Most used-car regret in Canberra comes down to skipping a few basic checks. Here's the short list that protects your money before you hand any over.
1. Run a PPSR check
A Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check tells you if the car still has money owing on it, has been written off, or reported stolen. It costs a couple of dollars and takes minutes. If a seller won't give you the VIN to run it, walk away.
2. Confirm the rego and when it's due
Check the ACT rego is current and note the expiry — an expired or nearly-due rego is a real cost you're about to inherit. In the ACT you'll also want to know whether a recent inspection was needed for the transfer.
3. Read the service history
A logbook with stamps (or digital records) tells you the car was actually looked after. Gaps aren't automatically a dealbreaker, but they should change the price.
4. The test-drive tells
- Cold start: listen before the engine warms up, that's when problems show.
- Gearbox: smooth shifts, no hunting or shudder — especially on autos and DSGs.
- Brakes and steering: no pulling, no vibration under braking.
- Warning lights: everything should light up on start, then go out.
5. Sanity-check the price
Compare the same year, variant and kilometres across a couple of listings. A price that's well below the rest usually means something you can't see yet.
6. Get an independent inspection for anything pricey
For a higher-value car, a mobile pre-purchase inspection is cheap insurance. A qualified mechanic will find what a test-drive won't.
7. Do the paperwork properly
Never hand over cash or transfer money before you've confirmed the seller's identity matches the registration, and never sign anything you don't understand.