Guides
Vehicle buying guides
Everything Australian car buyers need to know about PPSR checks, write-off rules, vehicle valuations, and buying safely.
PPSR & Finance
What is a PPSR check and why do you need one before buying a used car?
Learn what the Personal Property Securities Register is, what a PPSR check reveals about a vehicle, and why it matters before you buy a used car in Australia.
Read guide7 min readPPSR check: free vs paid — is it worth paying for a vehicle history report?
Compare the free government PPSR check with paid vehicle history reports. What each option covers, what it misses, and whether paying $5-$15 is worth it.
Read guide6 min readHow to check if a car has finance owing before you buy
How to find out if a used car has outstanding finance or a loan registered against it, and what happens if you buy a vehicle with money owing.
Read guide6 min readWhat happens if you buy a car with money owing on it?
The legal and financial consequences of buying a vehicle with undisclosed finance in Australia. Your rights, the seller's obligations, and how to protect yourself.
Read guideVehicle Safety
How to check if a car has been written off in Australia
A step-by-step guide to checking whether a vehicle has been declared a statutory or repairable write-off in any Australian state or territory.
Read guide5 min readHow to check if a car is stolen in Australia
How to verify whether a vehicle has been reported stolen before you buy it. What databases are checked, what the results mean, and what to do if something is flagged.
Read guide7 min readStatutory vs repairable write-off: what's the difference and can you buy one?
The difference between statutory and repairable write-offs in Australia, whether you can legally buy or re-register one, and the risks involved.
Read guide6 min readNSW write-off rules explained: categories, re-registration, and what buyers need to know
New South Wales has the strictest write-off rules in Australia. Learn how NSW write-off categories work and why they matter for used car buyers.
Read guide6 min readVIC write-off and TAC rules: what used car buyers should know
How Victoria handles written-off vehicles, the WOVR inspection process, TAC insurance, and what to check before buying a used car in VIC.
Read guideBuying Used Cars
Is it safe to buy a car from Facebook Marketplace? A buyer's checklist
What to watch for when buying a used car on Facebook Marketplace in Australia. Common scams, red flags, and the checks every buyer should do first.
Read guide10 min readThe complete used car buying checklist for Australia (2026)
A step-by-step checklist covering everything from researching vehicles online to signing the contract. What to check, what to ask, and what paperwork you need.
Read guide7 min readHow to negotiate the price of a used car in Australia
Practical negotiation tactics for Australian used car buyers. How to research fair pricing, when to walk away, and how to use vehicle history data as leverage.
Read guide7 min readPrivate sale vs dealer: where to buy a used car in Australia
The pros and cons of buying a used car from a private seller versus a licensed dealer in Australia. Consumer protections, pricing differences, and which is safer.
Read guide8 min readBuying a car interstate in Australia: rego transfer, costs, and risks
What to know before buying a car from another state. Interstate rego transfer process, costs by state, inspection requirements, and hidden risks to watch for.
Read guide8 min read10 red flags when buying a used car (and how to spot them)
The most common warning signs that a used car has hidden problems. From mismatched paint to suspicious pricing, learn what to look for before you buy.
Read guide9 min readFirst car buyer's guide Australia: what to check before you buy
A beginner-friendly guide for first-time car buyers in Australia. Budget planning, what to look for, insurance basics, and the checks every new buyer should do.
Read guideReviews & Comparisons
CarHistory review 2026 — is $40 worth it?
An honest review of Equifax CarHistory in 2026. What you get, what you don't, pricing breakdown, and how it compares to cheaper alternatives.
Read guide7 min readHow car valuations work in Australia: Glass's Guide, RedBook, and live market data
How Glass's Guide, RedBook, and live market platforms value vehicles in Australia. What each method measures and how to use valuations when buying or selling.
Read guide7 min readCarFacts review 2026 — is $34 worth it?
An honest review of CarFacts vehicle history reports in 2026. What's included, what's missing, pricing, and how it compares to cheaper alternatives like RegoVerify.
Read guide9 min readBest vehicle history check in Australia 2026: every option compared
A side-by-side comparison of every vehicle history check available in Australia. PPSR direct, CarHistory, CarFacts, RevsCheck, and RegoVerify ranked by price, coverage, and value.
Read guide6 min readRevsCheck review 2026 — cheapest PPSR check in Australia?
A detailed review of RevsCheck (revs.com.au) in 2026. What the $7.90 report covers, its limitations, and whether it's the best budget option for Australian car buyers.
Read guideBuying by State
Buying a used car in Queensland: QLD write-off rules and rego checks
Everything you need to know about buying a used car in Queensland. QLD write-off categories, rego transfer process, safety certificate requirements, and vehicle history checks.
