How to Buy a Used Car Privately in Australia (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Buying a used car privately in Australia can save thousands compared to dealership prices. But private sales also carry higher risks: hidden finance, undisclosed write-offs, odometer issues, and scams are more common.

 

This guide explains exactly how to buy a used car privately — safely, legally, and with confidence — using a practical step-by-step process designed for Australian buyers.

 

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Understand the Differences Between Dealer vs Private Sale

 

Private sale advantages

• Lower prices

• More room for negotiation

• No dealer overheads or mark-ups

 

Private sale risks

• No statutory warranty in most states

• Seller may not disclose finance or damage

• No cooling-off period

• Greater risk of odometer fraud

• Higher scam activity

 

Before you begin, assume this rule:

 

If you're buying private — you must verify everything yourself.

 

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Step 1 — Run a PPSR / REVS Check Immediately

 

Before arranging an inspection, run a PPSR/REVS Check using the rego or VIN.

 

A PPSR/REVS check tells you whether the car:

• has finance owing

• is written-off

• is recorded stolen

• matches the correct VIN

 

This is the minimum safety check.

Many scam listings collapse instantly when the buyer requests a PPSR/REVS check.

 

AUCN Advice:

 

If a seller refuses to provide a plate or VIN → walk away.

 

This is one of the strongest scam indicators in Australia.

 

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Step 2 — Verify the Seller Before Meeting Them

 

Private sales in Australia frequently involve:

• cloned ads

• stolen vehicles

• fake seller identities

• mismatched rego papers

 

Before meeting the seller, verify:

 

✔ Full name

 

Should match rego/renewal email or proof of ownership.

 

✔ Address

 

Must match rego papers or proof of residence.

 

✔ Phone number

 

Genuine sellers use a long-term Australian number (not VOIP/WhatsApp-only).

 

✔ Reason for selling

 

Look for consistent answers.

 

✔ Ownership length

 

Cars owned less than 3–6 months = higher risk.

 

If anything feels inconsistent, do not proceed.

 

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Step 3 — Inspect the Car in Daylight (Never at Night)

 

Use the AUCN 50-Point Checklist (coming in article #2), but start by confirming:

 

Matching details

• VIN on windscreen

• VIN on compliance plate

• VIN on chassis

• VIN on PPSR result

 

All VINs must match exactly.

 

Red flags to avoid immediately

• Freshly painted panels

• Wet engine bay (hiding leaks)

• Airbag light not showing at start

• No logbooks or missing pages

• Seller refuses test drive

• Seller wants cash only

• Price heavily below market value

 

If any major red flags appear, end the inspection politely.

 

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Step 4 — Test Drive Properly (Not Just Around the Block)

 

A proper test drive in Australia should include:

 

✔ Cold start (listen for timing chain rattle, misfire, diesel knock)

 

✔ Low-speed steering (check for clunks, heavy steering, shudder)

 

✔ Highway speed (transmission shifts, vibrations, wheel balance)

 

✔ Braking (straight stop, no pulsation or squeal)

 

✔ Air-conditioning (common failure point)

 

✔ Electronics (windows, sensors, infotainment)

 

Never test drive without checking insurance coverage.

 

If the seller insists on "just around the block", treat it as a red flag.

 

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Step 5 — Check Service History & Odometer Patterns

 

Ask for:

• stamped logbooks

• repair invoices

• tyre receipts

• timing belt/chain history

• major service items

 

What to look for

• consistent dates

• consistent odometer increases

• servicing in same state (interstate gaps = risk)

• workshop letterheads that match seller's location

 

AUCN Tip:

 

Odometer issues are most common in private sales from QLD, SA, WA, and NT.

 

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Step 6 — Run an AUCN Car Report (Beyond PPSR)

 

PPSR is essential, but extremely limited — it doesn't show:

• odometer trends

• past market listings

• valuation ranges

• recall notices

• registration inconsistencies

• interstate movement

 

An AUCN Car Report adds these insights so buyers can judge:

• whether the price is fair

• whether the car has suspicious usage patterns

• whether the history matches the seller's story

 

Most problems that PPSR cannot detect appear in AUCN's extended data.

 

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Step 7 — Negotiate Using Facts (Not Feelings)

 

Use:

• AUCN valuation ranges

• comparable listings

• defects discovered during inspection

• upcoming service costs

• tyre/brake wear

• registration expiry

 

Do not use emotional bargaining ("It feels expensive").

Use documented reasoning.

 

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Step 8 — Complete the Transaction Safely

 

Do NOT:

• pay cash

• pay a deposit without receipt

• meet at seller's home alone

• sign handwritten agreements without details

• accept "rego will be transferred later" promises

 

Safe transaction methods

• PayID

• Bank transfer

• Banking app transfer with proof

• Written receipt with full legal names

 

Transfer the REGO immediately

 

Each state has different rules (NSW Service NSW, VIC VicRoads, QLD TMR etc.).

Transfer delays can result in fines or liability issues.

 

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10. Step 9 — Avoid the Most Common Private Sale Scams

 

Major Australian scam categories:

 

Fake seller identity

 

Stolen vehicle + cloned plates

 

Odometer rollback

 

Fake service books

 

"Selling for a friend overseas"

 

Marketplace/Gumtree escrow scams

 

Unrealistically low prices

 

If the price is 20–30% below market → assume something is wrong.

 

(Article #5 will cover Marketplace/Gumtree scams in depth.)

 

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Final AUCN Advice

 

Buying privately can be safe and cost-effective —

if you verify everything, document everything, and never skip checks.

 

AUCN Recommended Sequence:

 

PPSR Check → AUCN Car Report → In-person inspection → Test drive → Verify documents → Transfer rego

 

This process protects buyers from 90%+ of common private-sale risks.