Kia shares much of its engineering with Hyundai, and in Canberra the two arrive at our gate for much the same reasons at much the same age. Rio, Cerato and Sportage are the models we are asked about most, and their parts move steadily through the local repair trade.
Kia Models We Buy
Cerato
Sportage
Rio
Sorento
Carnival
Picanto
Stinger
Seltos
Optima
Rondo
Soul
Pro_cee'd
Grand Carnival
Pregio
K2900
Niro
& All Other Models
*We buy all Kia models, including those not listed above. Passenger cars,
SUVs, 4x4s, Utes, and Vans.
How The Process Works
1
Get a Quote
Call us for a specialised quote for your
Kia.
2
Book Pickup
We come to you—home, work, or mechanic.
3
Get Paid
Instant payment verification before towing.
What We Commonly See on Kias in Canberra
Cerato and Sportage with engine failure on higher-kilometre cars
Sportage and Sorento diesels with DPF or turbo problems
Rio and Picanto that have reached the end of their life
Dual-clutch transmission faults on models fitted with them
Carnival people-movers retired from family or fleet use
Vehicles with an outstanding engine or safety recall
Sportage and Carnival Are Everywhere in Canberra
Kia has become one of the most common brands on ACT roads over the last decade, with the Sportage and Cerato regularly among the city's best sellers and the Carnival a fixture for larger families. That strong local presence keeps demand for used parts healthy, which helps us offer competitive prices on wrecked or high-mileage examples.
DCT Faults and High-Kilometre Cars Welcome
Some Australian-spec Cerato and Rio GT-Line models have documented dual-clutch transmission complaints, and we regularly buy cars with exactly that issue. A transmission fault, accident damage, or simply a car that's reached the end of its useful life — all are welcome, running or not.
The Youngest Fleet We Deal With
Kias arrive here younger than almost anything else, and the seven-year warranty is the reason. It sold a lot of cars, and it also set an expectation: many owners treat the end of that warranty as the point at which a car becomes somebody else's problem. The result is a steady supply of Rios, Ceratos and Sportages that are barely a decade old, still complete, and no longer worth putting money into.
Shared Engineering With Hyundai, and What It Means for Parts
Kia and Hyundai are the same group, and across much of the range they share platforms, engines and transmissions. That is worth knowing when you are selling one, because it roughly doubles the pool of people who might want a part off your car — a component from a Cerato may be exactly what somebody rebuilding an i30 needs.
It also means the engine issues that affected certain Hyundai models are relevant here too. If your Kia stopped abruptly and the quote came back as a replacement engine, that is a story we have heard many times and the car is usually worth more than the owner expects, precisely because everything except the engine is still young.
Carnivals, Family Duty and Hail
The Carnival deserves its own mention because it does a specific job and gets retired for specific reasons. Eight years of school runs, sport, airport trips and interstate drives put serious kilometres on one, and by the end it is usually the transmission, the sliding door mechanisms or the air conditioning that decides matters.
Canberra adds one more factor. The hailstorm that went through the city in January 2020 wrote off an extraordinary number of vehicles across the ACT, and hail-damaged cars are still working through the market years later. If yours was one of them — panels dimpled, glass replaced, insurance long since settled — that history makes no difference to us. Hail damage affects the panels and nothing underneath them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kias worth the same as the equivalent Hyundai?
Broadly, yes. The two share a great deal of engineering, and in practice the parts demand for a Cerato and an i30, or a Sportage and a Tucson, is very similar in Canberra. We price them on the same basis.
Will you buy a Sportage or Sorento diesel with DPF problems?
Yes. Blocked particulate filters and turbo faults on the diesel SUVs are one of the most common reasons a Kia reaches us. It is expensive specialist work on a vehicle that has usually already done long service.
My Cerato needs an engine. Is that a problem?
No. Engine failure on a higher-kilometre Cerato is a call we take often. It ends the car’s life as a car, but the transmission, body panels, interior, wheels and electricals all still have buyers here.
Do you take Carnivals and other people-movers?
Yes. Carnivals retired from family or fleet use are a regular collection for us. They are heavy, which helps, and the sliding door mechanisms, seats and interior trim are parts people genuinely come looking for.
My Kia is only ten years old. Is it too new to scrap?
Not at all, and a younger car generally means a better offer. On a ten-year-old Kia the panels, lights, seats, wheels, electronics and driveline are all genuinely reusable, so the value is in the parts rather than mostly in the metal as it would be on a much older car.
Does my Kia share parts with Hyundai models?
Across much of the range, yes, because they are the same group and share platforms, engines and transmissions. That widens the pool of people who might want a component off your car, which helps what we can pay.
My Carnival was hail damaged in the 2020 storm. Does that matter?
No. Hail affects panels and glass and nothing underneath them, and a great many ACT vehicles carry that history. An insurance write-off from hail damage is a completely ordinary car for us to buy, and you do not need the paperwork to hand.
Do I need a roadworthy certificate?
No, you do not. Since we are a licensed motor vehicle dealer buying cars for wrecking or resale, we purchase them "as-is". This saves you the time and money of getting an inspection.
How quickly can you pick up my car?
We often offer same-day service! If you call us in the morning, we can usually collect your vehicle by the afternoon. We can also schedule a specific time that works for you.
How much is my scrap car worth?
The value depends on the make, model, weight, and condition of the vehicle. We offer competitive rates based on current metal prices and parts demand. Call us for a free quote!
Do you buy unregistered, written-off, or non-running cars?
Yes. Unregistered, written-off, flood or hail damaged, and vehicles that don’t start are all accepted. We handle the ownership transfer paperwork and can advise on cancelling registration, so there’s nothing extra for you to organise.
I still owe finance on my car - can you still buy it?
It depends on the payout figure owing versus the value of the car. Give us a call and we’ll talk through your specific situation — in many cases the finance needs to be settled as part of the sale, and we can explain exactly how that works before you commit to anything.
I've lost my number plates - is that a problem?
Not usually. We can talk you through reporting missing plates when we arrange the ownership transfer, so it doesn’t hold up the sale or leave you exposed to fines or tolls on plates that are no longer on the car.
The car isn't registered in my name - can I still sell it?
This comes up often with inherited vehicles or family cars. If you’re the executor of an estate or otherwise legally authorised to sell the vehicle, we can complete the sale — just mention your situation when you call so we can explain exactly what’s needed.
I have more than one car to sell - can you take them together?
Yes, we regularly collect multiple vehicles from the same property in one visit — a common scenario for deceased estates, business fleets, or a household clearing out several old cars at once. Let us know how many when you call so we can plan the pickup properly.
Am I obligated to accept the quote once I get one?
Not at all. Every quote is free and obligation-free. You’re welcome to compare it against other offers before deciding, and there’s no pressure or cost involved in simply asking what your car is worth.
How is this different from just weighing my car in at a scrap metal yard?
A pure scrap metal price only accounts for the weight of the steel. We factor in reusable parts, make and model demand, and current market conditions as well, which is usually why our offer comes in higher than a straight per-tonne scrap price — plus we come to you and tow it for free.
What areas do you actually cover?
Every ACT district — Belconnen, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Woden Valley, Inner North, Inner South, Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley — plus Queanbeyan and the surrounding NSW region. If you’re unsure whether your specific street is covered, just give us a call; the answer is almost always yes.
Do you buy motorcycles, trailers, or only cars?
Our focus is passenger cars, SUVs, utes, and vans, including business and fleet vehicles. If you have something outside that range, give us a call and we’ll let you know honestly whether it’s something we can help with.
