Reviewed by Corey Marino Founder & Finance Broker, FBAA & AFCA member
Last reviewed 27 July 2026 · About Corey →
On this guide
Buying a car from a private seller can give you more choice and room to negotiate. It also removes the dealership from the transaction, so the lender or broker needs to confirm more details before funds can move.
This guide explains the usual process. It is general information only; lender rules and your eligibility will depend on the vehicle and your circumstances.
The main difference from dealership finance
A dealership normally supplies an invoice and handles parts of the ownership transfer. In a private sale, the seller is an individual, so the finance process needs to establish that the seller owns the vehicle, the vehicle matches the application and there is no undisclosed finance attached to it.
Common checks can include:
- the vehicle identification number, registration and odometer reading;
- a current PPSR search and, where required, a vehicle inspection;
- proof of the seller's identity and bank account;
- a signed sale agreement or tax invoice; and
- confirmation of any existing payout amount.
What to organise before applying
Ask the seller for the registration details, VIN, agreed purchase price and clear photos of the vehicle. If the car has finance owing, identify the current lender and payout process early. Never rely on screenshots alone when transferring a large amount.
Your own application will usually need identification, income evidence and details of existing commitments. Self employed applicants may be asked for business bank statements, financials or other documents depending on the lender.
Vehicle age and condition matter
Lenders set limits around vehicle age, kilometres, condition and the age the car will be at the end of the loan term. A car that falls outside one lender's policy may still fit another lender, but the available term, deposit or rate could change.
This is one reason to check finance before making a nonrefundable deposit.
How settlement usually works
Once the application and vehicle are approved, the lender generally pays the verified seller or clears the existing financier as part of settlement. The exact sequence varies. Your broker should explain who is paid, what documents are still outstanding and when it is safe to collect the vehicle.
Questions worth asking
- Is the vehicle acceptable under the proposed lender's age and kilometre rules?
- Has the PPSR been checked close to settlement?
- Who will receive the funds?
- Is a deposit refundable if finance or vehicle checks fail?
- What are the rate, comparison rate, fees, term and total repayment?
The cleanest private sale is the one where the vehicle, seller and finance are checked before anyone feels rushed.