Dealers and Car Yards
Dealer and Car Yard Pre-Purchase Inspection
Buying from a licensed dealer? You get a cooling-off period of 1 business day, and an independent inspection doesn’t end it. We inspect at car yards and dealerships across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and the report arrives the same day.
Dealer Sales
What a Dealer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checks
A dealer pre-purchase inspection is an independent check of a car on a licensed dealer’s yard, done for you, not the dealer. InspectCar’s Standard inspection ($250) covers 150 points, from the engine and gearbox to the brakes, steering, tyres, body and electrics, with paint-depth spot checks, a scan for fault codes and a road test of 5 to 7 km where the dealer allows it. Premium ($395) covers 250+ points and adds full paint-depth mapping, live diagnostic data and a market valuation, which helps when you’re negotiating on the yard. Both come with a PPSR certificate and a report with photos the same day.
In Queensland, a used car from a licensed dealer comes with a cooling-off period of 1 business day, and taking the car for an independent inspection doesn’t end it. Book the inspection before you sign, or inside that window.
Your rights at a licensed dealer, from the Queensland Government’s cooling-off rules:
01
Cooling-Off
- 1 business day on most used cars
- Ends 5pm on the dealer's next business day
- A test drive or an independent inspection doesn't end it
- Driving the car home does
02
Statutory Warranty
- Class A: under 160,000 km and under 10 years old
- Class A lasts 3 months or 5,000 km
- Class B, for older or higher-kilometre cars: 1 month or 1,000 km
- None on caravans or written-off cars
03
Paperwork
- The cooling-off form before you sign, or you get 7 days
- A safety certificate, valid 3 months or 1,000 km
- Clear title is guaranteed: ask for the PPSR certificate
- A deposit kept if you cancel can't be more than $100
04
No Cooling-Off
- Consignment cars, sold for someone else
- Cars bought at auction
- Commercial vehicles and caravans
- Unregistered cars sold for wrecking
On the Yard
What Sale Preparation Can Hide
The things a tidy-up before sale can cover, and the inspection still finds:
Service History
Books or printouts that match the odometer
Recent Tidy-Ups
Fresh paint or a cleaned engine bay that can hide leaks or repairs
Fault Codes
Stored codes, even when the dash is clear
Tyres
Tread, age, and mismatched cheap replacements
Paint and Panels
Hidden panel repairs, found by measuring the paint
Interior
Wear that doesn't match the kilometres
Road Test
Gearbox, brakes and steering, where the dealer allows a drive
PPSR
Write-off, stolen and finance records
Car Yards
Where We Inspect Dealer Cars
We go to the yard, so the car doesn’t have to go anywhere. Dealer areas we cover include:
Southside Brisbane
Moorooka, Rocklea and Salisbury, along Ipswich Road
Northside Brisbane
Eagle Farm and Hendra
Logan
Slacks Creek, Underwood and Springwood
Gold Coast
Dealers from Southport and Arundel to Robina
Sunshine Coast
Dealers from Caloundra to Noosa, booked by phone
Auction Houses
During viewing times, before the sale
Auctions
Buying at a Car Auction
Licensed auctioneers must announce whether a car has a statutory warranty and whether it’s a repairable or statutory write-off. You usually can’t test drive before bidding, but you can inspect the car during viewing. Ex-Queensland Government cars are sold at public auction too. More on buying at auction.
Viewing Day
We inspect during the auction house's viewing times
No Test Drive
Usually none before bidding, so the static checks matter more
Write-Off Status
Announced by the auctioneer, and on the PPSR
Set Your Limit
Premium's valuation helps you decide how high to bid
Before You Bid
Inspect before the sale, and bid with the report in hand.
Can I get an inspection during the cooling-off period?
Yes. Taking the car for an independent inspection doesn’t end your cooling-off rights, and we come to the yard. The period is only 1 business day, so book quickly.
Will the dealer let you inspect the car?
Ask the dealer first and agree a time for the inspection. We arrange the rest with you.
Does a dealer's safety certificate mean the car is fine?
No. A safety certificate covers basic safety items only, not the engine, the gearbox or the car’s overall condition. A dealer’s certificate lasts 3 months or 1,000 km.
Is a consignment car covered by cooling-off?
No. The dealer must tell you it’s a consignment car, and there’s no cooling-off period, so have it inspected before you sign.
How much is a dealer inspection?
$250 for Standard or $395 for Premium, with a PPSR certificate. See the packages.
Book a Dealer or Auction Inspection
Standard $250 or Premium $395, at the yard or the auction, with a PPSR certificate and the report the same day. Book online or call 1800 372 001.