Buying from a private seller: the QLD dealer checklist
When a Queensland dealer buys a car outright, the paperwork starts before any money moves. This is the order we work through, with each step linked to its official source.
- Get a signed seller statement before you buy, and keep a copy.
- Check the seller owns the car and whether finance is owing.
- Run a PPSR search, then search again on the day you pay.
- Complete the F3520 transfer: the buyer lodges Part A within 14 days.
1. The seller statement
When a dealer buys a car, the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act requires a signed statement from the seller, and you must keep a copy. It doesn’t apply if the seller is your financier or another licensee. The Regulation says it must include:
- The seller’s name and address, and driver licence number if they’re not a dealer.
- Make, model, colour, engine or chassis number, VIN, registration number and build date.
- The odometer reading, in words and figures.
- Whether the odometer or engine has been replaced.
- Any mortgage or encumbrance, with the amount owing and to whom.
- The date the statement was given.
2. Check who owns it
Before you offer a car for sale you must take reasonable steps to find out or verify who owns it. Matching the seller’s ID to the registered owner is the practical starting point, and the seller statement must disclose any finance owing.
3. PPSR before you pay, and again on the day
A PPSR search shows whether finance is registered against the car. It costs $2.00 online. The PPSR’s “search on the day” protection is for private buyers and doesn’t cover a dealer buying stock, so the search’s job here is to catch finance before you pay. A search at first inspection doesn’t show anything registered between then and payment, so search again on the day the money leaves your account.
Get the search right
- Search by VIN, not rego: the PPSR can’t search by number plate or engine number.
- Check the VIN on the certificate matches the car in front of you. A mismatch can mean an altered VIN.
- The search also shows written-off and stolen status where the data exists, but not the amount owing or the car’s owner.
- If finance shows up, ask the seller to have it removed before you buy, or contact the lender named on the certificate.
4. The transfer form (F3520)
The F3520 is the “Vehicle Registration Transfer Application”. Both parties sign both parts, and photocopies aren’t accepted.
| Part | Who completes it | What happens to it |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: Transfer Application | Buyer (you) | Lodged by the buyer within 14 days |
| Part B: Proof of Transfer / Notice of Disposal | Buyer and seller sign | Kept by the seller |
Two exemptions on the form matter to dealers: no safety certificate is needed for a sale to a licensed motor dealer, and registration duty is exempt when a dealer acquires a used car as trading stock, provided it’s sold within one year.
What the transfer costs you
As the buyer, you pay the transfer fee ($33.65 as at 1 July 2026). A dealer taking a used car as trading stock is exempt from registration duty; if it’s still unsold after a year, lodge Form D9.2 and pay the duty within 28 days. TMR’s online transfer service isn’t open to organisations, so lodge in person or through TMR’s Rego Easy scheme if you’re an approved client.
5. When you resell it
When you sell the car on, you must ensure the buyer gets clear title, and the contract must state that you guarantee it. You also give the buyer a statement covering the car and its previous owner. The PPSR work you did at purchase is what lets you give that guarantee with confidence.
The order of play on the day you pay
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Seller statement signed, every field complete, copy kept | ☐ |
| Seller’s ID matched to the registered owner | ☐ |
| Finance owing confirmed against the seller statement | ☐ |
| PPSR searched today, certificate saved | ☐ |
| F3520 signed by both parties on both parts | ☐ |
| Payment made | ☐ |
| Part A lodged within 14 days | ☐ |
What this checklist doesn’t cover
Paying out a lender, GST on second-hand goods and your own record keeping depend on your circumstances. Check them with your accountant or adviser.