Buying guide
Buying a Used Car From a Private Seller: What to Check
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Buying privately can save money, but you don't get the consumer guarantees or statutory warranty that come with buying from a dealer, so if something goes wrong after you pay, it's usually your problem. Check the seller as well as the car: match their ID to the registration papers, run a PPSR check, inspect the car properly and pay in a way you can trace.
What You Give Up Buying Privately
A private sale isn't covered by the Australian Consumer Law guarantees or a dealer's statutory warranty, and there's no cooling-off period: the car is sold as it is. NSW Fair Trading puts it plainly: if you buy from a private seller, you aren't covered. That makes your own checks before you pay the only protection you have.
Check the Seller
Ask to see their photo ID and check the name and address match the registration papers, and meet at that address rather than a car park. Ask how long they've owned the car, why they're selling and whether it has any known faults. Be wary of anyone selling a car for someone else, or who can't answer simple questions about it.
See what documents to check for the paperwork in detail.
Check the Car
Inspect it in daylight and dry weather, ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive, and take it for a proper test drive. Work through a used car inspection checklist so you don't miss anything, and check the recall history on the vehicle recalls site. A mechanic's inspection is worth considering, especially if anything safety critical turns up.
Common Scams
| Scam | How to spot it |
|---|---|
| Price too good to be true | Well below similar cars, often with a story about a quick sale or a move overseas. |
| Deposit to hold the car | Asks for money before you've seen the car, often because the seller is "away". |
| Fake PPSR certificate | Hands you a certificate rather than letting you search. Always run your own. |
| Wrong or altered VIN | The VIN on the car doesn't match the papers, or the plate looks tampered with. |
| Unusual payment | Asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency or an "escrow" service you haven't heard of. |
Paying Safely
Pay by bank transfer on the day you collect the car, after your PPSR search comes back clear, and get a signed receipt with the date, price and VIN. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and don't pay a deposit for a car you haven't seen.
After You Buy
Transfer the registration into your name within 14 days. The steps and duty differ by state: see buying a used car in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia.
Shufti, the used car inspection app, builds the inspection for the car from its listing, with the PPSR and recall checks included, so you go into a private sale knowing what you're looking at.
More Guides
- Used Car Inspection Options Compared
- Is a Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Worth It?
- What Is a PPSR Check?
- What Documents to Check When Buying a Used Car
- Buying a Used Car in Victoria
- Buying a Used Car in NSW
- Buying a Used Car in Queensland
- Buying a Used Car in Western Australia
- Buying a Used Car in South Australia
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