professional)
  • Take photos of you car once detailed - Find a suitable location to take clear photos, take as many as possible and point out any defects
  • Check your WOF and service dates - Might pay to get the vehicle serviced or WOF updated in needed
  • Compile your vehicles history - Having service and maintenance records for your car will help with the sale and show the buyer that the vehicle has been well maintained by you
  • List your vehicle for sale - Listing your vehicle on several platforms can increase the chances of a sale, free options such as FB marketplace or parking the car in a prominent place on the side of the road works well. Use paid options such as trade me if needed.
  • Listing details - The details of your listing is key, make the car sound appealing to others, and providing as much information as possible will prevent silly questions being asked. Your listing must include:
    • Vehicle year
    • Make and model
    • Kilometers travelled
    • Expected price
    • Clear photos
    • Vehicle features (This is everything your vehicle is equipped with such as leather, heated seats, 4WD and note any accessories fitted such as tow bar, roof racks or stereo units)
    • Vehicle description noting the condition, ownership and maintenance history
    • Use keywords to draw in attention (This is anything to make your car stand out from the rest such as NZ New, One owner, Low mileage
    • Provide your details so you can be easily reached by a potential buyer

Now we have covered all aspects of selling your car we must note when you have a potential buyer it is always a good idea to go with them for a test drive so you can answer any questions and when accepting payment it is always a good idea to ask for cash, or make sure you have received all the funds and carry out a change of ownership before you release the car to the new owner. Allowing potential buyers to purchase through a finance option can also increase the chances of sale.


If you have any questions or require further assistance with the process then we will be more than happy to help. We can help with all of the following:

If your looking for something not listed above then you can reach us on our contact page here: https://www.smplkiwi.co.nz/pages/contact-us or leave a comment below and we will get back to you.


Happy Cruising.

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