A bike in the shed is easy to sell if it is a good one and hard if it is not, and the route that pays most is not the quickest. This guide covers what we could find on selling an old bicycle or e-bike in Australia through bike shops, what shops check and the limits of what we found, which includes e-bike batteries and scrap. The sources are bike-shop pages and trade press, and none gave prices, so we give none. Searches for "sell old bicycle" returned little in the keyword tool we use, so this is an authority guide and not a traffic one. It follows our guide to old home batteries for the battery side. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Three routes through a shop
- Consignment. One Melbourne trader says consigning a bike gives the highest payout because the bike gets the market price, and that an outright purchase is quicker. That is the usual trade-off: more money for more time.
- Outright purchase. The same trader and a Sydney shop that advertises same-day payment buy bikes outright. The offer will be lower than a sale price, because the shop takes the risk of reselling.
- Trade-in. One shop takes trade-ins as credit towards a new bike and reserves the right to refuse one if repair costs would exceed the bike's resale value. Another offers trade-ins as store credit only, with no cash option, and only at selected locations. So a trade-in is a discount on a new purchase and not a way to get cash.
What shops check
A shop that sells used bikes will check them, and one Sydney seller says all its second-hand stock gets a 40-point mechanical check before listing. Treat that as a sign of what buyers will look for: brakes, gears, chain and drivetrain wear, tyres, wheels and frame condition. Clean the bike, service the obvious faults if cheap and say what is worn. A bike that would cost more to repair than it will sell for may be refused.
Buy-back programs
A national retailer runs a buy-back program in which its teams repair the bike and resell it as a second-life product. We did not review the terms, so ask what it takes and what it pays, in cash or credit.
E-bikes and batteries
We found nothing in these sources on selling e-bikes or on e-bike batteries, which are lithium batteries and a fire and disposal concern. Do not assume a shop will take an old e-bike with a battery in poor condition, and do not leave a swollen, damaged or hot battery in a shed or a car. Ask the shop what it takes, and see our guide to old home batteries, which covers the national battery scheme and its limits. If a battery is damaged, keep away from it and seek professional help.
When a bike is scrap
We found nothing on scrap value for steel or aluminium bike frames and no yard policy on bikes. A bike is mostly steel or aluminium, with tyres and plastic, and a yard prices metal by weight, so ask. A bike with any resale value is worth more as a bike, and a charity or community bike program might take one, though we did not research them. Our guide to scrap aluminium prices explains aluminium for those who have a pile of frames.
Questions to ask a shop
- Outright, consignment or trade-in credit? And what is the fee or the cash difference?
- What condition do you require? And what do you do with a bike you refuse?
- How long do you keep it? And what happens if it does not sell?
- Do you take e-bikes, and what do you require of the battery?
- What paperwork do I get?
Where ScrapTrade fits
A single bike goes to a bike shop, a trade-in or a local sale, and ScrapTrade is not set up for it. A bike shop, a council or a hire operator with a quantity of retired bikes, or sorted frames and parts, may find a listing worthwhile, and Batteries and Metals are among the marketplace's categories: it costs nothing to list, no commission is taken, terms are negotiated in chat and the buyer's 5 percent deposit sits in escrow after a bid is accepted. Businesses and individuals can sell once verified, and buyers in more than 50 countries bid. We could not confirm that bikes or e-bike batteries are accepted, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What any bike sells for. We give no prices.
- E-bike selling and battery disposal.
- Scrap rates and yard policies for frames.
- Buy-back terms.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts bikes or batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to sell an old bike?
Consignment gives the highest payout, according to one trader, and an outright sale is quicker. Trade-in is usually store credit.
Will a shop take any bike?
No. One shop may refuse a trade-in if repairs would cost more than the bike's resale value.
Can I sell an old e-bike?
We found no guidance. Ask the shop, and be careful with the battery.
Is an old bike worth scrapping?
We found no rate. It is metal, priced by weight, and a bike with resale value is worth more as a bike.
Can I list bikes on ScrapTrade?
Verified sellers can list scrap. We could not confirm bikes, so ask support.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, Australia, queried November 2026.
- Australian bike shop and trader pages on consignment, trade-in and inspection, and trade press on a buy-back program, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not safety or financial advice. If a battery is damaged, swollen or hot, keep away and seek professional help.