When buying a car or van

First, it's important to distinguish between buying from private individuals and buying from Car Markets during a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) , which are designated areas for buying and selling used vehicles in Australia and New Zealand . Generally, you're less likely to encounter problems with Car Markets, as they are companies required to adhere to strict regulations, making them much easier to contact if an issue arises.

Depending on the season, the purchase price of a car or van can increase considerably. This is when you're most likely to get ripped off, because, worried about not finding an affordable option, you'll be tempted to rush. So be careful not to confuse speed with haste.

Sometimes, a vehicle appears to be in perfect condition at the time of sale; it has passed its roadworthiness test and the registration seems to be in order. Except that you're not yet familiar with the technical vocabulary, or perhaps you don't know much about it at all. The seller seems friendly and the vehicle appears fine. But then, once you hit the road, the technical problems begin. You take it to a mechanic, and he tells you that not only did you overpay, but your vehicle needs a number of repairs, or worse, it might be scrapped. If the seller was a private individual, they've probably already vanished. See our article on tips for buying a van or car on a Working Holiday Visa for more information.

Here is a checklist before you buy:

- Don't pay anything (not even a small amount) if you haven't seen and inspected the vehicle.
- The mechanical inspection must have been carried out by a trusted mechanic. If you buy a car from a car market, it may be affiliated with a garage. If the car market is shady or doesn't inspire confidence, there's a good chance the garage is the same. So do your research and find another reliable one.
- Test drive the vehicle before buying it. This will allow you to get an idea of ​​its overall condition and detect obvious problems: a leak, a strange smell, unusual noises, etc. And don't forget to try reverse gear (VV owner's advice).
- Check the seller's identity if it's a private individual; some repeat scammers are listed online
. - Also check online that the vehicle hasn't been stolen or is linked to any unpaid fines. Some government websites allow you to verify these kinds of details by entering the registration or other vehicle
-related information. Haggle! Sometimes sellers will quote you a high price for a vehicle that isn't worth that much, so try to get it down. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Upon resale

The most common scam scenario involves a very interested person who doesn't negotiate the price and sometimes even offers more. They're not in the area, don't want to see the vehicle, and plan to send someone else to pick up the keys. Either they refuse to pay until they receive it, or they send you a (stolen) check, but the amount is too high, and you have to send them back the difference. There's only one solution: cut off all contact with this person.