The Safest Way To Buy A Used Vehicle In Australia

Unfortunately, when you buy a stolen vehicle, you can lose both the car – and the money you paid for it.

Protect Yourself For Only $2

You can do an instant self-serve VIN check at ppsr.gov.au – the government’s Personal Property Securities Register. You can pay $20-30 for a 3rd party check, but all you’ll be paying for is the same check – on a better-looking certificate.

Ensure That The VIN Is Consistent

Your VIN appears in three places – the front of the windshield, the driver’s door jamb and inside the engine bay. Before you run the PPSR, ensure that all three match (treat a mismatched VIN as an instant deal-breaker).

Learn About The Car’s History

The PPSR will tell you two things. First, whether anyone owes money on the car. This is important because the debt follows the car – and will become your problem. Second, the check will tell you whether the car was ever stolen or written off.

Why do criminals love written-off cars?

A wrecked car may be dead, but it still has an identity. Its VIN can be used by someone who as a stolen car of the same make and model to give that car a new life. Police estimates that around $3,000 vehicles in Australia are rebirthed this way annually.

What are the two different types of write-offs that you need to know about?

Statutory Write-Off

This car is so badly damaged that authorities deem it unable to be roadworthy ever again. It’s dead forever, period.

Repairable Write-Off

This car usually returns to the road – after the government is satisfied that repairs returned it to a roadworthy condition.

How To Buy Your Car Privately

Follow these steps to minimise risk – and avoid being ripped off.

  • If it walks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Be smart – if the car is being sold significantly under market value, or the owner doesn’t look like they can afford that BMW M5, it’s probably better to walk away.
  • Same goes for other aspects of the deal. Is the buyer insisting on a rushed sale? A cash-only transaction? Are they appearing pushy? Nervous. Keep in mind that cars are commodities – there are hundreds out there of the same model. Resist one-itis.
  • A professional inspection is almost always a great idea. Think of them as an insurance policy – you’re paying a few hundred dollars to protect your investment. This is particularly important when buying high-performance vehicles. For example, a new replacement gearbox for a 2010 Audi RS6 costs about $15,000 – about 30% of the cost of the car itself.
  • The inspection can also surface evidence of crash damage (e.g., resprayed body panels, non-OEM parts) that the owner may be reluctant to tell you about.