Buying a Used Car? What to Check Before You Pay
Buying a used car can be exciting, but it's worth slowing down before you hand over your money.
A vehicle can look great in photos and feel fine on a quick drive while still having problems, paperwork issues or history you may not know about. A few proper checks before you pay can give you a much clearer picture of what you're actually buying.
Check the history, VIN, paperwork, condition and how the vehicle drives before you hand over your money.
A PPSR search and a Pre-Purchase Inspection answer different questions, and both can give you useful information before you decide to buy.
Start With a PPSR Search and the Paperwork
Before worrying about shiny paint or how good the car feels to drive, make sure the vehicle itself and the paperwork actually stack up.
What Is a PPSR Search?
The Personal Property Securities Register, or PPSR, is the Australian Government register used to check whether a security interest is recorded against a vehicle.
For a used car search, you use the vehicle's VIN or chassis number. The online self-service search currently costs $2 and gives you a search certificate showing the result.
The search may also include recorded information about whether the vehicle has been reported stolen or written off.
Do the Official $2 PPSR SearchWhat a PPSR Search Can Tell You
- A security interest recorded against the VIN
- Available written-off information
- Available stolen vehicle information
- Vehicle details such as make, model and colour
- An official search certificate for your records
What It Doesn't Tell You
- The amount of finance owing
- The current owner or ownership history
- The odometer reading
- Outstanding fines
- Whether the car is mechanically a good buy
Mossy's Tip: Do the Search Again on the Day You Buy
PPSR recommends searching when you're considering the vehicle and again on the actual day of purchase so you're working with the most up-to-date result before the money changes hands.
VIN & Vehicle Details
Compare the VIN on the vehicle with the registration information and any paperwork the seller gives you.
Don't run the PPSR search using a number plate. Use the VIN or chassis number.
Seller & Paperwork
Make sure the vehicle and seller information makes sense and ask questions if anything is inconsistent, missing or unclear.
Don't let pressure from a seller rush you past something that doesn't add up.
Service & Maintenance History
Ask to see service books, invoices or maintenance records that can help show how the vehicle has been looked after.
Missing service history doesn't automatically mean a bad car, but it's worth understanding why.
Private purchases don't come with the same cooling-off period or statutory warranty available in certain dealer purchases, and the private seller doesn't have to give you a PPSR certificate or clear-title guarantee. That's another reason to do your own checks before paying. Read the Queensland Government information →
Have a Proper Look Around the Car
A clean interior and shiny paint can make a car look great at first glance. Take a little longer and look at the whole vehicle.
- Uneven gaps between body panels
- Paint colours or finishes that don't quite match
- Dents, rust or obvious previous repairs
- Cracks or chips in the windscreen
- Condition of the lights and mirrors
- Uneven or excessive tyre wear
- Warning lights on the dashboard
- Fluid visible underneath the vehicle
You can notice the obvious things yourself. Anything you're unsure about is better checked properly before you buy.
Tyres, Bodywork & Warning Signs
You don't need to be a mechanic to notice some of the more obvious signs that a used vehicle deserves a closer look.
Tyres
Look at all four tyres, their general condition and whether the wear appears reasonably even.
Uneven wear can be worth asking about before you buy.
Body & Paint
Look for mismatched paint, unusual panel gaps, rust, dents or signs that repairs may have been carried out.
Ask the seller about previous accident damage or body repairs.
Warning Signs
Dashboard lights, unusual smells, leaks or strange noises shouldn't be dismissed because the car otherwise looks good.
Find out what is causing a concern before you agree to buy.
Don't Skip the Test Drive
Starting the engine in someone's driveway isn't the same as driving the vehicle. Give yourself enough time to notice how it actually behaves on the road.
Listen to how it starts and whether the engine settles into a normal, consistent idle.
Notice whether the steering feels unusual or whether the vehicle pulls noticeably to one side.
Pay attention to how the brakes feel and whether you notice vibration, pulling or unusual noises.
Notice how the vehicle changes gears and listen for clunks, rattles, squeaks or other unusual sounds.
If Something Doesn't Feel Right, Don't Just Hope It's Nothing
You don't need to diagnose the problem yourself. It simply means you need more information before committing to the vehicle.
Where a Pre-Purchase Inspection Fits In
There is only so much you can learn from photos, paperwork and your own test drive.
A Pre-Purchase Inspection gives you another set of experienced eyes on the vehicle before you make your final decision.
Mossy can look over key areas of the vehicle and give you feedback about visible issues or concerns you may not have picked up yourself.
That can be especially useful if you've noticed something during the test drive, you're not sure about the condition of the car, or you simply want more information before handing over your money.
View Pre-Purchase InspectionsRoadworthy vs Pre-Purchase
A Roadworthy, officially called a Safety Certificate in Queensland, checks the vehicle against the applicable minimum safety requirements covered by that inspection at the time it is inspected.
A Pre-Purchase Inspection is aimed at giving you more information about the vehicle's condition before you decide whether you want to buy it.
A Safety Certificate isn't designed to tell you whether a car is a good purchase for you, and a Pre-Purchase Inspection doesn't replace the required Queensland Safety Certificate where one is needed.
One Last Used Car Checklist
Found the car you want? Before you pay, run back through the important checks one last time.
The VIN and vehicle details match the paperwork.
You've completed your own PPSR search.
You've looked through the available service history.
You've properly test driven the vehicle.
Anything that looked, sounded or felt wrong has been checked.
You've checked the required Queensland paperwork and Safety Certificate where applicable.
You're comfortable with the condition and the price you're paying.
If you're unsure, you've arranged a Pre-Purchase Inspection before committing.
Get Mossy to Take a Look Before You Buy
Mossy's Mobile RWC provides mobile Pre-Purchase Inspections across the Gold Coast, so the vehicle can be inspected where it is before you make your final decision.
View Pre-Purchase Inspections