Hi,

We are looking to buy a car (we're in qld) and have seen one on a private sale we like. I asked if they have a safety certificate but they said it doesn't need one as its still under warranty. Is this correct? The only info I can find says a certificate is always needed.

Thanks!

I think you're right. Pretty sure you need a safety certificate for any private car sale and that's what the RACQ website states.

Yep, you need a roadworthy cert to sell a car unless it's labeled 'as is'. They're bullshitting you. If you buy 'as is' you aren't allowed to drive it unless to a garage.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Registrati...tificates.aspx

What vehicles must have a safety certificate?

In Queensland you must obtain and display a safety certificate on any registered light vehicle from the moment you offer the vehicle for sale. Vehicles include cars, motorbikes, caravans, trailers 0.75–3.5 tonnes (t) aggregate trailer mass (ATM) and any other vehicles up to 4.5 t gross vehicle mass (GVM).

When can vehicles be sold without a safety certificate?

The only time vehicles do not require a certificate is when they are unregistered or when they are traded to, or between, licensed motor dealers. Vehicles can still be sold for parts or restoration, but they must be de-registered before being offered for sale.

perhaps they are from NSW - i seem to remember I didnt need a pink slip to sell my car there as it was within the first couple of years. Perhaps they dont know its different here

thanks everyone. I was pretty sure that was the case. I'll put it to the seller!

If the seller does not supply a safety certificate you will not be able to register the car in your name, regardless of how old (young) it is. When I moved to Queensland from SA in 2004 I had a Jeep (a KJ Cherokee, go figure) which was 1 year old, and I had to get a safety certificate for it before I could register it in Qld.