NZ$75
avg fee saved
vs Trade Me Motors basic listing
1–3 wks
typical time to sell
mainstream NZ private sale
0%
commission, ever
whatever you sell it for, you keep
New Zealand's used car market is dominated by a single platform — Trade Me — to a degree unusual even by global standards. But alternatives exist, and combining platforms maximises your exposure. Here's the full picture.
Upfront listing fee — New Zealand
| Upfront fee | Commission | Avg time to sell | Buyer trust | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Me Motors | NZ$50–99 | ✗ | 7–14 days | High |
| AutoTrader NZ | ✓ | ✗ | 14–28 days | Medium |
| Facebook Marketplace | ✓ | ✗ | 7–28 days | Low |
| Car Spot | Free 30 days | ✗ | 7–14 days | High |
Trade Me Motors
- Upfront fee
- NZ$50–99
- Commission
- ✗
- Avg time to sell
- 7–14 days
- Buyer trust
- High
AutoTrader NZ
- Upfront fee
- ✓
- Commission
- ✗
- Avg time to sell
- 14–28 days
- Buyer trust
- Medium
Facebook Marketplace
- Upfront fee
- ✓
- Commission
- ✗
- Avg time to sell
- 7–28 days
- Buyer trust
- Low
Car Spot
- Upfront fee
- Free 30 days
- Commission
- ✗
- Avg time to sell
- 7–14 days
- Buyer trust
- High
Trade Me Motors – The Undeniable Leader
Trade Me Motors attracts the vast majority of NZ car buyers. If you list nowhere else, list here. Listing fees apply (currently in the range of NZD 50–99 depending on vehicle value and listing type), but the buyer reach is unmatched.
- Audience: Largest buyer pool in NZ — both private and trade buyers.
- Cost: Listing fee applies; featured options available.
- PPSR check: Buyers can run a PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check directly from a Trade Me listing — be prepared for this.
- Tip: Upgrade to a featured listing for high-value or slow-moving vehicles.
Facebook Marketplace – Free and Effective for Cheap Cars
Facebook Marketplace is free and works well for vehicles under NZD 15,000. For higher-value cars, Trade Me tends to attract more serious buyers, but Facebook is a useful free supplement.
AutoTrader NZ – Smaller Audience
AutoTrader NZ is smaller than Trade Me but attracts dedicated car buyers. Worth considering for additional free exposure.
car-spot – Free Listing, AI-Built Description
car-spot is free to list with no commission on the sale. A straightforward addition to your platform mix — every buyer you reach on car-spot is at zero cost.
- Genuinely free: 30-day listing at no cost. Extend for 14 days at $9.99 or 30 days at $14.99 only if needed.
- AI Vehicle Specification Assistant: Fills in missing specs from your plate or VIN automatically.
- Photos in the right order: AI Photo Classification arranges your shots optimally.
- Track where enquiries come from: Unique Platform-Specific Share Links for Trade Me, Facebook, and forums.
- Privacy protected: Your phone number and email are never publicly displayed.
Free for 30 days · No card required · 2 minutes to go live
Pick the right platform — a 60-second decision checklist
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