Buying a used car in Victoria: the rules and the checks
Buying a used car in Victoria: the seller's roadworthy certificate, the 14-day transfer, stamp duty, dealer cooling-off and warranty, and write-off rules.
Victoria puts more of the work on the seller than most states: a registered car can't usually be transferred without a current Roadworthy Certificate. That is a useful safety floor. It is not a history check, and it says nothing about money owing, a write-off record or how the car has been treated.
Buying privately in Victoria
- The seller gives you a Roadworthy Certificate (RWC), which is valid for 30 days. You need it to transfer the registration unless the car is exempt.
- You must tell VicRoads about the transfer within 14 days.
- Stamp duty is yours to pay, worked out on the purchase price or the market value, whichever is greater.
- An unregistered car is sold without plates, and you need an unregistered vehicle permit to drive it anywhere.
Buying from a dealer in Victoria
- Statutory warranty: a car under 10 years old with under 160,000 km gets 3 months or 5,000 km. There is no statutory warranty on motorcycles, commercial vehicles or cars bought at auction.
- Cooling-off: 3 clear business days. If you cancel, the dealer can keep $100 or 1% of the price, whichever is greater. Taking delivery of the car ends the cooling-off period, and it does not apply to company purchases or commercial vehicles.
- A licensed dealer generally protects you from repossession if there was finance registered against the car.
Written-off cars in Victoria
A statutory write-off can never be re-registered. A repairable write-off can be, after it is repaired and passes a written-off vehicle inspection (a VIV certificate) as well as getting an RWC. The write-off stays on its record, and it will be worth less when you come to sell it.
Worth knowing in Victoria
- Don't let the seller rush the RWC. One that is about to pass its 30 days leaves you no time to transfer.
- Cooling-off ends when you drive away, so do your checking before you take delivery, not after.
- Bought at auction? No statutory warranty applies, so the inspection is everything.
The checks that are the same in every state
- 1.Before you travel, check money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status. Money owing matters most on a private sale.
- 2.On arrival, check the VIN on the car matches the rego papers, and the seller's licence matches the name and address on them.
- 3.Inspect it cold, in daylight, and drive it for at least 15 minutes. Check the faults that model is known for: the used car inspection guide goes through it.
- 4.Pay by bank transfer to the account in the name on the papers, and get a signed receipt with the VIN, plate, price and date.
The whole process, start to finish, is in how to buy a used car in Australia.
A KickTyres Vehicle Check reads the official records for one Australian plate: money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status, alongside the documented faults for that model and engine. A$17.90, or A$28.90 with the guided inspection.
Check a Victoria plate before you pay
Enter the plate and state. The Vehicle Check shows money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status, plus the documented faults for that exact model. A$17.90.
Check the model before you view
Every documented fault for these models, with the years and engines each one applies to.
Frequently asked questions
Does the seller need a roadworthy certificate in Victoria?
Yes, in most cases. The seller provides a Roadworthy Certificate, valid for 30 days, which you need to transfer the registration unless the car is exempt.
Is there a cooling-off period on used cars in Victoria?
From a licensed dealer, yes: 3 clear business days. The dealer can keep $100 or 1% of the price, whichever is greater, and taking delivery ends it.
What warranty do I get on a used car in Victoria?
From a licensed dealer, 3 months or 5,000 km on a car under 10 years old with under 160,000 km. None on cars bought at auction, motorcycles or commercial vehicles.
How do I check a used car's history in Victoria?
Enter the plate and select Victoria. The KickTyres Vehicle Check shows money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status, plus the documented faults for that model, for A$17.90.