Why the seller's safety certificate isn't enough
A Queensland safety certificate covers basic safety items on the day it's issued: tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, rust or damage, the windscreen and lights. It tells you nothing about the engine, the gearbox or how the car's been serviced. For private sales, the state's advice is to get an independent inspection from a qualified person or an approved inspection station, and to take the car for a test drive.
Buying privately also means less protection. A private seller isn't bound by consumer guarantees, there's no statutory warranty and no cooling-off period, so the inspection is most of the protection you get.
Checks that matter for a Brisbane used car
Flood history
Brisbane has had major floods in 1974, 2011 and 2022. After earlier Queensland floods, RACQ warned that rust or corrosion in a water-damaged car can take up to six months to show, and that a thorough clean hides most of the signs. Ask the mechanic to look under the seats, behind the dash, in the spare wheel well and at the electrical connectors.
The written-off register
In Queensland, written-off vehicles under 15 years old are listed on the written-off register, and a statutory write-off can never be registered. A PPSR certificate shows that history and any money owing. The seller doesn't have to give you one, so order it yourself.
Beach-driven 4WDs
RACQ's advice after beach driving is to clean the underside as soon as practical, to stop sand and saltwater causing rust or corrosion. On a 4WD that's been to Moreton Island or the beaches up the coast, ask for a close look underneath and ask the seller how it was washed down.
Dealer cars and the statutory warranty
A used car from a licensed motor dealer carries a statutory warranty. Class A, for cars under 160,000 km and no more than 10 years old, runs 3 months or 5,000 km. Class B, for older or higher-kilometre cars, runs 1 month or 1,000 km. You can still have the car inspected during the dealer's cooling-off period.
What a good pre-purchase report covers
- Engine, cooling, fuel and exhaust, with any leaks or smoke noted.
- The transmission and driveline, on a road test.
- Brakes, tyres, suspension and steering.
- Electrical systems, and any sign of water in the cabin or the boot.
- The service history checked against the book, and a plain recommendation at the end.
If it were our money
We'd have the inspection done before paying a deposit, run the PPSR check the same day, and ask the mechanic to ring with the verdict rather than just email the report. If the seller wouldn't allow an inspection, we'd walk away and keep looking.