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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Before paying a deposit on an unfamiliar car brand, verify the exact vehicle and the Australian businesses behind it. Obtain the vehicle identification number (VIN), check that VIN in the Australian Government’s Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV), confirm current safety and recall information for the precise variant, test the local service and parts arrangements, and read the written warranty alongside your automatic Australian Consumer Law (ACL) rights. Then compare the complete drive-away offer and likely ownership costs with established alternatives. A long warranty or launch discount is not proof that support will remain available.
Why a newly launched brand needs extra checking
A new badge can represent a new manufacturer, a new Australian importer, a rebadged vehicle, or a familiar manufacturer entering Australia through a different distributor. Those arrangements affect who supplies the car, who approves warranty work, who imports parts and who remains responsible if the distributor changes.
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Promotional claims, a polished website and a long warranty describe an offer; they do not establish that the exact car is approved for Australian roads or that a workshop near you can repair it. Treat the purchase as a chain of verifiable checks. If one link is unclear, pause the transaction and ask for written answers.
1. Identify every party accountable in Australia
Ask the dealer for the full legal name, Australian address, telephone number and email for each relevant entity:
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- Sturdy and Compact: Equipped with a 2.5 foot cable made of very thick, flexible insulation. It is important to have a sturdy scanner as it can easily fall to the ground when working in a car. The AD310 OBD2 scanner is a well-constructed mechanic tool with a sleek design. It weighs 12 ounces and measures 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches. Thanks to its compact design and light weight, transporting the device is not a problem. The buttons are clearly labelled and the screen is large and displays results clearly
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- the licensed dealer named on the sale contract;
- the importer or distributor that supplied the vehicle;
- the manufacturer’s Australian representative, if there is one; and
- the business that administers warranty claims and roadside assistance.
Check which entity actually appears as the supplier on the contract and invoice. The supplier that sold the car can be responsible for a remedy under the ACL, and the manufacturer may also have obligations in some circumstances. The ACCC explains these responsibilities in Just bought a new car?.
Questions to put in writing
- Where must a warranty claim be lodged: with this dealer, another dealer, or an importer’s central portal?
- Who pays for diagnosis, towing and labour when a claim is accepted?
- What happens to software updates, connected services and roadside assistance if the importer stops trading or changes distributors?
- Who will honour open recalls and supply parts for cars already sold if the local entity changes?
- Can the dealer provide the warranty administrator’s legal name and Australian contact details before you pay?
Save the answers, the contract, the order form and every promised delivery or equipment statement. A verbal assurance from a salesperson is difficult to enforce if the written documents say something different.
2. Verify the exact vehicle’s Australian approval
Do not rely on a model name, a brochure or an overseas certification. Request the VIN for the specific vehicle you intend to buy, including a demonstrator or an incoming shipment. The Australian Government’s RAV Public Search lets you search approval records by VIN.
The RAV records vehicles approved for provision to the Australian market under the Road Vehicle Standards framework. Entry is almost always a prerequisite for registration for road use. Read the government explanation of the framework at Road Vehicle Standards laws.
VIN-check procedure
- Copy the 17-character VIN directly from the vehicle or its manufacturer documentation. Check every character, especially zero versus the letter O.
- Run the VIN through the RAV public search and save the result as a PDF or screenshot with the date.
- Compare the recorded make, model, variant and other identifying details with the car and the contract.
- If the VIN is not listed, ask the seller to explain before signing. Recheck the characters and ask whether the record is still being processed, relates to an older approval or uses a different approval pathway.
- Ask for the approval or import documentation that supports the explanation. The government’s Importing a road vehicle into Australia guidance describes approval and RAV processes.
A missing search result does not by itself prove that the car is illegal: the public guidance lists incorrect VINs, timing, older approvals and non-RAV pathways as possible explanations. It does mean the seller must resolve the uncertainty before you commit. Do not accept a promise that approval will be “sorted out later” without a documented pathway and a contract term allowing you to cancel and recover your deposit if registration cannot proceed.
