Buying guide
Buying a Used Car in the ACT
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When you buy a used car privately in the ACT, you have 14 days to transfer the registration and pay the duty, at an Access Canberra Service Centre. A car more than 6 years old needs a roadworthy inspection before you can transfer it, and that's your job as the buyer to plan for. Duty depends on the price or market value and the car's emissions.
The ACT at a Glance
| Topic | The rule |
|---|---|
| Certificate | A roadworthy inspection for a car more than 6 years old, up to 4.5 tonnes |
| How long it lasts | One month from the first inspection |
| Transfer deadline | 14 days from the sale, or a late fee |
| Where | In person at an Access Canberra Service Centre |
| Duty | On the greater of the price and market value, with a lower rate for zero-emission cars |
| Before you pay | Your own PPSR search, on the day |
How to Check a Car Before Buying in the ACT
Start before you go to see the car, once you have its number plate and VIN. See car and vehicle checks before buying for what each one shows.
- Check the registration with Access Canberra, by number plate. Our rego check takes you straight to it.
- Run a PPSR check with the VIN, on ppsr.gov.au, for money owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off anywhere in Australia.
- Look up its recalls on the government's vehicle recalls site, and ask the seller for proof any were fixed.
- Inspect the car yourself with a used car inspection checklist, then test drive it. A roadworthy inspection only covers whether a car is safe to register, not whether it's a good buy.
The Roadworthy Inspection
A vehicle of up to 4.5 tonnes that's more than 6 years old, or imported, needs a roadworthy inspection before you can transfer the registration to yourself (Access Canberra). Most used cars on sale are that old, so assume you'll need one, and agree before you pay who arranges it and who pays for any repairs it finds.
A private car can go to the Access Canberra inspection station or any authorised inspection station. You have to book, and the Certificate of Inspection lasts one month from the first inspection (Access Canberra). With only 14 days to transfer, book it early.
What the Seller Does
The transfer paperwork is on the back of the registration certificate. The seller fills in the application to transfer and the notice of disposal, and you both sign and date them. Without the papers, the seller must give you a receipt or invoice. Number plates stay on a car sold with current ACT registration (Access Canberra).
Transferring the Registration
You have 14 days to transfer the registration, and a late fee applies after that (Access Canberra). You need to go to an Access Canberra Service Centre, and you pay the duty there at the same time (ACT Revenue Office).
Motor Vehicle Duty
Duty is charged on the purchase price or market value, whichever is greater. A used car is one that's been registered before, in Australia or overseas. These are the rates from 1 September 2025 to 31 January 2027 (ACT Revenue Office).
| Dutiable value | Used car with any tailpipe emissions | Used zero-emission car |
|---|---|---|
| Under $45,000 | $3.17 per $100 | $2.50 per $100 |
| $45,000 to $80,000 | $1,426.50, plus $5.62 per $100 above $45,000 | $1,125, plus $4 per $100 above $45,000 |
| Above $80,000 | $3,393.50, plus $8 per $100 above $80,000 | $2,525, plus $8 per $100 above $80,000 |
Duty Rises on 1 February 2027
New rates start on 1 February 2027, and the rate for a used car with tailpipe emissions under $45,000 goes up to $3.72 per $100. On a $15,000 car, that's about $475 in duty now and about $558 from that date, so check the ACT Revenue Office if you're buying around then.
Before You Pay
Run your own PPSR check on the day you pay, and check the documents. A private sale doesn't come with a dealer's guarantees: see buying from a private seller.
Buying in another state? See Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania or the NT.
Selling Privately in the ACT?
Complete the application to transfer and notice of disposal on the back of the registration certificate with the buyer, then send Access Canberra the notice. It can be done online if you both hold an ACT licence. Leave the plates on a car sold with current ACT registration (Access Canberra).
Questions Answered
Do you need a roadworthy to sell a car in the ACT?
For a car more than 6 years old and up to 4.5 tonnes, yes: it needs a roadworthy inspection before the buyer can transfer the registration (Access Canberra).
How long is a roadworthy certificate valid in the ACT?
One month from the first inspection (Access Canberra).
How long do I have to transfer registration in the ACT?
14 days from the date of sale, or a late fee applies. You pay the duty at the same time (Access Canberra).
How much is duty on a used car in the ACT?
$3.17 per $100 under $45,000 for a used car with tailpipe emissions, until 31 January 2027, and $2.50 per $100 for a zero-emission car. It's charged on the price or market value, whichever is greater (ACT Revenue Office).
More Guides
- Tips for Buying a Used Car
- How to Avoid Buying a Lemon
- Car & Vehicle Checks Before Buying a Used Car
- How to Test Drive a Used Car
- How to Negotiate the Price of a Used Car
- Pre-Purchase Car Inspection: What It Checks and Costs
- PPSR Check: What It Covers and What It Doesn't
- What Documents to Check When Buying a Used Car
- Buying a Used Car From a Private Seller: What to Check
- Buying a Used Car From a Dealer: Warranty, Cooling-Off and Red Flags
- Is It Safe to Buy a Repaired Write-Off?
- How to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car Before You Buy
- High Kilometres or a Wound-Back Odometer? How to Tell
- 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
- Buying a Used Car in Tasmania
- Buying a Used Car in the Northern Territory