Why Sellers Choose MV Consignment to Sell Their Car On Behalf

Sellers choose MV Consignment because we sell any make or model, we only earn commission when the car actually sells, every car is professionally detailed, photographed and independently inspected before it's listed, and the seller never has to deal with a buyer. We're a registered motor vehicle trader in Riverhead, Auckland, with 150+ vehicles and more than $1.5M sold as at September 2026. Below are the specifics behind each of those, how we compare with the other ways to sell, and the situations where we'll tell you we're not the right fit.

How this started

When I was 16, a family friend asked me to sell their 1991 Audi 90. I detailed it, photographed it and listed it, and it sold in 12 hours. That one sale taught me most of what this business still runs on: present the car properly, describe it honestly, and look after the person who owns it.

The early days were my parents' driveway, one client at a time, with nothing spent on advertising. Every customer came from someone else's recommendation. I became a registered motor vehicle dealer at 18. The longer version is on our About page.

Ten reasons sellers choose us

1. We sell every kind of car

Plenty of consignment businesses only want one type of car. We don't have make or model restrictions. Recent sales run from a 2009 Mercedes A170 at $3,995 to a 1954 Jaguar XK140 Coupe at $40,000, with daily drivers, family SUVs, European cars, 4WDs, classics and race cars in between. You can see what's on the floor right now on our listings page.

2. We only earn commission when your car sells

Our commission is earned at settlement and not before. It's a percentage of the real sale price, so we do better when you do better. That's also why the sale price is never hidden from you: it's the number our commission is calculated on.

3. $600 of preparation is included in every package

Every car we sell gets a consignment-grade detail ($300 value) and a professional shoot of 25 or more photos ($300 value). There's no cap and no minimum sale price, and it applies on every package, including Essential at $189.

4. Every car is independently inspected first

Every registered vehicle gets a pre-purchase inspection before it goes to market, at our partner workshop, Spargs Auto Tune, or by a mobile inspector. Race cars are the only exception. Spargs deal directly with our buyers, so a buyer can ask the person who inspected the car about it.

That protects you as much as the buyer. Faults turn up before the car is advertised, when they can be fixed or priced in, and not in the middle of a negotiation.

5. Buyers get the confidence of buying from a registered trader

A private buyer has to take the seller's word for everything. Our buyers are dealing with a registered trader (MVT M0510401), so they have Consumer Guarantees Act protection, and we can arrange finance and mechanical warranties. That brings in buyers who would never hand over $20,000 in a stranger's driveway.

6. Your car is marketed to the whole country, and beyond

We list across Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, AutoTrader, Need A Car and our own site, with TradeMe included on Premium and Signature. We arrange delivery anywhere in New Zealand, so a buyer in Christchurch is as real as one in Kumeu. On Premium and Signature, marketing extends to our overseas buyer network, and we handle international shipping when a car sells offshore.

7. You never deal with a buyer

Every enquiry, viewing, test drive and negotiation goes through us. Nobody comes to your home, and nobody messages you at midnight asking for your lowest price.

8. You're paid fast, and you're not locked in

Our sellers are paid within 12 hours of the sale. If you change your mind before then, you can withdraw the 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.

9. You deal with the person selling your car

We're a small, 100% Kiwi owned business. You get clear updates from listing to settlement, and an honest conversation if the price or the plan needs to change. If a car isn't getting the response we expected, you'll hear that from us, along with what we suggest doing about it.

10. We reward the people who back us

Refer someone who sells their car with us and you earn $100-$200 through our referral programme, with no limit on how many times. Sellers who come back are rewarded too: consign five cars with us and we pay you $200 cash once the fifth sale settles. Conditions apply, and the details are on the referral page.

How we compare with the other ways to sell

General comparison based on our own experience of consignment sales. Timeframes describe past sales and are not a guarantee.

We've written up the detail behind each column: consignment vs trade-in, sell on behalf vs cash for cars, and guaranteed price vs commission.

What it costs

Packages are $189, $429 or $749. Indicative commission is 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 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. Every line is on our pricing section, and there are worked examples in sell on behalf fees.

When we're not the right fit

A business that says it suits everyone isn't being straight with you. We'll tell you to look elsewhere, or point you to a different service of ours, when:

• You need the money this week. Consignment is built for price, not speed. Our wholesale service is the fast option: we shop your car to our wholesale buyer network and you say yes or no to the best offer.
• The car is at the very bottom of the market, where fixed selling costs take too big a share.
• You want a guaranteed price. We don't guarantee a sale or a sale price. We tell you what we think the car will realistically achieve and then work to get it.

Ready to talk?

If you'd like us to sell your car on your behalf, get a free quote or call me on 027 474 8942. If you're new to the idea, start with how selling a car on behalf works.