buying a second-hand car nsw privately

Buying a second-hand car in NSW privately is easy enough if you don’t skip the boring-but-essential bits.

Run a PPSR check on the VIN to confirm it’s not stolen, written off, or carrying finance, and cross-check the rego status on Service NSW.

Ask for full service history, match the seller’s ID to the registration papers, and get a pre‑purchase inspection—ideally by a mobile mechanic who enjoys rolling in driveway gravel.

On the test drive, make sure you’re insured to drive it; good vibes won’t pay for bumpers.

When you buy, get a signed receipt with VIN, price and date; the seller must lodge a Notice of Disposal, and you must transfer the rego within 14 days and pay stamp duty or cop late fees.

CTP (greenslip) stays with the car until rego expires, and you’ll need an eSafety (pink slip) only when renewing registration, not just transferring.