Read guide7 min readBuying a used car in Western Australia: WA vehicle history and rego checks
A guide to buying a used car in Western Australia. WA licensing rules, write-off checks, vehicle inspection requirements, and how to verify a car's history.
Read guide6 min readBuying a used car in South Australia: SA write-off rules explained
How to buy a used car safely in South Australia. SA write-off categories, vehicle inspection rules, rego transfer costs, and what a vehicle history check reveals.
Read guide6 min readBuying a used car in Tasmania: TAS rego checks and stolen vehicle data gaps
What to know before buying a used car in Tasmania. TAS rego transfer, vehicle inspections, and the critical stolen vehicle data gap that PPSR reports may not cover.
Read guide6 min readBuying a used car in the Northern Territory: NT vehicle checks explained
A guide to buying a used car in the Northern Territory. NT rego transfer process, vehicle inspection requirements, write-off rules, and why a history check matters.
Read guide6 min readBuying a used car in the ACT: vehicle inspections and rego checks
Everything ACT car buyers need to know. Vehicle inspection requirements, rego transfer process, write-off categories, and how to check a vehicle's history in Canberra.
Read guideScams & Fraud
How to detect odometer tampering on a used car in Australia
How odometer fraud works, why it's still common in Australia, and the practical steps you can take to detect a rolled-back odometer before buying a used car.
Read guide7 min readWhat is vehicle rebirthing and how do you spot it?
How criminals use stolen vehicles and write-off identities to create 'rebirthed' cars. What vehicle rebirthing is, how it works, and how to protect yourself.
Read guide8 min readUsed car scams in Australia: how to protect yourself
The most common used car scams targeting Australian buyers in 2026. Online listing fraud, fake sellers, deposit scams, and how to verify everything before paying.
Read guide6 min readWhat is curbsiding? How unlicensed dealers disguise themselves as private sellers
How curbsiders operate in Australia, why buying from one is risky, and the telltale signs that a 'private seller' is actually an unlicensed dealer flipping cars.
Read guideSafety Recalls
Takata airbag recall Australia: is your car affected?
Everything you need to know about the Takata airbag recall in Australia. Which vehicles are affected, how to check yours, what to do if your car is on the list, and the legal deadline.
Read guide6 min readHow vehicle safety recalls work in Australia
How vehicle recalls are issued in Australia, who enforces them, manufacturer vs voluntary recalls, and how to check if any vehicle has outstanding safety recalls.
Read guide6 min readMost common car recalls in Australia and how to check yours
The most frequently recalled components in Australian vehicles — airbags, engines, seatbelts, and brakes. How to check your car's recall status for free.
Read guideFinance & Legal
Your consumer law rights when buying a used car in Australia
What Australian Consumer Law says about buying used cars. Your rights with private sellers vs dealers, statutory warranties, cooling-off periods, and how to make a claim.
Read guide7 min readNovated lease vs chattel mortgage: which is better for buying a car?
A plain-English comparison of novated leases and chattel mortgages in Australia. Tax benefits, ownership, end-of-term options, and which suits your situation.
Read guide6 min readWhat is simultaneous settlement when buying a car with finance owing?
How simultaneous settlement works when buying a vehicle that still has money owing. The process, risks, and how to protect yourself during a finance payout.
Read guide7 min readBuying a car at auction in Australia: what you need to know
How car auctions work in Australia, the risks of buying at auction, what checks to do beforehand, and your consumer rights when the hammer falls.
Read guideVehicle Types
Motorbike rego check Australia: what a motorcycle history report reveals
Why a rego check matters just as much for motorbikes. What a motorcycle history report covers, common issues with used bikes, and how to check before you buy.
Read guide6 min readBoat HIN check Australia: how to verify a boat's history before buying
How to check a boat's Hull Identification Number (HIN), what a marine history report covers, PPSR checks for boats, and the risks of buying without checking.
Read guide6 min readCaravan and trailer rego check: what to look for before buying
What to check before buying a used caravan or trailer in Australia. PPSR registration, finance checks, stolen vehicle data, and common issues with used caravans.
Read guide8 min readBuying a used electric vehicle in Australia: EV history checks explained
What's different about buying a used EV. Battery health, warranty transfers, charging infrastructure, and why a vehicle history check matters even more for electric cars.
Read guide6 min readHow vehicle history affects your car insurance premiums
How a vehicle's history — write-offs, claims, modifications, and finance — can affect your insurance premiums. What insurers check and how to avoid surprises.
Read guideGet started
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