who pays stamp duty when selling a car

In Australia, stamp duty on a car sale is paid by the buyer, not the seller—no free lunches there. For dealer purchases it’s bundled into the drive-away price, but it’s still the buyer footing the bill. In private sales, the buyer also cops the stamp duty and the registration transfer fee when lodging the paperwork with the state or territory authority. The seller may need to provide a safety/roadworthy certificate depending on local rules, but that’s separate to duty. Rates and thresholds vary by jurisdiction and are calculated on the vehicle’s dutiable value, so check your state’s transport authority before shaking hands. In short: you sell, they pay the duty, everyone argues about floor mats.