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- Multi-Functions - Practical Multi-Functions OBD2 code reader features built-in OBD2 DTC lookup library, which help you to determine the cause of the engine light, read code, erase code, view freeze frame, I/M ready, vehicle information, data flow, real-time curve, get vehicle speed information, calculate load value, engine coolant temperature, get engine speed.
- Wide Capability - Supports 9 protocols compatible with most 1996 US-Based, 2000 EU-Based and Asian cars, and newer OBD II & CAN domestic or import vehicles. Supports 6 languages - English,German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian.
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- ABS / Airbag codes NOT Supported - It is able to read and clear check engine information which is part of OBDII system, but it cannot work with non-OBDII systems, including ABS / Airbag / Oil Service Light, etc.
3. Check safety evidence for the exact model and variant
Search current ANCAP material for the exact make, model, variant and model year. Read which body style, powertrain, safety equipment and production period the rating covers, and note when the rating was issued. A result for a different variant, an earlier facelift or an overseas-market vehicle may not apply to the car you are buying.
Because no particular brand or model is specified here, there is no blanket statement that an unnamed new brand has or lacks an ANCAP rating. Treat an absent rating as an unanswered question, not as evidence of either safety or danger. Ask the seller to identify the precise configuration covered by any rating and to list equipment that differs on the Australian car.
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Check recalls before delivery
Search the Australian Government’s current vehicle recall information for the vehicle’s make and model, then ask the dealer to check the individual VIN in its recall system. Confirm:
- whether any recall is open, completed or not applicable to this VIN;
- what part or software update is required;
- whether the repair is available now or requires an order; and
- who will contact you about future recalls and where the work will be performed.
Recall responsibilities can involve relevant suppliers, manufacturers and distributors. Obtain a written statement that open safety recalls will be remedied at no charge before, or as a condition of, delivery. Keep the recall notice and repair invoice with the vehicle records.
4. Test whether local servicing is real
A pin on a dealer map does not prove that the site can repair your exact car. Ask for the nearest authorised service locations and then contact at least one yourself. Identify the people, equipment and parts that would be available after the sale.
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- Full OBD2 Diagnostics Made Simple – More than a basic engine code reader, this OBD2 scanner diagnostic tool supports key OBDII functions including reading/clearing codes, live data, freeze frame, I/M readiness, O2 sensor test, EVAP test, vehicle information, and MIL status. It helps you check your car’s condition, verify repairs after the issue is fixed, and communicate with mechanics more confidently
- Live Date & Real-time Vehicle Insights – View real-time engine data such as RPM, coolant temperature, fuel trim, oxygen sensor readings, and other available OBD2 parameters directly on the screen. These live data readings help you better understand how your vehicle is running, spot abnormal patterns, and make more informed repair decisions instead of relying only on a warning light
- Smog Check Readiness At A Glance – Use the I/M readiness function before a smog check or emissions inspection to see whether your vehicle’s monitors are ready. This OBD2 code scanner helps you confirm if recent repairs have brought the system back to a ready state, reducing the chance of failed inspections, retests, wasted trips, and unnecessary inspection fees
- Works With Most OBD2 Vehicles – Compatible with most 1996 and newer U.S.-based OBD2 cars, SUVs, and light trucks, as well as many 2000 and newer EU/Asian OBD2 vehicles. Supports major OBDII protocols including CAN, ISO9141, KWP2000, J1850 VPW, and J1850 PWM. This automotive diagnostic scanner is designed for wide vehicle coverage; please check compatibility with your vehicle before purchase
Questions for a service centre
- Can you service this exact model, variant and powertrain, not merely another model from the same brand?
- What is the normal booking lead time for routine maintenance and for a non-drivable fault?
- Do you have the manufacturer’s diagnostic software, technical manuals and calibration equipment?
- Which maintenance items are stocked locally, and what is the typical order time for filters, brake components, body panels, electronic modules and high-voltage parts where relevant?
- Can you provide mobile, regional or loan-car support if the nearest workshop is far away?
- Who authorises a major repair and who pays for towing while that approval is obtained?
