Legislation and key terms
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Several areas of law relate to buying a car. These include the laws dealing with contracts, credit and fair trading. The major pieces of legislation related to buying a car are the:
Motor Car Traders Act 1986 (Vic) (‘MCT Act’);
Motor Car Traders Regulations 2018 (Vic) (‘MCT Regulations’);
Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth);
Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) (‘RS Act’);
Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2009 (Vic) (‘RSV Regulations’).
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The MCT Act deals with the rights and obligations of purchasers and car traders, including rights related to minimum standards of documentation and used car warranties. It also provides for the licensing of car traders.
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The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) set up the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), which enables a purchaser to check whether anyone other than the seller (e.g. a finance company) has an interest in a car. You should check the PPSR if buying a used car privately.
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The relevant provisions of the RS Act and the RSV Regulations deal with the sale of cars, vehicle registration, written-off vehicles and roadworthiness certificates.
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When buying a car, you may come across the following terms:
‘Motor car trader’ (‘car trader’): A person who carries on the business of trading in cars (MCT Act s 3). A car trader must be licensed (s 7). You can tell if a seller is a licensed car trader (LMCT) by checking for signs at the dealership and advertisements with ‘LMCT’ followed by the car trader’s licence number. A private seller may be deemed to be trading in cars if they sell four or more cars in a 12-month period (s 7A).
PPSR: The PPSR, which records details of security interests in vehicles.
‘Purchaser’: A person acquiring possession of a car.
‘Registered operator’: The person or corporation that owns or manages a car (RSV Regulations reg 13). Note that the register at VicRoads does not provide evidence of title (RS Act s 9B). It records the registered operator as the personal responsible for the car (s 3(1)).
‘Registration certificate’: This is issued by VicRoads. It shows details including the name and address of the registered operator, the make of the car, its garage address, registration number, VIN (see below), engine or chassis number if there is no VIN, and the date the car is registered until (RSV Regulations reg 41).
‘Rescind’, ‘rescission’, ‘rescinding’: The legal cancellation of a contract.
‘Roadworthiness certificate’: This is issued by a licensed tester (RSV Regulations reg 227) and is current if it is issued within 30 days before the disposal of the car (MCT Act s 42A(4)).
‘Security interest’: This is an interest in, or power over, goods (e.g. a goods mortgage over a car bought on finance) to secure the payment of a debt or other obligation.
‘Seller’: A person disposing of a car (a car is usually registered in the seller’s name).
‘Transfer of registration’, ‘disposal’ and ‘acquisition’: This includes the sale, gift, inheritance or delivery of a car in accordance with a court order (RSV Regulations reg 74).
‘Vehicle identification number’ (VIN): A car’s individual vehicle identification number, which is permanently marked on its frame or chassis.
Legislation and key terms
Chapter: 6.7: Buying a car
Contributor: David Niven, Legal Consultant
Current as of: 1 September 2024
Law Handbook Page: 562
Next Section: The hidden costs of buying a car
