I will sell the car in VIK

Each state and territory in Australia has its own unique rules and regulations regarding the sale of used vehicles.

Selling a car in Victoria is very easy if you follow a few applicable rules. Do this and the process will run smoothly, ignore them and you could end up in a nightmare and be legally liable for someone else's traffic tickets.

Get a serviceable

You need to obtain a valid RWC (RWC), known in the state of Victoria as a RWC. This is required before the used car registration can be transferred to a new owner.

Roadworthiness certifications can only be obtained from a tester authorized by VicRoads for this purpose. To find out where authorized roadworthiness testers are located near you, contact VicRoads either on their website or at one of their statewide offices. You can also identify an accredited tester by the VicRoads sign, which is usually posted outside the workshop.

The only cases where a roadworthiness certificate is not required is when you transfer ownership to a spouse or partner, a licensed car dealer, or if the car is not registered. In the latter case, license plates must be returned to VicRoads. Do not rely on the buyer, remove the license plates before you return the car and put them on yourself.

It is possible to have a deal where the buyer agrees to receive a certificate and the registration will be suspended until the roadworthiness certificate is received, but this is not a good idea if you do not know the buyer and cannot be absolutely sure that he will fulfill his obligations. legal requirements, including notifying VicRoads of a change of ownership within 14 days. Even so, it is not recommended.

The Victorian Certificate of Airworthiness remains valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

How much does an inspection cost?

The cost of the Victorian RWC is not fixed, as it used to be; the industry was deregulated years ago, allowing individual testers to charge whatever fee they chose. this may depend on the age, type and condition of the vehicle being tested. 

It's a good idea to find the best deal, but usually the fee will be between $150 and $200 for a car with no defects.

The cost of checking a car that has defects or for some unknown reason may be more.

Keep in mind that testers now need to remove more parts from the car to test it against the latest VicRoads guidelines, as well as take photos of the car in their workshop as proof that the test was legal. Not surprisingly, the cost of a roadworthiness certificate has skyrocketed in recent years.

Why get serviceable?

In order to transfer a used car registration to a new owner, VicRoads requires a valid registration certificate, but does not specify who should receive it.

But the main reason why you should get the certification yourself before putting the car up for sale is because it demonstrates to potential buyers that they won't have to spend more on roadworthiness checks and possible repairs after they've bought it. automobile.

That being said, it is important to remember that RWC is not an assessment of the quality or overall condition of a vehicle: it is simply a test of the vehicle's basic safety features.

By allowing the buyer to obtain a roadworthiness certificate, you are also potentially liable for any parking fines or driving violations that may be incurred while the vehicle is still legally registered in your name.

Sale of a vehicle registered as decommissioned

If your vehicle has previously been damaged in an accident or other incident (flood, hail, etc.), it may have been placed on one of the state or territory's retired vehicle registries, also known as WOVR. This does not necessarily mean that the vehicle cannot be registered again, but it will cause alarm for buyers who have done their homework. As a result, the resale value of such vehicles is often much lower.

As a seller, it is your responsibility to tell the buyer whether the vehicle you are selling is registered with the scrapped vehicle registry in Victoria or any other Australian state or territory.

Make documents

In order to transfer ownership of a used car in Victoria, both the seller and the buyer must complete an Application to Transfer Registration form, which can be downloaded from the VicRoads website or obtained from a VicRoads office. 

If you are a seller, you must complete the "Seller" section of the form, which asks for your details, details about your vehicle, and details of the vehicle's roadworthiness certificate.

The form also includes a handy pre-translation checklist to make sure you don't miss any details.

Keep a copy of the original transfer form and give the original to the buyer.

You must also provide the buyer with a vehicle receipt that confirms the sale and includes the sale price, your name, the buyer's name, and vehicle identification information such as registration number, VIN number, or engine number.

While it is the buyer's responsibility to notify VicRoads of a change of ownership, you can protect yourself by issuing this notice as a seller. You may create a personal account on the VicRoads website and use this portal to notify you of the details of the change. This eliminates any possibility that the new owner's carelessness with the car will reflect on you.

How much is my car worth?

Before putting up a car for sale, it is necessary to determine its market value. This way you don't deprive yourself of opportunities to sell by setting too high a price, or fool yourself by setting too low a price.

A good way to get your price is to find advertised cars similar to yours and use those prices as a guide, adjusting for things like miles driven, general condition, and options installed.

But be aware that the prices some people ask for cars are not exactly reflected in the prices actually paid in a very volatile open market.

Preparing a car for sale

A little planning can make selling your car a lot easier. Presentation is key, so thoroughly clean your car inside and out and remove all personal items before putting it up for sale. Touch up any small chips, scratches or stains, inflate the tires to the recommended pressure and provide the customer with the service book and title deeds for inspection.

How and where you photograph the car for advertising is also important. Try to get a crisp, clean background and make sure you're filming the car from all angles.

The wording of the ad is also critical. Be sure to mention miles driven, general condition, options, and even basic things like manual or automatic transmissions.

You will be surprised to learn that many ads are missing these basic details and potential buyers just scroll through them.