Last updated: October 2026
For many older people, the car is not just transport. It is independence, routine and a link to friends, shops and appointments. So when a family starts to worry about a parent’s driving, selling the car is rarely just a paperwork job. This guide is for sons, daughters and carers in Victoria who are helping a parent through that change, from the first conversation to the day the car is sold.
Start With the Conversation, Not the Car
Most people respond better to a calm talk about safety and options than to being told the car is going. A few things tend to help:
- Talk about what you have seen, such as new scrapes on the car, getting lost on familiar roads or near misses, rather than about age.
- Choose a quiet moment, not straight after an incident when emotions are high.
- Bring a plan for getting around, so the conversation is about what replaces the car, not just what is lost.
- Involve their doctor if your parent would rather hear it from someone outside the family.
The Senior Road Users information hub makes an important point: concerns should be based on observed behaviour rather than age alone.
Signs It May Be Time to Talk
Families usually notice small things before anything serious happens. These are worth paying attention to, especially if several appear together:
- New dents or scrapes on the car, garage door or letterbox that nobody can explain
- Getting lost or confused on routes they have driven for years
- Drifting between lanes, missing stop signs or braking late
- Other drivers tooting more often, or passengers feeling nervous
- Choosing to avoid night driving, freeways or busy roads without saying why
- A doctor raising concerns about eyesight, medication or memory
None of these on its own means someone must stop driving. Together, they are a good reason to have the conversation sooner rather than later.
How a VicRoads Medical Review Works
If you are worried and the conversation is not settling it, Victoria has a formal process. According to Senior Road Users:
- Anyone can start a review, including family and friends, and family can make an anonymous report by letter or email with the driver’s name, address and concerns.
- The driver can also ask their own doctor to complete a medical report form, which is often a gentler first step.
- The review may involve reports from health professionals, a medical review driving test or an occupational therapy driving assessment.
- Outcomes range from conditions on the licence, such as limits on where and when the person drives, to retiring from driving in some cases. Most senior drivers who have a review keep driving.
That last point matters. A review is not the same as losing the licence, and framing it that way can make the conversation easier.
When the Decision Is Made
Once your parent has decided to stop driving, or a review has ended their licence, the car often sits unused. That is when costs keep running and value keeps slipping. Registration, insurance and servicing continue, and a car that is rarely driven develops flat batteries and tyre problems. We explain why in why an unused car loses value.
Who Can Sell the Car?
| Situation | Who signs the sale | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Your parent can manage their own affairs | Your parent, with you helping | Their photo ID and the registration details |
| Your parent wants you to handle it | You, with their written consent | Their signed consent, their ID and yours |
| You hold a power of attorney | You, as attorney | A copy of the power of attorney and your ID |
| Your parent has passed away | The executor or administrator | Estate documents, as covered in our deceased estate guide |
We cover third party sales in more detail in selling a car on behalf of a friend or relative, and estates in selling a deceased estate car.
Making the Sale Itself Easy
For an older person, the sale should involve as few strangers and phone calls as possible. Private sales often mean ads, calls from unknown numbers, test drives and haggling, which many families would rather avoid. A licensed car buyer can usually give a price from photos, come to the house at a time that suits, and complete the paperwork in one visit.
Whichever way you sell, a few simple steps protect your parent:
- Be present for any inspection or test drive.
- Use a payment method your parent is comfortable with. We compare options in the safest way to get paid.
- Clear personal items and data from the car. Our checklist of what to remove before selling a car helps.
- Make sure the notice of disposal is lodged within 14 days.
- Check for a registration refund, which can be a welcome bonus.
When Your Parent Lives Far Away
Many families manage this from another suburb, another town or even another state. That is workable. Collect your parent’s signed consent and a copy of their ID, take clear photos of the car on your next visit or ask a neighbour to, and arrange the price by phone or email. A buyer can then collect the car from your parent’s home at a time when a trusted person can be there. Payment can go by bank transfer to your parent’s own account, so the money never passes through a stranger’s hands.
Life After the Car
The sale money can help pay for the new way of getting around. Many families set some aside for taxis, rideshare or community transport, and keep a simple list of who can drive Mum or Dad to regular appointments. Senior Road Users also recommends working with the senior driver on alternatives so they stay connected to people and activities.
If you would like a calm, one visit sale, our cash for cars service in Melbourne can give a price from photos and come to your parent’s home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my elderly parent’s car for them?
Yes, with their written consent or under a power of attorney. Have their ID, your ID and the consent or attorney document ready.
Can family report an unsafe older driver in Victoria?
Yes. Senior Road Users says family and friends can make an anonymous report by letter or email with the driver’s details and concerns.
Does a medical review mean my parent will lose their licence?
Not necessarily. Outcomes include licence conditions, and Senior Road Users notes most senior drivers who have a review continue driving.
Should we sell the car straight away once they stop driving?
Usually sooner is better, because registration and insurance keep costing money and an unused car loses value.
Do you come to the house to buy the car?
Yes. We come to you with no pickup fee and complete the paperwork in the same visit.
Sources
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About the author: Written by Steve, owner of Victorian Car Buyers, a licensed motor car trader (LMCT 12395) based in Delahey, Melbourne.