- Private Sales and Marketplace
Private Sale and Marketplace Car Inspection
Buying from a private seller or a Facebook Marketplace listing? You get no cooling-off period and no warranty, so the inspection is your protection. We inspect the car at the seller’s place across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and send you the report and a PPSR certificate the same day.
What a Private Sale Car Inspection Checks
A private sale car inspection checks a used car before you pay a private seller, where the law gives you the least protection. In Queensland, a private seller isn’t bound by consumer guarantees, and you get no cooling-off period and no statutory warranty. The Standard inspection ($250) goes through 150 points across the engine, gearbox, brakes, tyres, body and electrics, including paint-depth spot checks, a scan for fault codes and a road test if the car can be driven. Premium ($395) takes it to 250+ points, with paint-depth mapping across the car, live diagnostic data and a market valuation with negotiation tips.
Both include a PPSR certificate, which a private seller doesn’t have to give you, showing whether money is owing or the car is recorded as written off or stolen. The report arrives the same day, before you hand over any money.
- PPSR Included
- At the Seller's Place
Private Sales
What You Don’t Get From a Private Seller
Compared with buying from a licensed dealer, a private sale comes without:
A cooling-off period
A statutory warranty
Extended warranties or care packages
A PPSR certificate from the seller
A clear title guarantee
The claim fund, if something goes wrong
Before You Pay
Checks to Make Before You Pay a Private Seller
The Queensland Government’s advice for buying privately comes down to a few checks, and the seller has to hand over a current safety certificate when the registration is transferred:
- A current safety certificate: for a private sale it lasts 2 months or 2,000 km
- A PPSR certificate: a printed one is proof of clear title for 24 hours
- The VIN, registration and engine numbers matching the paperwork
- If in doubt, the police can check the car isn't stolen
- An independent inspection, and a test drive
If money is owed on the car and the seller defaults, the lender can repossess it from you, so don’t buy without clear title.
Marketplace
Buying From Facebook Marketplace
Online listings make a car easy to find, and easy to fake. Before you travel or pay:
Meet at a Real Address
See the car at the seller's home or workplace, not a car park
No Deposit Unseen
Don't pay to hold a car you haven't seen or had inspected
Check the Seller
The name on the registration papers should match the person selling
Pay Safely
Pay the registered owner directly, once you're happy with the report
We can call the seller to arrange the inspection, so you don’t have to make the trip until you know the car is worth it.
Negotiating
Using the Report to Negotiate
A private seller sets their own price, and the findings give you something concrete to talk about. With the report in hand, you can:
- Ask for a lower price based on the findings
- Ask the seller to fix problems before you pay
- Agree a price that allows for work coming up
- Walk away if the faults are serious
Premium's market valuation range gives your offer a basis.
Evidence, Not Opinion
Photos and findings to show the seller
Offer a fair price
Fixes before handover
Walk away early
FAQ
Private Sale Car Inspection Questions
More answers on our FAQs page, and in our guide to whether an inspection is worth it.
Will a private seller let you inspect the car?
Ask before you commit. We can call the seller to agree a time, and a seller who won’t allow an inspection is worth thinking twice about.
Does the seller have to give me a safety certificate?
Yes, for a registered car. The seller must give you a current safety certificate when the registration is transferred, and you can’t transfer it without one. It covers basic safety items only.
Is the PPSR certificate included?
Yes, with Standard and Premium. A private seller doesn’t have to give you one, and it shows whether money is owing on the car.
Do I need to be at the inspection?
No. We meet the seller at the car, and the report and photos come to you the same day.
How much is a private sale inspection?
Standard costs $250 and Premium $395. A PPSR certificate comes with both. Compare the packages.
Book a Private Sale Inspection
Before you pay a private seller, get the car checked where it’s parked: Standard $250 or Premium $395, with a PPSR certificate and the report the same day. Book online, or call 1800 372 001.