Last updated: October 2026
Before you sell your car, remove your personal belongings, clear your data from the car’s systems and cancel anything linked to the number plate. That means the garage remote, your home address in the navigation, paired phones, connected car apps, the toll tag, parking permits and fuel cards. Most of it takes ten minutes, and missing it can cost you money or give a stranger access to your home. This checklist covers what to remove, what to cancel and what to leave in the car.
The Quick Checklist
| Item | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Garage door remote | It opens your home | Take it out of the car before anyone inspects it |
| Saved home address in navigation | It shows where you live | Delete saved places and recent destinations |
| Paired phones | The car can store contacts and call history | Unpair every phone and reset the infotainment system |
| Connected car app | It can show the car’s location or unlock it | Remove the car from the manufacturer’s app |
| Toll tag | Tolls keep charging your account | Take the tag and remove the vehicle from your toll account |
| Parking permits | Residential permits are linked to the plate | Tell your council the car has been sold |
| Fuel cards and loyalty cards | Anyone holding them can spend | Check the glovebox, sun visors and door pockets |
| Registration direct debit | Payments may continue | Cancelled automatically if you lodge the notice of disposal online |
| Car insurance | You still need cover until the car leaves | Cancel or transfer it after the sale, not before pickup |
| Dashcam cards and USB sticks | They hold footage, music and files | Remove the memory card and any USB drives |
Clear Your Personal Data
Modern cars remember more than most people realise. The infotainment system can hold your contacts, call logs and text messages from paired phones, plus your home and work addresses, favourite destinations and recent trips. Some cars also store garage door codes in the overhead console buttons.
- Unpair each phone in the car’s Bluetooth settings, then remove the car from the Bluetooth list on your phone.
- Delete saved places in the navigation, including Home, Work and recent destinations.
- Clear programmed garage buttons if your car has them. The owner’s manual shows how.
- Run a factory reset of the infotainment system if your car offers one. It is usually in the settings menu under system or general.
- Remove the car from any manufacturer app you use for remote locking, climate control or location. Otherwise the app may still connect to the car after it is sold.
Cancel Anything Linked to the Plate
Several services follow the number plate, not the person driving. If you forget them, the bills keep coming to you.
- Toll account. Take the tag out of the car and remove the vehicle from your account. Linkt explains how: log in, select Vehicles, choose the vehicle, select Edit, then Remove. If your account is with EastLink, do the same there.
- Residential parking permit. Councils issue these against a registration number. Let your council know so the permit can be cancelled or moved to your next car.
- Registration direct debit. VicRoads says direct debits for the vehicle are cancelled automatically when you complete the notice of disposal online. If you do not complete it online, cancel the direct debit yourself before the transfer.
Personalised Plates and Extras You Paid For
If the car has personalised or custom plates, decide before the sale whether you want to keep them. Plates you paid extra for do not have to go with the car, but sorting them out after the buyer has driven away is much harder. Talk to VicRoads about your options before you agree on a pickup date, and tell the buyer up front if the car will be sold on standard plates.
Walk around the car for accessories you might want for your next one:
- Child seats and booster seats
- Roof racks, bike racks and cargo boxes you bought separately
- Phone holders, chargers and dashcams
- Seat covers and floor mats you bought yourself
- Tools, jumper leads and first aid kits you keep in the boot
If an accessory adds value to the car, such as a tow bar or a factory roof rack, it is usually better to leave it on and mention it when you ask for a price. Removing fitted parts can leave marks or holes that lower the offer.
What to Leave in the Car
Some things should stay with the car because they help the sale and the price:
- The service book and any receipts for repairs or new tyres
- All keys, including the spare. A missing spare key can lower the offer
- The owner’s manual
- The locking wheel nut key, if the car has locking wheel nuts
- The parcel shelf, cargo blind and any original accessories
We explain how these affect the figure in how we value your car.
Do It Before Pickup, Not After
Once the car has gone, you cannot get your garage remote back or wipe the navigation. Work through the checklist the day before pickup, then do a last walk around the car with the buyer present. Check the glovebox, the centre console, the boot, the spare wheel well, under the seats and the door pockets.
Leave the insurance in place until the car is actually driven away. If something happens to the car while it is still in your driveway, you want to be covered.
After the Sale
- Lodge the notice of disposal with VicRoads within 14 days. Our guide on stopping fines after you sell explains how.
- Check whether you can claim a registration refund.
- Keep your receipt and transfer form somewhere safe.
- Cancel or transfer your car insurance.
When you sell to us, we go through the car with you at pickup so nothing important is left behind. Payment is made on the spot by cash, bank transfer or bank cheque, and we complete the transfer paperwork with you at the time of sale.
Get a free price through our cash for cars service across Melbourne and Victoria and we will remind you of this checklist when we arrive.
If your plates are personalised, sort them out before the car goes. Here is how to keep personalised plates when you sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I remove from my car before selling it?
Remove personal belongings, the garage remote, the toll tag, fuel cards, dashcam cards and USB drives. Then clear your phones, saved addresses and connected apps from the car’s system.
How do I delete my data from my car?
Unpair your phones, delete saved places in the navigation, clear any programmed garage buttons and run the infotainment factory reset if your car has one.
Should I leave the toll tag in the car I am selling?
No. Take the tag with you and remove the vehicle from your toll account, otherwise tolls can keep charging to you.
When should I cancel my car insurance after selling?
Keep it until the car has been driven away, then cancel or transfer it. You still need cover while the car is in your care.
Should I leave the service book and spare key with the car?
Yes. A full service history and both keys support a better price, and buyers expect them with the car.
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.