Help centre

Buying vehicles

What is Australia Motors and how does it work?

Australia Motors is a free online marketplace where people and dealers in Australia advertise cars, motorbikes and bicycles for sale. Sellers create a listing with photos, a price and a description. Buyers search by make, model, price and location, then message the seller through the site. Australia Motors is an advertising platform: it does not own, sell or inspect the vehicles, and the sale itself is between the buyer and the seller.

How do I contact a seller on Australia Motors?

Open the listing and choose "Message seller". You need a free account to send a message, which keeps the conversation in your Australia Motors inbox and keeps your email address private until you choose to share it. A seller's phone number is shown only if the seller has chosen to show it on that listing. Create a free account to get started.

How can I check a used car's history in Australia?

Start with a search of the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), which costs $2 on the government website and uses the vehicle identification number (VIN). It shows whether money is owing on the vehicle and usually whether it has been recorded as written off or stolen. Then ask the seller for the service book and receipts, and check that the VIN on the vehicle matches the paperwork. See how to buy a used car in Australia.

What should I inspect before buying a used car?

Look at the car in daylight and check the body and paint, tyres, lights, fluid levels, the interior and every switch, then take a proper test drive. Ask for the service history and compare the odometer with it. If you are not confident judging a car yourself, pay a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection before you agree to anything. Our used car inspection checklist lists what to look at, step by step.

How do I save a listing or a search?

Sign in, then use the heart icon on a listing to save it. On a search results page, choose "Save this search" to be emailed when new matching vehicles are listed. Your saved listings and searches are in your account.

Can I compare listings side by side?

Yes. Use the compare icon on up to four listings, then open the compare page to see them in one table.

Where can I see the exact address of a vehicle?

You cannot, by design. A listing shows the suburb and state only, never a street address. The seller arranges a viewing directly with a buyer through messages.

Should I buy from a dealer or a private seller?

A licensed dealer generally gives you consumer guarantees and often a statutory warranty; a private sale is usually cheaper but comes with far less protection. See dealer or private seller: what changes.

Selling vehicles

How do I sell my car privately in Australia?

Gather the registration papers and service records, settle any finance, and find out whether your state requires a roadworthy or safety certificate. Then clean and photograph the car, price it against similar listings and create a free listing. Meet buyers safely, confirm the money is in your own bank account before you hand over the keys, and tell your transport authority the car has been sold. Our guide to selling a car privately covers each step.

Can I list a motorbike or bicycle for free?

Yes. Listing is free for cars, motorbikes and bicycles, for private sellers and dealers alike. Each type has its own listing form, so a motorbike asks for details such as engine size and a bicycle for details such as frame size. Start a listing and choose the type of vehicle first.

How long does a new listing take to go live?

Every new listing is checked by a moderator before it goes live, usually within one business day. You are emailed when it is approved, or told what to fix if it is not. This review checks the listing against our rules. It is not an inspection of the vehicle.

Can I edit a listing after it is submitted?

Yes. You can edit a draft at any time. An edited listing is reviewed again before it goes back online.

How many photos can I add to a listing?

Up to 20 photos per listing, in JPEG, PNG or WebP format. The first photo is the cover image buyers see in search results, and you can change which one is the cover. See how to photograph a car for sale.

What should I write in my listing?

Say what the vehicle is, its condition, its service history and anything a buyer should know, including faults. An accurate description saves you wasted enquiries. See how to write a vehicle listing that buyers trust.

What do I do when my vehicle is sold?

Mark the listing as sold in your account so buyers stop contacting you, then complete your state's paperwork. In most places the seller must tell the transport authority about the sale.

PPSR, roadworthy and safety

What is a PPSR check and why is it important?

A PPSR check is a search of the Personal Property Securities Register, run by the Australian Government. It shows whether a lender has a security interest in a vehicle, which means money may be owing on it. That matters because the debt stays with the vehicle: a buyer can pay in full and still have it repossessed. The search costs $2 and usually also shows written-off and stolen records. Read what a PPSR check tells you.

Do I need a roadworthy certificate to sell my car?

