Before you buy - Private vehicle buying info

Buying a vehicle privately has its benefits. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges and risks. To ensure a smooth and secure transaction, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and informed. We’ve outlined some information that can be helpful to know before buying a vehicle privately, including:

• Inspecting the vehicle
• Conducting a PPSR check
• Collecting necessary paperwork
• Buying an unregistered or interstate vehicle
• Buying a vehicle without a WA driver's licence
• Fees
• Custom plates
• Joint ownership
• Vehicles that can't be transferred online.

Inspect the vehicle

Professional reports and pre-purchase checks can be useful tools to assess the condition of a vehicle. Both buyers and sellers should ensure they have conducted a thorough vehicle inspection to help identify any hidden issues before a transaction. 

It’s important to note that cars sold privately are not covered by statutory warranties in the Motor Vehicle Dealers’ Act, or by Australian Consumer Law (ACL) consumer guarantees.

Conduct a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) Check 

As a buyer, conducting a PPSR check can provide piece of mind, as it indicates the financial status of the vehicle, verification of ownership and legal history of whether the vehicle has been reported as stolen or written off.  

You can conduct a $2 PPSR check at ppsr.gov.au.

Collect your paperwork

Before buying a vehicle, it’s important to know what details you'll need to complete the transaction and get the details ready to exchange during the transaction. This can include:

• Vehicle dutiable value
• Vehicle plate number
• Vehicle Concession information
• Seller’s name and address
• Buyer’s name and address.

Buying an unregistered or interstate vehicle

If the vehicle you are purchasing is not licensed in WA or the licence has expired for a period of three months or more, you must have the vehicle inspected and you must make application to license the vehicle. 

All interstate vehicles must be inspected at an Authorised Inspection Station and issued with a certificate of inspection before they can be licensed in Western Australia.

You will also need to obtain a temporary movement permit and make an application for the grant of a Western Australian vehicle licence. For more information refer to License a vehicle in Western Australia.

Buying a vehicle without a WA Driver’s Licence

Did you know you can buy a vehicle in WA without a WA Driver’s Licence? 

If you don't have a Western Australian driver’s licence you will need to provide proof of identification and age when transferring the vehicle. Find out more about what you will need to provide on the Buy a vehicle and transfer a vehicle licence page.

If you are moving to WA to live, you must apply for a WA driver's licence within 3 months of becoming a WA resident or replace your interstate learner’s permit with a WA learner's permit.

If you hold a current or expired (less than 5 years) interstate driver’s licence, you can apply to transfer it to a WA driver’s licence.

If you are visiting Western Australia from another Australian state or territory or from overseas find out if you can use your current driver’s licence.

How much will it cost?

Once the purchase and transfer with DoTDirect is complete, you will receive an invoice for:

• the vehicle licence transfer fee
• vehicle licence duty – use the online calculator to estimate how much you may need to pay.
• if the vehicle is licensed at a concessional rate which you are not entitled to you will also receive a pro-rata adjustment invoice to pay the difference in vehicle licence charges.

Custom plates

If the vehicle is fitted with optional number plates and you want to keep them, you will need to transfer them into your name and pay the transfer fee.

If you do not want to keep the optional number plates, the seller will need to return them to a Driver and Vehicle Services centre prior to selling the vehicle and purchase a set of ordinary plates.

For more information refer to Sell or transfer plates.

Joint Ownership

If your vehicle will be jointly owned, only one owner can be nominated as the vehicle licence holder. For more information refer to Vehicle owner responsibilities.

Some vehicle licences can’t be transferred online. 

These include vehicles that are:

• part of a court order or deceased estate
• to be jointly owned
• being transferred between spouses or de facto partners
• heavy vehicles
• issued with optional plates
• being transferred to or from a company/organisation
• where the seller, buyer or vehicle do not match our records.

Read more advice on private car sales and buying used cars from Consumer Protection.