Best Time to Sell Your Car in Australia
The best time to sell a car in Australia is late spring to early summer (October–December) when dealer demand and buyer traffic peak, followed by the pre-EOFY window in May–June.
Timing your sale right can mean thousands of extra dollars. Below is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of the Australian car market, plus tips to maximise your return.
Seasonal Demand Calendar
January – March
High DemandNew year motivation drives strong buyer demand. Tax return season begins. Great time to sell SUVs and family cars as people plan for the year ahead.
→ Excellent time to sell
April – June
High DemandEnd of financial year (EOFY) is one of the best windows. Dealers need stock for tax write-offs, and buyers chase EOFY deals. 4WDs and utes surge before winter holidays.
→ Peak selling period
July – September
Moderate DemandQuieter period as buyers recover from EOFY spending. However, new model releases create trade-in demand. Convertibles and sports cars slow down in winter.
→ Good for popular models
October – December
High DemandSpring brings renewed buyer confidence. Dealers stock up for Christmas and new year demand. Convertibles and sports cars pick up. Strong finish to the year.
→ Strong selling period
Other Factors That Affect Timing
Kilometre Milestones
Selling before 100,000km or 150,000km can significantly boost your price. Buyers psychologically value lower round numbers.
New Model Releases
When a new model generation is announced, the previous generation loses value. Sell before the launch if you can.
Registration Timing
Selling with 6+ months of rego remaining makes your car more attractive. Buyers factor in rego costs.
Service History
Getting your next scheduled service done before selling adds more value than it costs. A fresh service log entry builds trust.
The Bottom Line
While timing matters, the biggest factor in getting a good price is how many buyers see your car. A car listed with one dealer will always get less than one shown to multiple competing dealers. That's exactly what the Motorly platform does — connecting you with verified buyers regardless of timing.