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Buying a Second Hand Motor Vehicle

International Students Living in Australia

There are two things you should do before you buy a second hand car:

Have the vehicle inspected by a Licenced Vehicle Tester or independent reliable mechanic

This is to make sure that the car is in a sound mechanical condition.

Check the car on the Vehicles Securities Register

This check will let you know if there is still money (finance) owing on the vehicle – if the car has money owing on it do not buy the car as the debt will be transferred to you.

If there is no money owing on the car you can pay a small fee to receive a Certificate as legal proof there is no money outstanding on the car.

Before contacting the Vehicles Securities Register you will need to have the following information to supply to them.

  • Registration Number 
  • Engine Number
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Always test drive the car before you commit to buy it, before you drive the car make sure the car dealer has comprehensive insurance on the car. Because if he does not have comprehensive insurance and you test drive the car and have an accident you may be liable to damages.

If you decide to buy a car from a second hand dealer you may have to sign a contract or agreement between yourself and the car dealer.

Warranty

A licenced motor car trader must provide a Statutory Warranty on the car, if it is not more than 10 years old and has travelled less than 160,000 kilometres.

So if the car is older than 10 years or has more than 160,000 kilometres on the odometer then the car dealer does not have to supply you with a Statutory Warranty. You are buying the car unconditionally. Once again it is always wise to have the car tested.

Cars bought at Public Auction are not covered by a Statutory Warranty – generally you cannot arrange to have these vehicles tested before you purchase them.

The Statutory Warranty does not cover the following items:

Tyres, Batteries, Radios or CD players, Light Globes, tools, Cigarette lighters, Clocks, sealed beam lights, Non standard body hardware, non standard rear window de mister and any item listed on a Defect Notice. (The defect notice should be attached to the car when it is for Sale – if you buy the car, you must sign and receive a copy of the notice before the dealer can claim that the warranty does not apply.

Registration and Certificate of Roadworthiness

When you buy a registered car from a car dealer, they must issue you with a Certificate of Roadworthy. A Roadworthy Certificate deals with the safety of the vehicle, they last for 30 days after the date they are issued.

If you buy an unregistered car, you will have to arrange to have the car tested by a Licenced Vehicle Tester or mechanic which will enable a Certificate of Roadworthiness to be issued. You cannot register in your name until you possess a current Certificate of Roadworthiness. You are permitted to drive the car from the dealer to where you live and to a licenced tester.

If you purchase the car through a dealer it is there responsibility to send the Certificate of Roadworthy, Notice of Acquisition or Transfer of Ownership and a Certificate of Registration to the appropriate authority in the State you are residing within 7 days.

If you purchase a car privately through an advertisement or from the internet form a private seller, it is your responsibility to do this.    

All vehicles must be registered before you can drive on the road unless the registration has been suspended or the car is covered by a Unregistered Vehicle Permit.