How We Bought a Second-Hand Car in Melbourne with No Car Knowledge
How we found, checked, and bought a second-hand car in Melbourne even though we knew almost nothing about cars.
Buying a second-hand car without much car knowledge can be daunting, but here’s how our experience went and some tips we learned.
Where We Looked: We started with Facebook Marketplace, but there were too many scams to sort through. Next, we tried Google Maps to look for local dealers, but it was hard to figure out who had the cars we were after, so we had to call around. Eventually, we found carsales.com.au, a reliable website where we found a car, sent an inquiry, got a call back, and made a deposit on the same day.
Bigger Dealership Pros: One advantage of buying from a larger dealership is that the price typically includes:
- RWC (Roadworthy Certificate)
- Registration and transfer fees
This saves you a lot of hassle. Typically, cars from bigger dealerships don't require a mechanic inspection because they handle the RWC, but if you want extra peace of mind, you can always hire a mechanic to inspect the car before finalizing the purchase.
Mechanic Inspection (Optional): If you're worried, getting a mechanic inspection costs around $300, depending on the car and location. Mechanics can sometimes bargain the price for you, but before hiring one, check the rego number and run a VIN check via ppsr.gov.au (for $2 only) to avoid wasting money if there’s already a red flag.
A Few Bumps in the Process: After making the deposit, the sales rep promised to call on Monday, but we didn’t hear back for three days. Each time we called, they said they were waiting on the RWC. I ended up leaving a bad review on Google Maps, and finally, the next day, the sales rep called back, explaining there had been a delay due to his days off. We finally received the car on Friday and requested that they deliver it to our place.
Final Thoughts: If you’re buying a second-hand car with little knowledge, carsales.com.au is a safe bet. Make sure to get a mechanic inspection before committing (they might even help you get a better deal), but check the rego and VIN beforehand to avoid wasting money on a car with a bad history. Bigger dealerships often bundle everything (RWC, registration, and transfer fees) into the price, which makes the process smoother, but be prepared for small delays.
If you are also still in the learning phase, my posts on picking the right driving instructor and the breaking point with my instructor might help you avoid some of my mistakes.
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