Buying guide
What Documents to Check When Buying a Used Car
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Before you pay for a used car, check the registration papers, the seller's photo ID, the service history and a PPSR certificate, and make sure the VIN on each matches the car. Get a written receipt, and in Victoria or Queensland, the seller's roadworthy or safety certificate.
The Documents to Check
| Document | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Registration papers | The owner's name and address match the seller's ID, and the VIN, engine number and number plate match the car. | A mismatch can mean the seller doesn't own the car, or that it isn't the car on the papers. |
| Seller's photo ID | The name and address match the registration papers, and you're meeting at that address. | It's your best protection against buying a car the seller has no right to sell. |
| PPSR certificate | No money owing, and not reported stolen or written off. Run your own search on the day you pay. | Finance stays with the car, not the seller, and a lender may be able to repossess it. |
| Service history | A stamped logbook or receipts at regular intervals, with odometer readings that climb steadily. | Gaps point to missed servicing; readings that jump back point to a wound-back odometer. |
| Roadworthy or safety certificate | Current and issued for this car's VIN. The seller must supply one in Victoria and Queensland; it isn't needed for a car already registered in NSW, WA or SA. | You need it to transfer the registration where it's required. |
| Receipt | The date, price, VIN, number plate, both names and addresses, and both signatures. | It's your proof of purchase, and the price you declare when you pay duty. |
Check the VIN Matches Everywhere
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is the car's fingerprint. Find it on the car, usually on a plate in the engine bay or door frame and at the base of the windscreen, and check it's the same on the registration papers, your PPSR certificate and the service history. Any difference is a reason to walk away.
Red Flags in the Paperwork
Walk away, or at least slow down, if the seller can't produce the registration papers, their name or address doesn't match them, they want to meet somewhere other than the address on the papers, the service book is missing or has blank stamps, or they press you to pay before you've checked the car and the documents.
Transferring the Registration
The transfer paperwork, deadlines and duty differ by state. See buying a used car in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia. Check the recall history too, on the government's vehicle recalls site.
Checking the Documents in Shufti
Shufti, the used car inspection app, runs the PPSR and recall checks from the listing link and walks you through the rest. Or start with the free used car inspection checklist, which includes the documents to check.
More Guides
- Used Car Inspection Options Compared
- Is a Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Worth It?
- What Is a PPSR Check?
- Buying a Used Car From a Private Seller: What to Check
- 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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