Used and new car buyer's checklist
Most car-buying regrets come from rushing a step. Work through six short stages, from setting a budget to driving away, and get to the finance conversation with your homework done.
Free to enquire. No obligation. General information only, not personal advice.
The six-step checklist
Each step has a short list of questions. Skip around if you like; the strip below follows you down the page.
Step 1 of 6 · Budget
A repayment is only one line of what a car costs. Registration, insurance, fuel or charging, servicing and tyres all arrive whether or not the loan does.
See the running-cost listStep 2 of 6 · Shortlist
Dealer, private seller or auction each come with different protections and different finance paths. Knowing which you are dealing with changes what you should ask.
Dealer vs private sellerStep 3 of 6 · Check the car
Paperwork and a mechanic's eye catch problems that a clean wash and a short test drive will not.
Read the used-car guides
Between steps 3 and 4
Step 4 of 6 · Finance
Lenders often look at how old a car will be by the end of the loan. A shorter term, a bigger deposit or a different product may suit an older car.
Used car finance basicsStep 5 of 6 · Sign
Take the contract home if you can. Check the amount financed, the fees, and any add-ons you did not ask for.
ASIC MoneySmart car loan guidanceStep 6 of 6 · Drive away
Ownership transfer and registration rules differ by state and territory, so check your own state's transport authority for the steps and deadlines.
Tick it off in the full checklist
Where to buy
No route is automatically better. The right one depends on the car, your comfort checking it and how you want to be protected.
Licensed motor dealer
Individual selling their own car
One to three years old
Illustration only
A longer term lowers the repayment but usually raises the total repaid. Here is an illustration only.
| Example: $25,000 at 9.5% p.a. | 3 years | 5 years | 7 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. monthly repayment | $801 | $525 | $409 |
| Approx. total repaid | $28,800 | $31,500 | $34,300 |
Illustrative only, rounded, and excluding fees. The rate is an example, not an offer or a typical rate. A lender's comparison rate, which includes most fees and charges, gives a fuller picture. Real quotes vary by lender, car and borrower.
Part of the plan
Many buyers sell their current car to boost the deposit. You can list a vehicle on Anything Marketplace and compare that with a trade-in value before you decide.
The blog
Short, practical reads on checking, buying and financing a car.
Many lenders look at how old a car will be when the loan ends. That can shape the term, the product and the price of finance for an older car.
Read the articleBuying from a private seller with a loan means more moving parts than buying from a dealer. Here is the usual sequence, and what to line up before you shake hands.
Read the articleA small-fee search can show whether a used car has money owing on it or a write-off history. Here is what it covers, what it does not, and when to run it.
Read the articleChecklist done?
Tell us about the car you have in mind. It is free to enquire and there is no obligation. Approval and terms depend on the lender's criteria.
