Buying from a Licensed Used Car Dealer

RACQ and the Office of Fair Trading advice is to buy from a reputable, licensed used car dealer. Dealers have their reputation to protect and will guarantee clear title on the cars they sell. The dealer must produce a "REVS" (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) certificate issued by the Office of Fair Trading, which can be relied on provided it is issued on the day of sale. If you doubt its authenticity, conduct your own check.

All dealers are required to display a current Safety Certificate on all registered vehicles.
Added Protection

An Auctioneers and Agents Fidelity Guarantee (AAFG) fund is in existence. The purpose of this fund is to reimburse people who suffer monetary loss in connection with their dealings with a licensed motor dealer. If a vehicle is purchased in good faith and found to be stolen or is repossessed by a finance company, the purchase cost MAY be able to be recovered from the AAFG fund.

However, RACQ and the Office of Fair Trading recommend that it is best to avoid losing your money by following the advice in the section Buyers Checklist. The Office of Fair Trading administers the Auctioneers and Agents Act covering this fund.

Buying Privately

Buying privately always contains an element of risk unless you know and can trust the seller. Many advertisements for "private sales" are really for cars being sold by unlicensed backyard dealers, and the risk of buying a stolen car can be high.

Even experienced dealers have been fooled by car thieves who re-identify cars using stolen parts. But it is a fact that prices offered by private sellers can be lower than those offered for an equivalent vehicle in a car yard.