24–72h
instant buyer sale
Turners / dealer — 10–20% below market
1–2 weeks
private sale (priced well)
Trade Me + Car Spot combo
0%
commission on Car Spot
whatever you sell it for, you keep
New Zealand's used car market is relatively compact — your buyer pool is smaller than in Australia or the UK. Getting price and presentation right is essential for a fast sale.
Price at Market Using Trade Me Data
Search Trade Me Motors for your make, model, year, and odometer range. Look at recently listed cars — not those that have sat for weeks. Price at the lower end of active comparable listings for a sale in under two weeks.
| Speed | Price achieved | Effort | Documentation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turners Auctions (instant) | 24–72h | 80–90% of market | Minimal | Handled by buyer |
| Private sale (priced sharp) | 1–2 weeks | 95–100% of market | Medium | You handle WOF / transfer |
| Private sale (priced high) | 3–8 weeks | 100%+ of market | Medium — patience | You handle WOF / transfer |
| Dealer trade-in | Same-day | 70–80% of market | None | Handled by dealer |
Turners Auctions (instant)
- Speed
- 24–72h
- Price achieved
- 80–90% of market
- Effort
- Minimal
- Documentation
- Handled by buyer
Private sale (priced sharp)
- Speed
- 1–2 weeks
- Price achieved
- 95–100% of market
- Effort
- Medium
- Documentation
- You handle WOF / transfer
Private sale (priced high)
- Speed
- 3–8 weeks
- Price achieved
- 100%+ of market
- Effort
- Medium — patience
- Documentation
- You handle WOF / transfer
Dealer trade-in
- Speed
- Same-day
- Price achieved
- 70–80% of market
- Effort
- None
- Documentation
- Handled by dealer
Have a Current WOF and PPSR Report
- Current Warrant of Fitness: The single biggest trust signal for NZ buyers. Renew before listing if within 3 months of expiry.
- Clean PPSR report: No finance encumbrance is a strong selling point — share it proactively in your listing.
- Registration current: An expired rego is an instant red flag.
- Service history organised: Even a partial logbook beats a disorganised pile of receipts.
First Impressions: Photos and Description
Take Great Photos
- Wash and detail the car, including the wheels and windows.
- Shoot in the morning on a clear day — NZ light is fantastic for car photography.
- Include at least 12–15 photos: all exterior angles, interior, dashboard, boot, engine bay.
- Disclose any imperfections honestly — saves wasted test drives.
Write a Clear Listing
- Lead with low km, full service history, or one-owner where applicable.
- State the exact trim and key features (NZ buyers search by spec).
- Mention WOF and rego expiry — buyers ask anyway.
- Be upfront about known issues.
The Multi-Platform Approach
- Trade Me Motors: Essential — Trade Me dominates NZ car sales. NZD 50–99 listing fee.
- Facebook Marketplace: Free, useful for cars under NZD 15,000.
- AutoTrader NZ: Smaller free supplement.
- Car Spot: Free for 30 days with AI-built descriptions and per-channel tracking.
Free for 30 days · AI description in one click · No card required
Speed-prep checklist
7 items
