Last updated: October 2026
Selling a car is one of the jobs that quietly gets left until the last week before a move overseas, and that is when it goes wrong. Buyers fall through, the car sells cheaply in a rush, or it ends up still registered in your name after you have flown out, with fines and tolls following you to your new country. This timeline works backwards from your flight date so the car is sold, transferred and closed off before you leave Victoria.
Eight Weeks Out: Decide When You Will Stop Driving
Work out the last day you actually need the car. Many people keep it until the final week for packing runs and farewells, but that leaves very little room if a buyer pulls out. A realistic plan is to sell two to three weeks before you fly and use rideshare or a borrowed car for the last stretch.
- Check if there is finance owing. If so, find out the payout figure now. See selling a car with finance owing.
- Find the service book, both keys and any receipts.
- Decide whether you want to keep personalised plates. Our guide to keeping your personalised plates explains the steps.
Six Weeks Out: Get a Realistic Price
Compare similar cars for sale and get at least one firm offer. A private sale may get a higher figure, but it takes time and carries the risk of buyers cancelling. If you are short on time, a licensed buyer who pays on the spot can be the safer choice. We compare the options in the easiest way to sell a car in Melbourne.
Four Weeks Out: Book the Sale
Agree on a pickup date that leaves at least a week before your flight. That buffer covers payment clearing, any last paperwork and the unexpected. If you are selling privately and the car is registered, remember the buyer will need a roadworthy certificate.
Sale Day: Close Everything Off
| Task | Why it matters before you leave |
|---|---|
| Collect the buyer’s details on the transfer form | You need them for the notice of disposal |
| Lodge the notice of disposal in myVicRoads | VicRoads says you must tell it within 14 days, and fines follow the registered operator |
| Confirm payment has cleared | Chasing money from overseas is hard |
| Remove the toll tag and the vehicle from your toll account | Tolls keep charging your account otherwise |
| Clear your data, garage remote and belongings | Once the car has gone, you cannot get them back |
VicRoads says you will get an email within 24 hours confirming the transfer when you lodge online, and that direct debits for that vehicle are cancelled automatically. Keep that email. It is your proof if a fine arrives later. Our guide on stopping fines after you sell covers what to do if one does.
The Week Before You Fly
- Cancel or transfer your car insurance now that the car has gone.
- Check whether you are due a registration refund and make sure the refund can reach you.
- Update your address with VicRoads and your toll provider so any final letters reach you.
- Save digital copies of the transfer form, receipt and VicRoads confirmation.
Should You Ship the Car Instead?
Some people look at shipping the car to their new country. For most everyday cars it rarely adds up. Shipping, port charges, import duties and local compliance work in the destination country can add up quickly, and some countries restrict right hand drive cars altogether. Check the rules where you are going before you rule out selling. For a common family car, selling here and buying again there is usually simpler and often cheaper.
The exception is a rare or sentimental car you plan to keep for years. Even then, get a written shipping quote and check the import rules before you commit.
If You Run Out of Time
Sometimes the car is not sold by the time you leave. You have two realistic options. You can leave the car with a trusted friend or relative, with your written consent and a copy of your ID, so they can sell it for you. Or you can arrange the sale remotely by phone and email. We cover both in selling a car on behalf of a friend or relative, including a real sale we completed for an owner who was already overseas.
What you should not do is leave the car unsold and still registered in your name with nobody responsible for it. Fines, tolls and registration renewals will keep coming to an address you no longer live at.
Selling to Us Before You Fly
Send photos and you get a price straight away. Nine out of ten of our sales are finished on the same day, we come to you with no pickup fee, and we pay on the spot by cash, bank transfer or bank cheque. We complete the transfer paperwork with you at the time of sale, so there is nothing left hanging when you board.
Book a time that suits your moving schedule through our cash for cars service in Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I sell my car before moving overseas?
Aim to have it sold two to three weeks before your flight, so there is time for payment, paperwork and any buyer pulling out.
What happens if my car is still in my name after I leave Australia?
Fines, tolls and registration notices keep going to the registered operator. Lodge the notice of disposal within 14 days of the sale to avoid this.
Can someone sell my car after I have left?
Yes. A trusted friend or relative can sell it with your written consent and a copy of your ID.
Can I sell my car without a roadworthy before I leave?
Yes, if you sell to a licensed motor car trader. A private buyer of a registered car needs a roadworthy certificate.
Will I get a registration refund?
You may, depending on how much registration is left. Check before you leave and make sure the refund can reach you.
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.