Selling Your Car
How Does Car Consignment Work? Fees, Steps and What to Expect
How car consignment works in Brisbane, step by step: what it costs, who handles buyers and test drives, who owns the car, and questions to ask any consignment dealer.
More people are asking about consignment as an alternative to selling privately or trading in. The idea is simple: a dealer sells your car for you, at a retail price, while you get on with your life. Here is how it works, what it costs, and what to ask before you sign anything.
What car consignment means
When you consign your car, a dealer sells it on your behalf. You remain the owner until the sale is completed. The dealer looks after the presentation, advertising and buyers, and brings genuine offers back to you. You decide whether to accept.
How it works, step by step
- Appraisal. The dealer looks at your car and the current market, and agrees a realistic selling strategy with you.
- Preparation and photography. The car is detailed, prepared and professionally photographed.
- Advertising. It is listed on the major sites, the dealer’s website and social media.
- Buyers. The dealer handles enquiries, inspections, test drives and negotiation.
- Sale and settlement. Once you accept an offer, the dealer handles the paperwork and settlement.
What it costs
Fees vary a lot between dealers, so always get them in writing. Ours are published on our consignment page:
- $990 Consignment Launch Package, paid upfront, covering detailing and preparation, professional photography, Carsales Showcase advertising for up to three months, our website and social media, and managing enquiries, inspections and test drives.
- 5% success fee, only when the car sells through us, with a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $5,000.
All fees include GST. For example, a $60,000 sale has a $3,000 success fee, and a $120,000 sale is capped at $5,000.
Can I keep driving my car?
With us, in suitable cases, yes. You can keep using the car while it is advertised, and we arrange inspections and test drives with you. Or you can leave it with us for a more hands-off sale. We agree which works best before listing.
Is consignment right for my car?
Consignment works best for well-presented cars with a real retail market and enough value to justify a managed sale: quality late-model cars, premium and enthusiast cars, and cars with a strong service history. If your car would be better suited to a direct sale or trade-in, we will tell you.
Questions to ask any consignment dealer
- What are all the fees, and when are they paid?
- Where will the car be kept, and who can drive it?
- How are test drives handled, and what about insurance while it is being shown?
- How are offers presented to me, and can I say no?
- How long does the agreement run, and what happens if it doesn’t sell?
- How and when do I get paid?
- Is the dealer licensed? In Queensland, check the motor dealer licence. Ours is 4738159.
See a real example
Read how a Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 sold for $10,800 above the best trade-in offer, or compare selling privately vs consignment.
Quick answers
Who owns the car during consignment?
You do. You remain the owner until the sale is completed.
How much does consignment cost at Safeway?
A $990 launch package upfront and a 5% success fee when it sells, with a $2,000 minimum and $5,000 maximum, all including GST.
Do I have to accept any offer?
No. Genuine offers are discussed with you, and you decide.
Is consignment better than trading in?
It often achieves a higher price than a trade-in, but takes longer. A trade-in is quicker and simpler.
Thinking about consigning your car?
Get a consignment appraisal from our West End showroom.
Continue with Safeway Auto
About Safeway Auto
Safeway Auto is a boutique used car dealership at 4 Ferry Road, West End, Brisbane. We select late-model vehicles with clear history and documented servicing, and we also help people sell, trade in, consign and source cars.
