Sample report
This is exactly what a full A$7.99 report looks like, using a fictional listing and fictional prices. No real seller, car or advertisement is involved.
The fictional listing and messages this report was made fromShow
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE LISTING 2016 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, automatic. 142,000 km. $13,900 ONO. Located Brisbane northside. Full service history in the book, timing chain so no belt to worry about. Rego until March. Couple of small scratches on the rear bumper, otherwise very clean inside and out. Selling because I work FIFO and barely drive it. Genuine buyers only, first to see will buy.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE MESSAGES Seller: Hi yes still available. I'm on site in WA until the 20th so my cousin can show it to you. Seller: I've had a lot of interest so I'd need a $500 deposit by bank transfer to hold it before you come out. Fully refundable if you don't like it. Buyer: Can I get the VIN to do a PPSR check first? Seller: I'll send the VIN after the deposit, I don't want people using it for fake ads.
Full report · sample
2016 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport
Items to verify before proceeding
A common, reasonably described hatch. The main items to verify come from the seller messages: a deposit is requested before viewing and the VIN is withheld until after payment.
What we found
- Year
- 2016
- From the listing · not verified
- Make / model
- Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch
- From the listing · not verified
- Odometer
- 142,000 km
- From the listing · not verified
- Asking price
- $13,900 ONO
- From the listing · not verified
- State / location
- Brisbane northside
- From the listing · not verified
- Registration status
- Rego until March
- From the listing · not verified
- Service history
- Full service history in the book
- From the listing · not verified
Findings
2 important2 check1 context- ImportantPayment request
Deposit requested before you have seen the car
“I'd need a $500 deposit by bank transfer to hold it before you come out.”
Why it matters
Paying before inspection means you have no way yet to confirm the car exists, matches the ad, or belongs to the person you are paying. Bank transfers are hard to reverse.
What to do
Decline to pay any deposit until you have inspected the car in person and confirmed the seller's right to sell it.
Confidence: high — The request is stated directly, but the seller may simply be trying to manage interest.
- ImportantDocuments & history
VIN offered only after payment
“I'll send the VIN after the deposit”
Why it matters
The VIN is what you need for an official PPSR search (money owing, written-off or stolen records). Without it you cannot do that check before committing money.
What to do
Ask for the VIN before any payment and run the official PPSR search yourself.
Confidence: high — The seller gives a reason (fake ads), which some private sellers genuinely worry about.
- CheckIdentity & ownership
Seller will not be present; a relative will show the car
“I'm on site in WA until the 20th so my cousin can show it to you.”
Why it matters
When the registered owner is not present, it is harder to confirm who owns the car and who you are paying.
What to do
Ask to see the registration papers in the seller's name and arrange to complete the sale when the owner can be present or verified.
Confidence: medium — FIFO work rosters are common and this can be entirely ordinary.
- CheckPressure or urgency
Urgency language
“first to see will buy.”
Why it matters
Pressure to act quickly can lead buyers to skip checks.
What to do
Take the time you need; complete your checks regardless of claimed interest.
Confidence: low — Phrases like this are very common in ordinary private listings.
- ContextMissing information
No mention of a safety certificate
Not mentioned in the text you supplied.
Why it matters
In Queensland, a seller of a registered light vehicle generally needs a current safety certificate. The listing does not mention one.
What to do
Ask whether a current safety certificate will be provided, and check requirements on the Queensland Government transport website.
Confidence: medium — The seller may have one and simply not mentioned it.
Message the seller
Your questions, combined into one polite message. Copy it into Marketplace, Gumtree or SMS.
Hi, I'm interested in your 2016 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch listed at $13,900 ONO. Before we arrange a time for me to see it, could you please help with a few questions? 1. Could you send the VIN now so I can do a PPSR search before we arrange anything? 2. Is the car registered in your name, and can your cousin show me the registration papers? 3. Will a current safety certificate be provided? 4. I don't pay deposits before inspecting — can we arrange a viewing first? Thanks very much!
Negotiate
Listing-based points and advertised prices you can reasonably raise. We never suggest what the car is worth — you choose your offer.
- The rear bumper has scratches the seller mentions.
