# Buying a Used Car in Western Australia

Last updated: 1 October 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-in-wa.

In Western Australia, you and the seller fill in a vehicle licence transfer form (MR9) together, and you lodge your copy within 14 days of buying the car. No inspection is needed for a car already licensed in WA. You then pay a transfer fee and vehicle licence duty, worked out on the price or the market value, whichever is higher.

## Western Australia at a Glance

| Topic | The rule |
| --- | --- |
| Certificate | None for a car already licensed in WA; an inspection for one from interstate |
| Transfer form | MR9, filled in by you and the seller together |
| Deadlines | The seller lodges their copy within 7 days; you lodge yours within 14 |
| Duty | On the price or market value, whichever is higher, invoiced after you lodge |
| Before you pay | Your own PPSR search, on the day |

## Registration Is Called a Vehicle Licence

In WA, what other states call registration is the vehicle licence, so you transfer the licence rather than the rego. Same idea, different name: you'll see it on the forms and the Department of Transport website.

## Filling in the Transfer Form

You and the seller complete the Notification of Change of Ownership – Vehicle Licence Transfer form (MR9) together. The seller keeps the blue copy and must lodge it within 7 days; you get the red purchaser's copy and must lodge it within 14 days of buying the car, or a penalty applies ([Department of Transport](https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/vehicle/buy-sell-transfer/buy)).

Once your copy is in, you're sent an invoice for the transfer fee and duty. Pay it by the due date on the invoice.

## No Inspection, So Check It Yourself

WA doesn't require an inspection to transfer a car that's already licensed there; only cars coming from interstate are inspected ([Department of Transport](https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/vehicle/buy-sell-transfer/buy)). That puts the job of spotting problems on you, so work through a [used car inspection checklist](https://shufti.com.au/checklists/australian-used-car-inspection-checklist) at the viewing. Consumer Protection WA recommends a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection and a PPSR check before you buy ([Consumer Protection WA](https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/buying-used-car)).

## Vehicle Licence Duty

Duty is charged on the car's dutiable value: usually the price you paid, but the market value if that's higher, with industry guides used to judge market value ([WA Government](https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/vehicle-licence-duty-dutiable-value)).

## Buying Privately in WA

Cars sold privately aren't covered by the statutory warranties dealers give or by Australian Consumer Law guarantees ([Consumer Protection WA](https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/buying-used-car)). Ask whether any of the original manufacturer's warranty remains, and if it does, arrange to have it transferred to you.

See [buying from a private seller](https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-from-a-private-seller) and [what documents to check](https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-documents-to-check-when-buying-a-used-car). Buying in another state? See [Victoria](https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-in-victoria), [NSW](https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-in-nsw), [Queensland](https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-in-queensland) or [South Australia](https://shufti.com.au/guides/buying-a-used-car-in-sa).

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Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company.

From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation.

A check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350.

Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au.

Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6795718336), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app).