It depends on the state or territory where the car is registered. For example, in Queensland the seller must give the buyer a safety certificate, in Victoria a roadworthy certificate is needed when a car is sold, and in New South Wales no certificate is needed to transfer a current registration. These are government rules, not Australia Motors rules. See roadworthy and safety certificates explained and confirm with your transport authority.

How can I avoid scams when buying a used vehicle?

Never pay a deposit or the full price for a vehicle you have not seen in person. Be wary of a price far below similar vehicles, a seller who cannot meet, or pressure to pay quickly. Check the PPSR, check that the seller's name matches the registration papers, and keep your conversation in Australia Motors messages. Read how to avoid scams when buying or selling a vehicle and our safety guide.

How do I know a listing is genuine?

You cannot know from the listing alone. Our team reviews new listings and acts on reports, but that review is not a guarantee that a listing is genuine or that a vehicle is in the condition described. Inspect the vehicle in person, check the PPSR and never pay before you have seen it.

What is a written-off vehicle?

A written-off vehicle has been assessed as a total loss, usually by an insurer. A statutory write-off can never be registered again in Australia; a repairable write-off sometimes can, depending on the state. A PPSR search usually shows the record. See written-off vehicles explained.

Does a PPSR check work for a bicycle?

The standard PPSR vehicle search uses a VIN or chassis number. Ordinary bicycles are not searched through that vehicle-check flow. For a bicycle, ask for proof of purchase and check the frame number.

How do I report a listing or a message?

Sign in and use "Report this listing" on the listing page. Our moderation team reviews every report. For anything urgent, use the contact form.

Pricing and payments

Is Australia Motors free for buyers and sellers?

Yes. Searching, listing a vehicle and messaging are free for buyers, private sellers and dealers. There is no listing fee, no subscription and no commission on a sale. Australia Motors does not take payment for vehicles either: the buyer pays the seller directly, in a way the two of them agree. You can list a vehicle for free at any time.

What does "drive away" pricing mean in Australia?

A "drive away" price is the total a buyer pays to drive the vehicle away, including on-road costs such as registration and stamp duty. On Australia Motors a seller can mark a price as "Drive away" or as "Excl. government charges", which means those costs are extra. The seller sets the label, so confirm with them exactly what the price includes before you agree to buy.

Who do I pay for a vehicle?

You pay the seller, not Australia Motors. We do not handle payments, hold deposits or act as a go-between, and we will never ask you for money or card details by email. Agree the payment method with the seller and do not pay before you have seen the vehicle.

What government charges do I pay when I buy a used car?

Usually a registration transfer fee and vehicle duty, often called stamp duty, paid to your state or territory when the registration goes into your name. The amounts differ between states. See stamp duty on a used car, state by state.

How long do I have to transfer the registration?

The buyer has 14 days in every state and territory. The seller also has to tell the transport authority about the sale, and that deadline differs. See transferring vehicle registration after a sale.

Accounts and messaging

Do I need an account to use Australia Motors?

No account is needed to search and view listings. You need a free account to message a seller, save a listing or a search, or list a vehicle.

What if I forget my password?

Use Forgot password on the sign-in page and we will email you a link to choose a new one. The link works once and expires after 60 minutes.

Can buyers see my phone number or email address?

Not unless you choose to share them. Messages go through your Australia Motors inbox, and a phone number appears on a listing only if you choose to show it there.

How do I contact Australia Motors?

Use the contact form or email support@australiamotors.com. We aim to reply within two business days.

Dealers and inventory management

Can car dealers advertise vehicles on Australia Motors?

Yes. A dealer creates a free account and applies for a dealer account, which our team reviews. Approved dealers get a public dealership page, can invite staff, and can import stock in bulk from a CSV file. An approved dealer may receive a verified dealer badge after Australia Motors reviews their application and business details. Browse dealers on Australia Motors.

What does the verified dealer badge mean?

Approved dealers may receive a verified dealer badge after Australia Motors reviews their application and business details. The badge is not a guarantee of any vehicle or of the dealer's service.

How do dealers add many vehicles at once?

Approved dealers can import stock from a CSV file using the template in the dealer console, and manage every vehicle from one inventory screen.

Does a dealer account cost anything?

No. Dealer accounts, dealership pages and listings are free.