Buyer checklist
- Always meet in a public, well-lit place — supermarket carparks and police-station forecourts work well in QLD.
- Confirm the rego against the seller’s ID. The CivicCars Verified badge means we already did this — but double-check.
- Take a friend, ideally one who knows cars. If you can, get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) — pay for it with CivicPoints.
- Test-drive on suburban streets and a stretch of highway. Listen for changes in pitch under load.
- Settle payment via PayID or bank transfer to the verified seller account shown in CivicCars chat. Never wire to a third party.
- Get a written receipt with VIN, rego, agreed price, and both parties’ details.
Seller checklist
- Don’t hand over keys until cleared funds land in your account. Bank transfer can take 1–3 business days.
- Use the CivicCars chat to keep an audit trail. Off-platform messages can’t be relied on if a dispute arises.
- Complete the QLD “Notice of Disposal” on TMR within 14 days of selling.
- Cancel CTP and comprehensive insurance only after the sale is final.
Red flags — stop and report
- Price is dramatically below market and seller is “in a hurry”.
- Seller is overseas, deployed, or wants to ship the car sight-unseen.
- Asks for a deposit by gift card, crypto, Western Union, or MoneyGram.
- Sends a fake escrow link (often spoofed eBay Motors / Carfax).
- Refuses to meet in person or take a phone call inside CivicCars chat.
Hit “Report” on the listing or conversation. Our Trust & Safety team triages within 4 hours. For an in-progress scam, also contact ScamWatch and your bank.
Insurance & finance disclaimers
Quotes and pre-qualification offered through CivicCars Insurance Partners and CivicCars Finance Partners are provided by independent third-party licensed providers. CivicCars does not provide financial advice, credit assistance, or insurance advice. CivicCars may receive a referral commission. Always read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD), and Credit Guide before applying.
Need to report something now? Open your messages and use the report button on any thread, or email safety@civiccars.com.au.