How to Sell Your Car in New Zealand© NZPocketGuide.com
How to Sell Your Car in New Zealand

How to Sell Your Car or Campervan in New Zealand

© NZPocketGuide.com

What to Do When You Sell Your Car or Campervan in New Zealand

Selling your road trip companion? How could you?! You and your car have been through a lot together. But, there comes a time in every backpacker car’s life when it has to have the backpack removed from the trunk and the keys are handed over to a new owner. Although you may be sad to see it go, as it represents the end of your journey, at least you’ll get some cash for it!

Speaking of which, we’ll show you what you should be doing before you sell your car or campervan in New Zealand, what online and physical resources you can use to sell your car quickly, and what all-important paperwork to fill out once you have sold it.

Remember to give yourself plenty of time to sell your car in New Zealand, especially in the low seasons between March and November when there are fewer arriving backpackers looking for cars. As long as your car has a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) that is less than a month old, all fines and fees are paid for, and your car actually works, you’re sure to find a new owner who will love your backpacker car dearly.

3 Things to Do Before You Sell Your Car or Campervan

Make sure your car or campervan has the following to give it a better chance of selling:

  1. No outstanding fees
  2. Up-to-date road user charges (RUC)
  3. A WoF that is no more than one month old, however, there are exceptions – see below.

By the way, if you’re leaving New Zealand have you checked our Checklist for Leaving New Zealand?

How to Sell Your Car in New Zealand© NZPocketGuide.com

Is a Valid Warrant of Fitness (WoF) Needed to Sell a Car in New Zealand?

Legally, a buyer can insist on the WoF being less than one month old to help protect them if faults develop in the vehicle since its last WoF. On the other hand, you can sell your vehicle with a WoF that is more than one month old but you should get written confirmation from the buyer showing that they accept this. A written agreement protects you if the buyer opens a legal dispute.

What to Do When Selling a Vehicle Without a WoF

If you are selling your vehicle without a WoF (good luck), then it must be advertised for sale “as is, where is”. When you find a buyer, make sure you get the buyer to give you written confirmation that the car will not be used on the road with the exception of driving it to get repaired or for a new WoF check.

How to Sell Your Car in New Zealand© NZPocketGuide.com

Where to Sell Your Car or Campervan

Start planning how you are going to sell your car or campervan about a month in advance. We’re not joking! It can get pretty stressful when it comes to the end of your trip, your visa is running out, your flights are booked, and you still have this car to get rid of.

Take several photos of your car, inside and outside, and start putting together details to include in your “car for sale” listing.

About three weeks before you leave New Zealand, start listing your car online. Then base yourself in the same location for about two weeks before you leave to give yourself enough time to place a physical advertisement and arrange vehicle viewings with potential buyers.

These are just some places to advertise your car for sale in New Zealand:

Backpacking in New Zealand Facebook Groups

A free way to sell your car to other backpackers is through New Zealand’s backing Facebook Groups, as well as backpacker car Buy & Sell Group. Check out which groups to join in the 5 Must Join Facebook Groups for Backpackers in New Zealand.

Hostel Car Binder or Noticeboard

Ask at your hostel if they have a binder/folder with cars for sale or a noticeboard to list an advertisement on.

TradeMe.com

Although there is a fee for using the online auction website to list a vehicle, your listing is likely to reach a very wide audience, giving you a higher chance of selling your vehicle quickly. For more websites that might be useful to you, see Useful Websites for a Working Holiday and Backpacking in New Zealand.

A Sign in Your Car or Camper

Have a sign clearly visible in your car saying “For Sale” with the car details, price and contact phone number. This is not the most reliable method of attracting buyers, but you might get lucky. Plus, if you’re going to park your car in a public place, make sure you check the city by-laws so you know where you can and cannot park your car with a “For Sale” sign.

Car or Campervan Buying Companies

We suggest this option if you are out of options. If you have no time left to sell your car using the other methods then there are car buying companies who buy any car in any condition. However, you’re not likely to get a good price.

More Places to Sell Your Car or Campervan in New Zealand

It may seem obvious, but the best places to sell cars or campervans in New Zealand are the same as those we recommend in where to buy vehicles in New Zealand. Therefore, it’s worth a browse of How to Find Used Cars (& Campers) for Sale in New Zealand to see suggestions from the buyer’s perspective.

Pro Tip: Do You Know About Buyback Schemes in New Zealand?

If you want to make the most of your time in New Zealand and spending a week or two trying to sell your car at the end of your trip is not your ideal idea of a perfect ending to your gap year, consider buying a car through professional sellers that offer a buyback option. This means that you both agree on a price to sell the car back to the seller, which makes the whole process below obsolete; just drive back the car to your seller, go through the inspection, and get paid in hours.

© NZ Transport Agency

The Paperwork for Selling a Vehicle: How to Change the Ownership of a Car or Campervan You Have Sold

Found a buyer? Awesome! Now it is in your interest, as well as the buyer’s, to fill out some forms to change the ownership of the vehicle. This is to make sure that you don’t receive any nasty fines like speed camera fines, parking tickets, toll road fees, vehicle licensing fees, fines for not displaying a valid Warrant of Fitness (WoF), and fines for not displaying a current licensing label.

As soon as you sell the vehicle, both you and the buyer should fill out the forms on the day. This makes it easier to complete the forms, as you will be needing each others’ details.

As the seller, you should complete the MR13A form. The buyer should complete the MR13B form. You can either complete these forms online at the New Zealand Transport Agency website or pick up and complete the forms at an NZ Post Shop, AA, VINZ or VTNZ office. Filling out the form on paper and handing it to one of the offices mentioned is the best option if you don’t have a New Zealand driver’s license because you can present your overseas or international driver’s license to the office. However, it is possible to complete the form online if you do have an NZ driver’s license.

What Do You Need to Complete the Change of Ownership Form for Vehicles in New Zealand (as the Seller)?

For the MR13A form (seller’s form) you will need:

  • A valid driver’s license
  • The vehicle’s plate number
  • The full name and address of the person or company to that you are selling the vehicle.

Finally! Your car is sold and you can move on with your life.

More on How to Sell a Car or Campervan in New Zealand

That’s it for our guide on how to sell a car or campervan in New Zealand. Although we are sad to see you go, we still have a few articles to help you with your onwards journey.

Finally, if you need more of a to-do list for leaving New Zealand, see our Checklist for Leaving New Zealand.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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