Short answer: Yes, in most cases. A registered car is ready to be driven, and there is a premium price to purchase one of these cars. While it might not be mechanically weaker, an unregistered car will be listed for sale at a lower price as the buyer takes on additional paperwork, inspection costs, and even possible transport problems. The lucky part of this is that the gap is reduced significantly, if not eliminated, when you’re selling to a car removal or cash for cars dealer rather than a private person.
Let’s break down how and what it means in terms of your wallet.
A Real Situation: A Story of Dave’s Unregistered Commodore
It’s been nearly eight months since one of our regular callers, Dave from Salisbury, had a 2009 Holden Commodore parked in his driveway. His registration was up to date when the car wasn’t on the road because he never did the work. When Dave finally attempted to sell it privately, he found it hard, like for most people, to get any buyers to ask him, “How do I even get to drive it home?”
He lowered his price twice and still received little to no interest. Dave didn’t know that most private buyers completely turn a blind eye to unregistered cars, not because the car is a bad car, but because getting it re-registered in SA involves an inspection, paying fees, and sometimes paying for owning a car with a problem that needs repair just to get to the inspection. For an 11-year-old sedan, not so much.
When Dave decided not to list the car privately and called a car removal service, things turned upside down. He did not have to place an ID card or plug anything; they came to him. Everything came to him without him having to sign anything, tune anything, or arrange any transportation. The Commodore was picked up within a day, and he was paid cash on the spot. It’s not unusual; his story is that that’s the norm in Adelaide if you’re selling your car without any paperwork.
Why Registered Cars Usually Sell for More
In the private sphere, if the registration is not available, the final effect is a change in the buying experience. Experience affects the price when you’re selling privately.
With the car’s current rego (registration) on board, and a valid Compulsory Third Party (C.T.P.) insurance policy (cars with insurance available), a driver can be immediately removed from the road on the same day. The buyer doesn’t need to hand over paperwork before operating it, and nobody will be in danger of fines if the most important person drives it home. This convenience is a substantial cost to most private buyers, so that’s usually part of registered cars’ resale value that makes it reasonably higher, sometimes extremely higher, maybe even for similarly mechanically sound cars.
Flip turns that equation when it comes to an unregistered car. The buyer will either have to pay for an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (UVP), which will allow the vehicle to be moved legally, or they will need to hire a tow truck or a trailer to get it home. So it can mean several hundred dollars for South Australians if the car is not registered, even if it is being driven or parked on a public road without a permit. Drivers and car owners in South Australia do not like to see unregistered cars on public streets without a permit, so they are careful. In addition, if the car has sat on the street for a protracted period of time, it could potentially require a change of ownership inspection prior to hitting the road, further adding time, cost, and uncertainty to the sale.
To summarize: registered cars are now ready; unregistered cars are more difficult to get ready and are meant to be ready eventually. This means that a buyer can gain this without spending as much money, when compared to “now and forever.”
What’s Closing the Divide?
This is something many retailers don’t know: Registration status is not quite as significant when the car doesn’t ever have to go back on the roads.
If your car is perhaps worn down, injured, or perhaps not roadworthy, the buyer base is not just made up of private drivers, but also wreckers, parts buyers, and car elimination firms. These buyers are interested in parts, metal, and components, not how fast they can take the car out of the dealership. In that market:
- There was very little difference in the offers received by those who were registered versus those that weren’t.
- Price is more important than for a private sale, but not as important as it is on a roadshow.
- No permit, tow, or inspection is required on your part.
- The sale of “as is” is a matter of complete normality and expectation.
This is one of the reasons why a lot of South Australians who do not register their car opt to sell their car privately. You can sell an unregistered vehicle in South Australia as long as its owner can be identified, and you do not have to re-register the vehicle or make any repairs before the vehicle is sold. After they have removed and/or sold the vehicle with a Notice of Disposal issued by Service SA, it is not your responsibility after pickup; it’s the buyer’s!
Conditions Under Which It Is Not Necessarily Best to Register for a program
Going through the process of re-registering an old or unwanted car can actually cost you more than the car itself, when you take factors such as inspection fees, outstanding fines, registration, insurance, and repairs needed to get the car to pass the Reid Test into account. That investment usually doesn’t end up being worth it for a car that is about to be replaced.
If your vehicle matches one or more of the descriptions below, it’s generally more rapid and lucrative to sell it straight off the lot to a moving company:
- This has been unused for months or years.
- It passed, or passed but only halfway, a roadworthiness test, or would not pass a roadworthiness test if it were conducted.
- The cost to repair would be greater than the car is worth.
- You don’t want to deal with moving it, just want it off your property!
In these cases, registering for a higher “registered” price by paying to re-register first makes little to no sense. You’d be buying something that you might end up not having in a hurry after spending money trying to get a little money back!
How Do Adelaide Cash for Cars Dealers Deal with This?
The best car removals Adelaide are all about this issue. Reputable buyers would not ask for the car to be registered, even to be repaired or cleaned, before they will even look at its worth. They tell you the make, model, age, and condition, then quote you based on those factors, and then they tow it within a day or 2.
That’s also why unregistered car removal in Adelaide has become a more popular avenue for the deal to go through, either with owners selling older cars or cars in poor condition. It takes out all the obstacles that made Dave’s private sale so challenging: no hesitation from potential buyers, no permits to organize, and no waiting weeks for the “right” buyer to show up.
When you have to make a decision whether it’s time to re-register an old car or just sell it as is, you should try to get more information about it before you commit to anything. Often, it’s a number alone that makes the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an unregistered car sell for less than a registered one?
Generally yes, in the private market, because the buyer has to arrange a permit or transport before they can legally drive it. The gap is much smaller, or irrelevant, when selling to a wrecker or car removal company instead.
Can I legally sell an unregistered car in South Australia?
Yes. You can sell an unregistered vehicle as long as you can prove ownership. You’ll need to lodge a Notice of Disposal with Service SA after the sale, and the buyer is responsible for registering the vehicle if they plan to drive it.
Do I need a roadworthy certificate to sell my car in SA?
No. South Australia doesn’t require a roadworthy certificate for private car sales, and it’s not needed when selling to a car removal or wrecking company either.
Is it worth re-registering my car before selling it?
Usually not, if the car is older or in poor condition. Registration, inspection, and repair costs can easily exceed the extra amount you’d get from a buyer, especially if you’re planning to scrap or remove the car rather than keep it on the road.
How fast can an unregistered car be picked up in Adelaide?
Most car removal Adelaide services can arrange same-day or next-day pickup once you accept a quote, regardless of the vehicle’s registration status.
Get Cash for Your Unregistered Car Today
Thinking of selling your unregistered car? Skip the permits, the paperwork stress, and the waiting game. Call Ezi Metal Recycling today on 0431 733 102, email sales@ezimetalrecycling.com.au, or request a free quote online to have your car picked up with cash in hand in as little as 24 hours!
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