The short version
- A private seller doesn't give you the statutory warranty a NSW dealer must give on eligible cars. Once you pay, hidden faults are usually yours.
- A pre-purchase inspection is done at the seller's place, takes 60 to 90 minutes, and gives you a written report before you commit.
- Always run a PPSR check too, for finance owing, write-off and stolen status. It's included free in every JPI inspection.
- If the seller won't allow an inspection, treat that as your answer.
Marketplace, Gumtree and Carsales private listings are where many Sydney buyers find their next car, often for thousands less than a dealer would charge. The trade-off is risk. A private seller is not a licensed dealer, may not know the car's problems, or may know and not mention them. A short test drive in the seller's street will not show a failing transmission, a hidden accident repair or finance still owing on the car.
Why private sales carry more risk
| Licensed NSW dealer | Private seller | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory warranty on eligible used cars | Yes, required by law | No |
| Must guarantee clear title (no finance owing) | Yes | No: check the PPSR yourself |
| Condition of the car | Dealer reconditioned, but still worth checking | Sold as-is |
| Who to go to if something is wrong | The dealer, then NSW Fair Trading | Usually no one |
This is general information, not legal advice. NSW Fair Trading publishes guidance on buying a used car privately and from dealers.
What a pre-purchase inspection checks
A JPI Complete Vehicle Inspection covers 200+ check points across 9 rated sections and includes a test drive. In practice, that means:
- Body and paint: a paint thickness gauge on every panel to find resprays, filler and hidden accident repairs
- Engine and transmission: leaks, noises, cold-start behaviour and how the gearbox shifts on the road
- Electronics and diagnostics: a scan of the car's control modules for stored and pending fault codes
- Hybrid battery: on hybrids, a block-by-block voltage check (how it works)
- Underbody, suspension, steering and brakes: rust, worn bushes, leaks and brake condition
- Wheels and tyres: tread, uneven wear and damage
- Interior: wear, water damage and whether everything works
- Odometer: the reading cross-checked against 150,000+ auction and listing records with JPI Sentinel
- PPSR: finance owing, write-off and stolen status
Every fault comes with a repair cost estimate, and your report includes a market valuation, so you can see what the car is really worth once the repairs are counted. See a sample report.
How it works with a private seller
Book online
Choose a date and time and enter the car and seller details. If you don't have the seller's details or the address yet, you can add them later.
We confirm with the seller
We confirm the time and location with the seller, so you don't have to coordinate the visit yourself.
We inspect the car where it is
The inspector comes to the seller's home, street or workplace anywhere in Greater Sydney. Allow 60 to 90 minutes, including a test drive.
You get the report
Your report is emailed about 30 minutes after the inspection, with 100+ annotated photos and a repair cost estimate for every fault.
You decide
Buy, negotiate using the repair estimates, or walk away. If you walk away, your next inspection is 40% off.
Before you pay a private seller
Check the PPSR, every time
If the car has finance owing, the lender may be able to repossess it from you even though you paid the seller. A PPSR certificate shows finance, write-off and stolen status. It is included free in every JPI inspection.
Match the paperwork to the car
Check that the VIN on the car matches the registration papers and the PPSR, and that the seller's ID matches the registered owner. Be wary if the seller can't explain why they're not the registered owner.
Don't rely on the odometer
Odometer tampering still happens. Our free odometer check lets you look up a car's recorded readings before you even book.
Pay safely
Avoid paying a deposit for a car you haven't seen, and be cautious of sellers who insist on cash in unusual places or push you to decide immediately.
Private sale inspection FAQs
It is not legally required, but it is strongly recommended. A private seller does not have to give the statutory warranty that a licensed NSW dealer must give on eligible used cars, so once you pay, any hidden fault is usually your problem. An independent inspection is the only way to know the car's condition before you commit.
Yes. JPI is fully mobile across Greater Sydney. The inspector comes to wherever the car is, whether that's a private seller's driveway, a street park, or a dealer's yard.
A JPI Complete Vehicle Inspection is $280, which includes a test drive, a free PPSR check and a free odometer check. If the first car doesn't work out, your second inspection is 40% off.
Allow 60 to 90 minutes on site. Your written report, with 100+ annotated photos and a repair cost estimate for every fault, is emailed about 30 minutes after the inspector finishes.
A genuine seller with nothing to hide will almost always agree to an independent inspection. If a seller refuses, treat it as a warning sign and be prepared to walk away.
Found a car on Marketplace, Gumtree or Carsales?
We come to the seller anywhere in Sydney, run a 200+ point inspection with a test drive, and include a FREE PPSR and odometer check. Your report is emailed about 30 minutes after we finish.
Book a Pre-Purchase Inspection