It is important that you ensure the authenticity of the vehicle before you complete the purchase.
Although the prevalence of re-birthed heavy vehicles is relatively low in Australia, if you buy a vehicle in a private sale and the vehicle is stolen, the RTA cannot register it. You will lose both the vehicle and your money.
The best protection you can get is to buy a vehicle from a licensed motor vehicle dealer or at an auction. Licensed motor dealers and auction houses do two things: they make sure that the current owner doesn’t still owe money on the vehicle and they protect you against loss if the vehicle is found later to be stolen.
Remember:
If an offer looks too good to be true, chances are it probably is.
If you think that anything about the vehicle is not quite right, don’t take the risk.
> Buying and registering a heavy vehicle
> Frequently asked questions
Your responsibility
It is the responsibility of the registered operator to provide correct information to ensure the appropriate charge is applied. The registration label must display the nominated configuration code under which you operate the vehicle.This appears as the ‘Config’ code, eg TSV (Truck Special Purpose Vehicle). If it does not match the vehicle’s highest configuration the maximum penalty is $2200 for an individual and $11,000 for a corporation.
