Buying a used car in WA: the rules and the checks
Buying a used car in WA: the 14-day transfer, vehicle licence duty, dealer warranty tiers, why there is no cooling-off, and what to check before you pay.
WA is one of the few states with no cooling-off period at all, even with a dealer, and a normal WA-to-WA transfer needs no inspection. That makes the checks before you sign the whole of your protection.
Buying privately in WA
- No inspection is needed for a standard transfer of a WA-licensed car. Cars coming from interstate, or whose licence has lapsed, are different.
- You have 14 days to transfer the licence into your name (the seller has 7 days to notify), and penalties apply after that.
- Vehicle licence duty is yours to pay, usually worked out on the price you paid. If you buy from family, are given the car, or the price is well below what it is worth, it is worked out on market value instead. The rate is 2.75% up to $25,000, rising on a sliding scale to 6.5% above $50,000. A $30,000 car pays $1,050.
Buying from a dealer in WA
- There is no cooling-off period once you and the dealer have both signed.
- Statutory warranty applies to cars priced at $4,000 or more. Up to 10 years old and up to 150,000 km: 3 months or 5,000 km. Over 10 and up to 12 years old, or 150,000 to 180,000 km: 1 month or 1,500 km. Older or higher-km cars get none.
- A licensed dealer generally protects you from repossession if there was finance registered against the car.
Written-off cars in WA
A statutory write-off cannot be licensed again. A repairable write-off may be repaired and relicensed in WA, and the write-off stays on its record. Know about it before you agree a price.
Worth knowing in WA
- A car whose licence expired more than 15 days ago counts as unlicensed and cannot simply be transferred.
- Optional or personalised plates have to be transferred or handed back before the sale, so ask what plates the car is coming with.
- No cooling-off means a signature is final. Inspect the car and check the records before you sign anything.
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 WA 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
Do I need an inspection to transfer a used car in WA?
Not for a standard transfer of a WA-licensed car. Interstate cars and cars whose licence has lapsed need one.
Is there a cooling-off period on used cars in WA?
No. Once you and the dealer have both signed, there is no cooling-off period.
How much is stamp duty on a used car in WA?
Vehicle licence duty is 2.75% up to $25,000, rising to 6.5% above $50,000, usually on the price you paid. A $30,000 car pays $1,050.
How do I check a used car's history in WA?
Enter the plate and select WA. 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.