Selling your jet ski

1. Get the ski ready

A clean ski with its paperwork in order sells faster and with fewer haggling arguments. Give the hull a proper wash, flush the engine, fix small things like cracked trim or a dead light, and make sure the trailer is roadworthy. Gather the service book, manuals, spare keys and receipts.

2. Price it with evidence

Look at what comparable skis are listed for, matching on make, model, year, hours and whether a trailer is included. Asking prices are not sale prices, so allow for negotiation. Browsing similar listings on Anything Marketplace is a quick way to see the range.

3. Check if finance is still owing

If you still have a loan secured against the ski, the lender may have an interest in it, which usually needs to be cleared when it is sold. Ask your lender for a payout figure, which can differ from your balance because of fees and interest to the settlement date, and ask how they release their interest. Do not hand over the ski until the buyer has paid in cleared funds and any debt is dealt with.

4. Take good listing photos

Shoot in daylight, from every side, and include the hour meter, the seat, the hull underneath, the trailer and the engine bay. Be upfront about flaws; it saves time and protects you if a dispute arises later.

5. Handle the sale safely

• Meet at a public place or a ramp, and never ride alone with a stranger.
• Be wary of overpayment tricks, fake payment screenshots or buyers who cannot inspect but want to send a courier.
• Confirm funds have cleared in your account before the keys leave your hand.
• Write a simple receipt that records price, date, both parties and the HIN, and note that the sale is private.

6. Transfer registration

Registration and ownership transfer rules differ by state and territory. Contact your local marine authority for the correct forms and timeframes, and keep a copy of everything.

Tax and records

For a personal-use ski that sells at a loss, there is typically no deduction available, but rules differ if the ski was used for business. The ATO publishes general information at ato.gov.au, and your accountant can advise on your situation.