Seller type, advertisement, contract, mileage and warranty.
Used-car evidence checklist & complaint routes in Australia
Bought a used car in Australia and found a problem? Start with Australian Consumer Law, then check the state dealer-warranty, complaint and tribunal rules that apply.
Source dates and limits are shown with the relevant material · No registration required
VISUAL USED-CAR PATH
Purchase → fault → seller response → next route.
Use this as a quick map. The detailed rules, deadlines and available remedies still depend on the selected jurisdiction and current official sources.
1What was bought?
2What went wrong?
3What did the seller do?
4What happens next?
Symptoms, diagnosis, repair history and when the problem appeared.
Repair offer, refusal, promise, inspection or changed position.
Consumer, civil or other route depends on the facts and jurisdiction.
Facts Evidence Correct local route Check current deadline / procedure
Check the jurisdiction first
First-wave coverage: New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. These routes concern the relevant state’s traders and processes, not every purchase made by a resident of that state.
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
State complaint and tribunal processes differ, even where Australian Consumer Law applies nationally.
Identify the seller, issue and outcome
Contact the selling business with the problem and the outcome you seek, and retain its response. A roadworthy or safety certificate is not a complete mechanical history. Do not assume a private sale, auction or business purchase has the same protections as a consumer purchase from a dealer.
If the vehicle may be unsafe, ask a qualified technician before driving it. Do not delay seeking help while trying to complete every checklist item. A complaint does not necessarily stop a legal deadline.
Gather the records you have
These are organising prompts, not a complete filing requirement. Check the receiving service’s instructions. You do not upload documents here; ticked items reset when this page is reloaded or you change market.
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Who can help—and what to check
Use the official agency or service’s own website to confirm scope, fees and current filing instructions. An investigation, voluntary resolution and enforceable decision are different outcomes.
NSW Fair Trading vehicle disputes
NSW Fair Trading offers a dispute-resolution route for vehicle warranty and repair issues involving licensed motor dealers and repairers.
Have ready
Separate the sale issue from repair work. Have the contract, warranty documents, repair orders and written approach to the business ready.
Important limit
Check the agency’s scope and any next-step NCAT requirements. Opening a complaint is not itself a tribunal order or refund.
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Use Consumer Affairs Victoria’s used-car information and complaint route for a problem with a Victorian motor car trader after trying to resolve it with the business.
Have ready
Retain the trader’s licence details, contract, delivery date, odometer reading and warranty or cooling-off paperwork; record any repair authorisation.
Important limit
The complaint service requires an attempt to resolve the issue with the business first. Eligibility for a statutory warranty or another remedy depends on the facts.
Office of Fair Trading and QCAT
Start with Queensland’s licensed-dealer guidance and raise the problem with the business in writing. QCAT has a motor-vehicle dispute process for eligible claims.
Have ready
Keep the sale contract, statutory-warranty documents, safety certificate, repair evidence and all complaint correspondence.
Important limit
A Fair Trading complaint and a QCAT application serve different purposes. Check QCAT’s jurisdiction, fees and filing requirements before applying.
Prepare a one-page factual summary
- Transaction: who sold the vehicle, where, when and for how much.
- Problem: what was represented, what happened and when the problem appeared.
- Evidence: number your contract, messages, reports and receipts so each fact can be checked.
- Attempts to resolve: dates, who you contacted, what you asked for and the replies.
- Requested outcome: explain the repair or other remedy you seek without claiming an entitlement you have not checked.
Keep personal identification, bank details and unredacted records out of public posts. This summary is not a legal notice, tribunal form or substitute for advice about deadlines and remedies.