Is there still a place for ‘dumb’ cars in Australia?
Among high-tech cars, is there still some room for the simple analogue cars? Let’s look at some of the reasons why simple used cars are still in demand.
While it’s easier than ever to find a used car online in Australia, it’s also essential to look out for used car scams. The ACCC’s Scamwatch received 761 reports of second-hand vehicle scams in the first half of 2023 alone, at a collective cost of around $1.1 million.
So how exactly do these scams occur? And most importantly, how do you avoid getting swindled while shopping for a used car? Let’s look at what you need to know.
Unfortunately it’s possible to come across car sale scams via Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and other popular platforms. Here are some of the key scam types to be aware of.
One of the most common private car selling scams is to simply sell a car that never materialises. Fake sellers list a car at an unbeatable price, then give a reason they can’t meet in person. Some say they’re working FIFO. Others say they’re about to be deployed overseas and must sell urgently.
The scammers will often request payment through a bank transfer or third-party website. Once payment is made the seller vanishes, leaving a devastated buyer in their wake.
Another of the most common car purchasing scams involves deceiving buyers through a shiny new coat of paint or a misleading odometer.
Odometer tampering has been an issue for decades, but it turns out scammers can also tamper with digital odometers. In 2022 police busted a group in Queensland after they’d allegedly wound the kilometres back on hundreds of cars.
In some cases cars are given a new paint job or new interiors to hide the fact they’ve been damaged by fire or water, or have been written off after a serious crash.
Another fraudulent car sale scam involves selling stolen vehicles, sometimes before they’re registered as stolen.
In 2023 a student in WA bought a Holden Astra at a great price. He did the right thing by getting a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) report beforehand, which shows if a car has been stolen, written off or has debt attached. Unfortunately, police later came knocking on his door. It turned out the car had been stolen the day of purchase, so there wasn’t enough time for the theft to show up on the PPSR report.
This car selling scam involves either stealing or replicating car service books to give the impression of a flawless service history. In some cases even experienced car dealers have fallen for this deception, unintentionally passing the vehicle to buyers. This is where a thorough check of the car is important, to ensure the service history matches expected wear and tear.
There might be no single glaring sign, but here are some of the red flags to look for when buying a used vehicle:
There are a few simple ways you can boost your chances of a successful used car purchase in Australia.
$2 is all it takes to get a report from the government’s Personal Property Securities Register, and doing so could help you save thousands. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car you’re considering and the report should outline most major issues. If all looks well, check that the VIN matches the physical car as you make the final purchase.
Even the smartest people can get scammed. Scammers can seem very genuine and can offer reasons to explain away almost anything. If something doesn’t feel right, think twice about the transaction.
You can buy from a private seller or a car dealer when purchasing a used car. Private sales can involve a lot of trust and intuition, and there aren’t many ways to check who you’re dealing with. Used car dealers can vary in reputation, so it’s important to research those customer reviews and verify their contact details.
A third option is to buy a car online from Carma. We’re a little different in some vital ways:
Rest assured that Carma is a licensed Motor Dealer and Motor Repairer in NSW. You can find our licence numbers at the bottom of our website, and you can always double-check our credentials via the Service NSW licence verification page.
Perhaps the best proof, though, is the hundreds of customer reviews that show what it’s really like to buy a vehicle with Carma. Joel, who bought a used Subaru Forester with us, sums it up pretty well:
And in the words of Ruben:
Time to go car shopping? Find your car now.