Used car inspection checklist: what to review

Prepare before you visit

Ask for the VIN, plate, service history and permission to arrange an independent inspection. Choose a suitable place and time to view the vehicle safely. Make a note of the seller’s claims so you can compare them with the documents and the car.

Take a simple worksheet with columns for observation, evidence and follow-up. This helps you distinguish something you saw from something you were told.

Walk around and compare the details

• Match the physical VIN with the paperwork and the vehicle you intend to search.
• Note visible body damage, inconsistent panels, tyre condition and warning lights.
• Check that advertised equipment is present and ask about anything that does not work.
• Review the service records and mileage timeline for gaps or discrepancies.

These observations help frame questions; they do not diagnose the vehicle. Avoid dismantling components or doing unsafe tests to prove a point.

Use an independent mechanical inspection

Ask a qualified inspector to assess the vehicle and explain any findings in writing. Discuss what the inspection covers, access requirements and what it cannot establish. Give the inspector your specific concerns and relevant documents.

VicRoads explains that a roadworthy certificate does not guarantee mechanical reliability. Do not treat a registration-related certificate as a substitute for checking whether the car suits your purchase.

Combine the inspection with the recorded checks

Keep a current PPSR certificate, registration enquiry, recall response and inspection findings together. For example, an inspection can raise questions about repairs while a written-off record raises a different question about recorded history.

List unresolved issues before discussing the final purchase. Clarify the cause, evidence and proposed remedy for each issue. If the seller will not allow a reasonable inspection or will not explain a mismatch, you can pause the decision.