Car warranties - in NSW

Used cars in NSW that are less than 10 years old and have not travelled more than 160,000 km are covered by a Statutory Warranty. This warranty may entitle you to take the car back to the dealer to have them make repairs for problems that appear in the first 3 months or 5,000 km after delivery. What repairs you may be entitled to under a warranty will depend on the type of warranty that covers the car.

All used cars sold by licensed car dealers will have a vehicle description form on their windscreen. This form will show the dealer's name, the cash price and other details such as engine number, speedometer reading and if a warranty applies.

Warranty forms

  • A Form 4 indicates that the car has a standard Statutory Warranty (3 months or 5,000km).
  • A Form 6 indicates that a standard Statutory Warranty applies but the dealer is not going to repair certain items that don't affect safety, such as air conditioning.
  • A Form 8 indicates that the car is not covered by a Statutory Warranty. It's over 10 years old or has travelled more than 160,000 km.

Cars sold with a Form 6 or Form 8 must be sold with a safety check report (pink slip) that states that the car is roadworthy.

All new cars are covered by a statutory 12 month or 20,000 warranty. Some manufacturers extend this warranty for example, providing a 3 year or 100,000 km warranty.

Car warranties - in Victoria

Used cars in Victoria that are less than 10 years old and have not travelled more than 160,000 km are covered by a Statutory Warranty. This warranty may entitle you to take the car back to the trader to have them make repairs for problems that appear in the first 3 months or 5,000 km after delivery. What repairs you may be entitled to under a warranty will depend on the type of warranty that covers the car.

Notice of particulars

All used cars sold by licensed motor car traders will have a Notice of Particulars on the car's rear side window. This form will show the dealer's name, the cash price and other details such as the car's build date, its engine number, model designation, the year of first registration, its odometer reading, details of the previous owner, the cooling-off provision and if a warranty applies.

Defect notice

A defect notice should be displayed next to the Notice of Particulars. It lists all items the trader doesn't intend repairing as well as an estimate of their repair costs. The repair costs are your responsibility. If the Notice vaguely lists defects as "mechanical" or "electrical" without explaining and costing the specific problem, don't buy the car.

Statutory warranty

A licensed car trader must provide a statutory warranty if the car is not more than 10 years old and has travelled less than 160,000 kms. Under a statutory warranty, the trader must repair any faults covered by the warranty during the warranty period in order to ensure the car is in a reasonable condition for its age.

Vehicles not covered by a statutory warranty include

  • Used cars that are more than 10 years old or have travelled more than 160,000kms when sold 
  • Commercial vehicles
  • Cars bought at public auction, and
  • Motorcycles

All registered cars must be sold with a Roadworthy Certificate.