A private used-car sale isn’t done when the money changes hands — the registration has to be transferred, and getting the paperwork wrong can leave the seller liable for tolls and fines, or the buyer hit with unexpected debt on the car. Here’s what each side needs to do.
Before you buy: do these checks
- Run a PPSR check. The Personal Property Securities Register tells you whether the car has money owing on it, has been written off, or reported stolen. If there’s a security interest, that debt can follow the car to you. A check costs only a couple of dollars and is essential.
- Confirm the registration status. Check the rego is current and matches the VIN and plates. A car sold with expired rego can’t legally be driven home.
- Get the right inspection. In states like Victoria and Queensland the seller must provide a Roadworthy/Safety Certificate for a registered sale.
Selling: protect yourself with a Notice of Disposal
The single most important step for a seller is lodging a Notice of Disposal (NoD) with your transport authority — usually within 14 days of the sale. This formally records that you no longer own the vehicle. Until it’s lodged, you can remain on the hook for:
- Toll charges and parking/speed fines incurred by the new owner;
- Liability questions if the car is involved in an incident.
Always record the buyer’s full name, address and the date and time of sale.
Buying: transfer the rego into your name
As the buyer, you generally must transfer the registration within 14 days of purchase to avoid a late-transfer penalty. To do it you’ll typically need:
- The completed transfer form (or the online transfer via your state portal);
- Proof of purchase / sale details;
- A current safety/roadworthy certificate where required;
- Payment of stamp duty (vehicle transfer duty), which is calculated on the purchase price or market value and varies by state — this can be a significant cost on a more expensive car;
- The transfer fee.
After the transfer
- Buyer: Arrange your own insurance immediately, and note the rego’s existing expiry date — buying a car mid-cycle means its renewal may come up sooner than you expect.
- Seller: Cancel or transfer any direct debits and confirm the NoD was received.
The renewal trap for buyers
Here’s the part people miss: when you buy a used car, you inherit its existing registration expiry date, not a fresh 12 months. If you buy a car in October and its rego expires in December, that bill is yours just two months later. As soon as the transfer is done, add the car’s rego expiry to the free Renewal Reminder App so the first renewal under your ownership doesn’t catch you off guard — and read what happens if it lapses if you’re tempted to let it slide.