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Buying a used vehicle

Buying a used car? We've put together some guidance to help you.

Buying a second-hand vehicle is an exciting time, but it can also be daunting to navigate the steps involved. We’ve put together this guide on how to buy a vehicle from a private seller in Victoria, so you can complete the process smoothly and drive away with confidence.

It’s a good idea to check that you can log in to your myVicRoads account — this will be the easiest way to complete the vehicle transfer once you’re ready to buy a car. 

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    Step 1 - Before you buy

    Do your research

    So you’ve found a car you like (hooray!). It looks great, but how can you find out exactly what you’re getting? 

    You can check the vehicle’s registration status with a free VicRoads online registration check. This will give you basic information about the vehicle itself (e.g. year of manufacture). Make sure the physical vehicle matches the details you can see online.  The free registration check will also indicate if any classifications, disputes or sanctions apply to the vehicle. You can also arrange a vehicle inspection to help you make an informed decision. 

    Next up, cost. To avoid overpaying, find out the average price of the vehicle you’re wanting to buy. It’s also worth doing some research on how much the car costs to run, and factoring that into your decision. 

    You should ask the seller for proof that the vehicle is registered in their name. They can easily do this by showing you the vehicle listed in their myVicRoads app or account. We also suggest asking them the following questions:

    • Why are you selling? 
      Understanding the seller’s motivation may help you gauge their trustworthiness.
    • Do you have service and maintenance records?
      Regular servicing and maintenance records will help you understand the car's condition. 
    • Does it have keys and a spare tyre?
      Make sure you receive any essential accessories.
    • Has the car been modified?
      Modifications can affect a car's performance, value and even roadworthiness. Some vehicle modifications require certification. To check when certification is required, see Vehicle modifications.
    • Has it been in any accidents?
      If so, get details about the type of accidents, any damage and where it was repaired.  
    • Can I get the car inspected by a mechanic? 
      If the seller refuses, this is a red flag. 

    Look out for any warning signs of scams or dodgy deals. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Warning signs can include the seller unable to provide proof that they own the vehicle, using unusual contact methods (e.g. email addresses that don’t match their stated identity), putting pressure on you to make a quick decision, requesting unusual payment types (like gift card or cryptocurrency), insistence on meeting in unusual locations or refusing to provide or agree to vehicle reports or mechanical inspections.   

    You can help protect yourself by searching the vehicle on the registration check.

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    Step 2 - When you purchase the vehicle

    The seller should start the online transfer 

    When you collect your vehicle, make sure the seller is clear on what they need to do for the transfer.  They can begin the online transfer process in their myVicRoads account by completing the Notice of Disposal. You’ll need to exchange the following details:   

    You give the seller: 

    • your Victoria driver licence number or your VicRoads customer number (you can find this in your myVicRoads account). 
    • your family name (or the ACN, if you’re buying on behalf of a company or organisation). 

    The seller gives you:

    • the roadworthy certificate – it’s valid for 30 days and you’ll need this to transfer the vehicle (unless it has an exemption). A roadworthy certificate shows the vehicle is safe enough for driving, but doesn’t guarantee that it’s mechanically reliable.  
    • their details to complete the transfer. 

    If the seller prefers to fill in a paper form and not use myVicRoads for the transfer, you are required to keep a copy of that form.

    Once payment is made, we recommend you fill in a receipt with the seller, for your own records, that includes:  

    • your name, address and signature 
    • the seller’s name, address and phone number 
    • the vehicle’s details 
    • the date and time of the sale.  

    You can use this VicRoads receipt template. We suggest you hang on to the seller’s details, just in case. 

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    Step 3 - after you've bought the vehicle

    Complete the transfer

    Once the seller has submitted their part of the transfer, you’ll get a confirmation email to say the vehicle has been transferred into your myVicRoads account. If you haven’t received this email within 14 days, you can check with the seller that they’ve submitted the transfer, or contact VicRoads.

    You’ll then be able to finalise the transfer by paying the transfer fee and motor vehicle duty (if applicable).

    And then you’re done! Nothing left to do now but drive off into the sunset with your new set of wheels.

Key takeaways

Set up or check your access to your myVicRoads account.