Selling your used EV in Australia: paperwork, pricing and getting paid safely

Selling an EV privately usually gets you thousands more than a trade-in. It also means the paperwork, the pricing and the payment are on you. Here is the order to do it in.

1. Clear any finance first

If there is a loan or novated lease on the car, it is listed on the PPSR against the VIN, and any careful buyer will find it. Get a payout figure from your lender before you list, and plan to pay it out on or before the day of sale. A buyer can't safely take a car that still has money owing on it.

2. Get the battery's health on paper

Battery health is the first question every used-EV buyer asks. A number from the car's own screen helps; an independent report helps a lot more. See getting a battery health report before you sell. On eRideList you can attach the report to your ad privately and choose which buyers can see it.

3. Price it against what is actually for sale

Look at the same make, model and year with similar kilometres. Our EVs by make pages show what is listed right now. Battery health, remaining battery warranty, the charging cable and a home charger all justify asking a bit more; say so in the ad.

4. Write the ad properly

Fill in every spec field (year, kilometres, range, battery size, battery health), because buyers filter on them. Take 10 to 20 photos in daylight and cover or blur the number plate. Our guide to writing an ad that sells goes through it step by step.

5. Know your state's transfer rules

• NSW: lodge a notice of disposal with Service NSW within 14 days of the sale. Don't sign any transfer paperwork until you have been paid.
• VIC: most vehicles need a roadworthy certificate (valid for 30 days) to hand to the buyer. Tell VicRoads within 14 days, easiest through a notice of disposal in myVicRoads.
• QLD: give the buyer a current safety certificate. Both of you sign the transfer form (F3520); the buyer lodges it within 14 days and you keep your part until the rego is out of your name.

Other states have similar steps; check your state's transport website. Until the transfer goes through, fines and tolls can still come to you, so remove your toll tag and cancel any rego direct debit on the day.

6. Take payment safely

• Only hand over keys once the money is cleared in your account.
• Be wary of buyers who want to pay more than the price, use an "agent" or courier, or send a payment link. Our common scams page lists the usual tricks.
• Meet in daylight, and go along on any test drive.
• Give a written receipt with the VIN, price, date and both names.

7. Hand over everything

Both keys or cards, the charging cable, service records, the warranty booklet and any battery report. Log the car out of your phone app and remove it from your account, or the next owner can't connect it to theirs.

Ready? Post your EV free on eRideList.