buying second hand car qld

Buying a second-hand car in QLD? Start with a PPSR check to confirm it’s not stolen, written-off or under finance—surprises belong at birthdays, not on dashboards.

For a registered car, the seller needs a current Queensland Safety Certificate before advertising; still get a pre-purchase inspection, because lipstick won’t fix a tired timing chain.

When you buy, lodge the transfer with TMR and pay the transfer fee and vehicle duty within 14 days, or the late fees will wave from the rear-view mirror.

Dealer purchases may include statutory protections and a cooling-off period, while private sales are mostly “sold as is”, so budget for tyres, fluids, and mystery rattles.

Sort insurance immediately (CTP rides with the rego in QLD; comprehensive is on you), and keep every receipt in case the tax man gets nosy.