Ready To Sell Your Car The Easy Way?
Get a free, no-obligation quote — or contact us directly if you're not sure which service is right for you.
Ready To Sell Your Car The Easy Way?
Get a free, no-obligation quote — or contact us directly if you're not sure which service is right for you.
Selling a car "on behalf" means a registered motor vehicle trader sells your car for you. You stay the owner until it sells. The trader handles the detailing, photos, advertising, enquiries, viewings, negotiation and paperwork, and you're paid the sale price less an agreed fee or commission once the sale completes. It's the same thing as consignment. This guide covers how it works at MV Consignment in Auckland, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to tell if it's the right way to sell your car.
You'll see it called sale on behalf, sell on behalf, market on behalf, or consignment. They all describe the same arrangement: someone in the trade sells your car to a retail buyer for you, instead of buying it off you.
That difference matters more than it sounds.
A few things are true of any proper sell-on-behalf arrangement:
Here's the process when we sell a car on your behalf at MV Consignment. The full version is on our consignment page.
There are no hidden lines. This is everything you can be charged when we sell your car on your behalf.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Package fee | Essential $189, Premium $429, or Signature $749 |
| Commission on the sale price | 9% for $10k-$30k, 7% for $30k-$60k, 6% for $60k-$80k. Over $80k, priced individually at 3-5%. Under $10k, by quote |
| Pre-purchase inspection | The inspector charges $190+GST. Passed on at cost, and refunded if your car sells for over $30k |
| Storage | $20 per week while the car is stored with us. No storage fee if you're on the North Shore or close to Riverhead and keep the car with you |
| TradeMe listing | $79-$500 at cost. Optional on Essential, basic listing included on Premium and Signature |
Commission rates are indicative and can vary from car to car. The full breakdown, including what each package adds, is on our pricing section.
Say your car sells for $18,000 on our Essential package and takes four weeks to sell:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $18,000.00 |
| Commission (9%) | -$1,620.00 |
| Essential package | -$189.00 |
| Pre-purchase inspection | -$218.50 |
| Storage (4 weeks) | -$80.00 |
| You receive | $15,892.50 |
Figures are illustrative. Actual sale prices, commission and timing vary by vehicle and market, and we don't guarantee a sale or a particular sale price.
Most vehicles we've sold have gone in 1-6 weeks, and a few have sold within hours of being listed. That's our past experience, not a promise. How quickly any car sells comes down to its price, condition and demand.
There's no lock-in either. You can withdraw your car with 7 days' notice. An unsold fee may apply to cover costs already incurred, though in practice we've only ever had to apply it once.
It tends to work best if:
We'd rather tell you now than waste your time.
Not sure which side you fall on? Our two-question quiz will point you to the option that fits.
You don't need much to get started:
If you'd like someone to sell your car on your behalf, get a free quote or call us on 027 474 8942. More answers are on our FAQ page.
What does it mean to sell a car on behalf?
A registered motor vehicle trader sells your car to a retail buyer for you, instead of buying it from you. You keep ownership until it sells, the trader handles the preparation, advertising, viewings, negotiation and paperwork, and you're paid the sale price less an agreed fee or commission.
Is selling on behalf the same as consignment?
Yes. Sale on behalf, sell on behalf and consignment all describe the same arrangement. MV Consignment sells your car on your behalf and pays you once the sale completes.
How much does it cost to have my car sold on my behalf?
With MV Consignment, a package fee of $189, $429 or $749, plus commission of 9% on sales of $10k-$30k, 7% on $30k-$60k and 6% on $60k-$80k, with vehicles over $80k priced individually at 3-5%. The pre-purchase inspection ($190+GST, charged by the inspector) is passed on at cost and refunded on sales over $30k, and storage is $20 per week while the car is stored with us, with no storage fee if you're on the North Shore or close to Riverhead and keep the car with you. Commission rates are indicative and can vary from car to car.
Do I still own my car while it's being sold on my behalf?
Yes. You keep ownership until the car sells. We manage the sale, complete the change of ownership at settlement, and pay you within 12 hours of the sale.
How long does it take to sell a car on behalf?
Most vehicles we've sold have gone in 1-6 weeks, and some within hours. That reflects past sales and isn't a guarantee, because timing depends on the car's price, condition and demand.
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Not sure which service is right for you? Send us the details and we'll get back to you — or call 027 474 8942.