Every person who sells a car has to obtain and pay for a Safety Certificate (previously known as a Roadworthiness Certificate) before offering a vehicle for sale to give to the purchaser.

A Safety Certificate is not a guarantee that a car is in good mechanical condition. It simply indicates the car was safe to drive at the time the certificate was issued.

A car can be safe to drive and have a Safety Certificate but could still be developing major faults in components such as the engine or transmission that could cost the buyer hundreds of dollars to repair.

If you are buying a used car from a licensed dealer, you will get a statutory warranty. However, the statutory warranty does not cover every single defect and you should obtain a written document from the dealer that explains exactly what is covered by the statutory warranty.
Even the statutory warranty you obtain from a used motor dealer will not give you a detailed account of the mechanical condition of the car.

For added security we suggest that the car, is checked by RACQ or some other independent mechanic you trust, before you agree to buy it.

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