Hello friends,
Today we’ll be talking about the home country of the largest sand island in the world – Australia.
Australia ranks as one of the best countries to live in the world by international comparisons of education, health, and quality of life. It is also the sixth-largest country by landmass. There were 19.2 million registered motor vehicles in Australia as of January 2018. The most popular car in the country, according to the latest research is the Toyota HiLux, next comes the Ford Ranger followed by Toyota Corolla.
Australia's car market in 2026: updated numbers and how to buy safely
The figures above date from 2018, and a lot has changed since then. Australians bought a record 1,241,037 new vehicles in 2025, the third record year in a row, according to the VFACTS results reported by carsales. The Toyota HiLux is no longer number one. The best-sellers were the Ford Ranger (56,555), Toyota RAV4 (51,947), Toyota HiLux (51,297), Isuzu D-MAX (26,839) and Ford Everest (26,161).
Who's who among the car sites
Some sites on this list have merged or changed owners. CarAdvice no longer exists on its own: caradvice.com.au now redirects to drive.com.au. CarsGuide belongs, together with Gumtree and Autotrader, to Gumtree Australia Markets Limited, which took that name in February 2025 according to an ASX announcement of 31 January 2025. The table shows how the main sites rank in Similarweb's data for September 2026.
| Site | Best for | Similarweb, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| carsales.com.au | The largest choice of new and used cars from dealers and private sellers | #47 of all sites in Australia; #1 in Automotive |
| drive.com.au (incl. former CarAdvice) | Reviews, news and research before you buy | #211 in Australia; #1 in Vehicles – Other |
| carsguide.com.au | Reviews, price guides and listings | #447 in Australia; #2 in Vehicles – Other |
| autotrader.com.au | Dealer stock | #822 in Australia; #8 in Automotive |
| gumtree.com.au | Cheaper private sales | #91 in Australia; #1 in Classifieds |
Dealer or private seller: what protects you
The site you use matters less than who is selling. The NSW Government's buying guide says licensed dealers must guarantee there is no money owing on the car, must disclose whether it has been written off and any past flood or hail damage, and in some cases must give a dealer guarantee. A private sale comes with no assurances from a dealer and no protection from consumer watchdogs, so the checks are up to you.
- Run a PPSR search. The official PPSR car check costs $2. It shows whether there is finance owing on the car and whether it has been recorded as written off or reported stolen. It does not show odometer readings, open safety recalls or mechanical condition (Carify, updated July 2026).
- Search on the day you pay, because a car's finance or theft status can change at short notice. Keep the dated certificate.
- Get an independent inspection before you hand over money, especially for private sales on Gumtree or Facebook.
Now, here’s a list of the best sites for vehicles in Australia. Enjoy!
Carsales
carsales.com.au
This website is the most popular car site in Australia. Prepare to find your new car and sell your old one. The website offers different features such as valuations, car inspection, instant offers, and also special offers.
Carcity
Carcity.com.au
Car City Ringwood is a multi-dealer complex with thousands of cheap second-hand cars and lots of wholesale priced used cars on offer. Currently based in Melbourne and Sydney, this is one of the biggest car sales websites in Australia.
Gumtree
gumtree.com.au
Gumtree offers more than 140,000 cars in Australia. You can browse through all of the privately listed cars with ease. With Gumtree you can find dealerships in your area, read reviews and detailed information for some of the top-selling cars in Australia, also use the Gumtree car valuation tool to get an idea about how much you should be paying for a given year, brand, and model.
Carsguide
carsguide.com.au
Carsguide is one of the largest online car marketplaces in Australia. This site features over 100,000 new and used cars all with the seller's location and contact information. No commission or hidden fees for a standard ad. Carsguide offers the latest news, advice, and reviews as well as free car valuation ratings.
CarAdvice
caradvice.com.au
CarAdvice offers a wide range of brand new car content. Here you can find comprehensive independent reviews, advice, entertainment, and daily news. Their team of expert motoring journalists, reviews new cars to ensure people can choose the best vehicle for their specific needs. You can find a lot of useful advice on this site.
Drive
drive.com.au
This site is one of the most popular car dealers’ websites in Australia. It offers its users a trusted location for researching and comparing vehicles. You can browse through new and used cars, read useful reviews, watch videos and receive advice about the purchase you want to make.
