Before paying for a used vehicle in Australia there are four basic checks: search it on the PPSR for $2, confirm the seller is on the register, check that the VIN matches the paperwork and know which certificate that state asks for. After that you have 14 days to put it in your name in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA) and Tasmania.
All amounts are in Australian dollars.
What do you check before paying?
- Debts, theft and write-off. A search on the PPSR, the national register of security interests, costs $2 per vehicle and shows debts, total write-off and theft. If there is a debt, Queensland says it must be cleared before you pay.
- The seller. Queensland says to confirm they are the registered owner, with their licence and the registration certificate. Victoria also says to ask for identification.
- The vehicle. The number plate, build date, VIN and engine number must match the registration certificate.
- The registration. In NSW, the free search by number plate shows the expiry date, whether it is suspended or cancelled, restrictions and the CTP insurer.
- The mechanics. Consumer Affairs Victoria speaks of an independent inspection before accepting or paying a deposit, and of not buying if the seller refuses. For reference, the Tasmanian club RACT publishes $350 for non-members.
In Victoria there is also the VicRoads Vehicle Report, with registration history, odometer reading, PPSR certificate and recent prices for similar vehicles.
Signs of a stolen car, according to Victoria: they ask for all or almost all of the price in cash, they bring the car to you or wait outside the address without going in, or the price is well below market.
What changes for vans and campers with gas?
In Queensland, a vehicle with a gas installation needs a gas certificate less than 3 months old, and caravans and motorhomes are not exempt. The seller provides it. We have not confirmed this rule in other states.
Trailers and caravans of between 750 and 4,500 kg also need a safety certificate in Queensland.
Private seller or licensed dealer: what protection is there?
| Queensland | Victoria | SA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling-off period, with a licensed dealer | 1 business day | 3 business days | 2 business days |
| Statutory warranty, with a licensed dealer | Under 10 years and 160,000 km. The page gives two different durations | 3 months or 5,000 km, for under 10 years and 160,000 km | Not confirmed |
| Private purchase | No cooling-off period or warranty | No cooling-off period or warranty | No cooling-off period |
Watch out with vans: Victoria excludes vehicles classed as commercial from the warranty and the cooling-off period. In Queensland and Victoria, taking the vehicle away during that period also ends it.
Does it matter which state it is registered in?
Yes, and a lot if you plan to change state. A vehicle from another state usually needs an inspection and more in-person paperwork:
- NSW: an inspection report valid for up to 42 days and a visit to a centre.
- WA: an inspection and a transfer permit. A WA registration cannot be transferred to someone who does not live in WA.
- SA: a $75 identity inspection and $35 plates.
The detail is in rego, inspections and transfer by state.
There is also paperwork if you do not have a local licence. In NSW you do not need a licence, but you do need a customer number. In Queensland you must prove an address there if you are a new customer.
How much do you pay on top of the price?
We do not publish market prices for vans: we have not opened any official source that gives them. There are taxes and fees:
| State | Duty | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | $3 per $100 | $42, or $193 if late |
| Victoria | $8.40 per $200 | Not confirmed |
| Queensland | $3 to $4 per $100, depending on cylinders | Not confirmed |
| WA | Official calculator | $20.50 |
| SA | Official calculator | $33, or $108 if late |
Example with a $6,000 vehicle, by our calculation: in NSW, $180 duty plus a $42 fee. In Victoria, $252 duty.
Duty is calculated on the higher of the price and the market value. Victoria and SA provide penalties for under-declaring.
Insurance also comes into play when you buy: see what CTP and third-party insurance cover. And if you are going to drive on your own licence, the rules change by state.
What we could not confirm
- The PPSR website did not respond: its price comes from the Queensland and Victoria pages.
- Purchase rules in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, because we could not check their websites.
- The gas certificate outside Queensland and the exact length of the warranty in Queensland.
Sources
All viewed on 5 November 2026. The RACT one is from a third party; the rest are official.
- Queensland: buying a used vehicle
- Queensland: in-person transfer
- Queensland: safety certificate
- Queensland: duty rates, updated in March 2023
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: private seller
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: checking the status
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: inspection
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: cooling-off period
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: warranties
- SRO Victoria: rates
- SRO Victoria: calculation
- NSW: buying and registering
- NSW: fees
- Service NSW: duty
- Service NSW: vehicle from another state
- WA: buying
- WA: selling
- WA: duty and fee
- SA: transfer
- SA: vehicle from another state
- SA: cooling-off period
- SA: duty
- RACT: inspections