- The price is listed as "ONO" (or nearest offer).
- Registration runs only until March.
Hi, thanks for your help so far. I'm still interested in the 2016 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch. A few things I'm taking into account on price: - The rear bumper has scratches the seller mentions. - The price is listed as "ONO" (or nearest offer). - Registration runs only until March. I've also seen similar cars advertised between $13,490 and $16,500. Subject to the inspection, would you consider $______ ? Thanks!
Tips
- • Make your offer after the inspection and official checks, not before.
- • Be polite and specific — point to what's in the listing, not opinions.
- • Decide your walk-away price before you talk, and be ready to use it.
- • Never pay a deposit to hold a car you haven't seen in person.
Advertised prices for similar cars
SAMPLE — fictional example prices, not a real search.
Searched for: Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch
Lowest asking
$13,490
Middle asking
$14,990
Highest asking
$16,500
Stated price $13,900 is within the range of advertised prices we found (5 ads).
- Fictional example advertisement 1Fictional Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, example only — $13,490$13,490
- Fictional example advertisement 2Fictional Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, example only — $14,250$14,250
- Fictional example advertisement 3Fictional Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, example only — $14,990$14,990
- Fictional example advertisement 4Fictional Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, example only — $15,800$15,800
- Fictional example advertisement 5Fictional Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch, example only — $16,500$16,500
These are asking prices from advertisements found online, not sale prices and not a valuation. Advertised cars may differ in variant, condition, history, kilometres and location. Prices were taken only from the text of the linked search results at the time of searching. “Drive-away” prices include registration and stamp duty, so they read higher than prices shown excluding government charges.
Ask your mechanic
Things worth covering in an independent pre-purchase inspection for this make and model.
Ask the inspector to check the automatic transmission's shift quality and look for fluid-service entries in the logbook
Transmission servicing is a common gap in otherwise complete histories and repairs can be costly.
Ask the inspector to check for any open recall work for this make, model and year
Recall repairs are free from the manufacturer but must be confirmed as completed; use the official recall search too.
General guidance based on the AI's knowledge of this make and model — not about this particular car, may be incomplete, and may not apply to every variant. It is not a diagnosis; share it with a qualified independent inspector.
Before you pay
Tick these off as you go. Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Official checks to do yourself
Separate checks on official websites. We haven't done these for you.
- 1PPSR — Personal Property Securities Register (opens in a new tab)
The official Australian Government register. A PPSR vehicle search uses the vehicle's VIN/chassis or serial number and can show whether money is owed on the car (a registered security interest) and certain written-off or stolen records. You do this search yourself on the official site. The official site lists the search fee as A$2 — confirm the current price there. ListingGuard AU does not run this search and never asks for your payment card.
- 2PPSR — understanding your car search result (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance on reading a PPSR vehicle search certificate.
- 3Australian vehicle recalls (opens in a new tab)
The Australian Government's official search for road vehicle recalls. Search by make and model (or VIN) and ask the seller whether any recall work has been completed.
- 4Scamwatch (opens in a new tab)
Government information about current scams and where to report one.
- 5ACCC — Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (opens in a new tab)
Information about consumer rights when buying goods, including from dealers.
Registration check for this car's state
Free. Use the plate on the car itself, not one sent by the seller.
What this report can't tell you
- Whether the seller owns the car or is who they say they are.
- Whether money is owed on the car or it has been written off or stolen.
- The car's mechanical condition or whether the odometer is genuine.
- Whether the seller is who they say they are, or owns the car.
- Whether money is owed on the car, or whether it has been written off or reported stolen (use the official PPSR search).
- The mechanical condition or safety of the vehicle (use an independent qualified inspection).
- Whether the odometer reading or service history is genuine.
- Whether the asking price is fair for the current market.
This report reviews only the text you supplied. Finding no warning signs is not proof that a listing, seller or vehicle is safe.
It is not a mechanical inspection, an official vehicle history report, a valuation, legal advice or a guarantee.
Statements in the listing are shown as “stated in listing” — they have not been verified.
ListingGuard AU is not connected to PPSR, NEVDIS, police, insurance, state registration, finance, write-off, stolen-vehicle or valuation databases.
Questions? Contact us.
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