- Can an independent repairer perform routine servicing while following the manufacturer’s specified procedures?
Keep the service centre’s written replies. The ACCC says new cars should have spare parts and repair facilities available for a reasonable time after purchase. Its guidance on servicing and guarantees appears in Just bought a new car? and New and second-hand cars.
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Ask for the scheduled maintenance intervals, the required fluids and consumables, and an itemised estimate for the first several services. A low advertised service price is not useful if the workshop is hundreds of kilometres away or cannot obtain a diagnostic part.
5. Read the manufacturer warranty before paying
Request the complete warranty booklet, not a marketing summary. Read it before the deposit becomes non-refundable. Record the following terms in a comparison sheet:
| Warranty point | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Duration and distance | Time and kilometre limits, and whether different components have shorter limits. |
| Covered components | Engine, transmission, electronics, air-conditioning, corrosion, paint, battery and high-voltage systems where applicable. |
| Exclusions | Wear items, consumables, accident damage, modifications, software, charging equipment and commercial use. |
| Maintenance conditions | Required intervals, records, fluids, software updates and what happens after a missed service. |
| Repair location | Authorised sites, pre-approval rules, independent-repair provisions and the process when no authorised site is nearby. |
| Costs during a claim | Diagnosis, labour, towing, accommodation, rental cars and transport of parts. |
| Transferability | Whether the warranty follows the vehicle on resale and whether a transfer form or fee is required. |
| Software and connected services | Update support, subscription periods, server shutdown provisions and what functions remain if connectivity ends. |
Separate warranty promises from legal guarantees
A manufacturer warranty is a contractual promise with stated conditions. It does not replace the ACL. The ACCC’s Warranties guidance explains that optional extended warranties may add no rights beyond the consumer guarantees, and businesses must not pressure or mislead buyers into purchasing them.
Ask the salesperson to identify exactly what an extended warranty adds: extra time, extra distance, additional components, roadside assistance or merely a different claims administrator. Do not assume that paying for one increases your statutory rights.
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6. Know your Australian Consumer Law rights
Consumer guarantees apply automatically when a consumer buys a new car from a licensed dealer. They are separate from a manufacturer warranty and continue to apply even when the written warranty expires, subject to the circumstances and the expected reasonable life of the vehicle.
Relevant guarantees include that the car is of acceptable quality, matches its description, is fit for a purpose you made known, and comes with spare parts and repair facilities available for a reasonable time. If a guarantee is not met, the available remedy depends on the problem and its seriousness. A major failure may allow you to choose a repair, replacement or refund; a minor failure will generally be addressed by repair within a reasonable time. The ACCC’s new-car fact sheet describes potential remedies.
The supplier that sold the car is the practical first contact for a guarantee claim. In some situations the manufacturer can also be liable, particularly for representations it made or for a failure connected with manufacturing. Use current ACCC guidance and your state or territory consumer agency for a live dispute; the precise remedy depends on the evidence, the defect and how the vehicle was supplied.
Servicing and independent repairers
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and keep dated invoices, parts numbers and diagnostic reports. An independent repairer’s involvement does not automatically remove consumer guarantees. The work must still be carried out competently and in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements, and damage caused by incorrect work can be treated differently from an unrelated defect.
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Compare the written offer with at least one established alternative using the same assumptions. Put every cost and service promise in one table rather than comparing only the advertised vehicle price.
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| Comparison area | Questions to answer for each vehicle |
|---|---|
| Approval and safety | Is the exact VIN in the RAV, and is there variant- and model-year-specific safety evidence? |
| Accountability | Which Australian entity is the supplier, importer and warranty administrator? |
| Service and parts | Where is the nearest capable workshop, what is its booking lead time, and how long do common and major parts take? |
| Warranty | What is covered, for how long, under which conditions, and who approves claims? |
| Drive-away price | What registration, delivery, dealer, accessories and compulsory charges are included, and when is the balance due? |
| Running costs | What are the scheduled service prices, energy or fuel consumption, tyres and likely consumables? |
| Protection | Can you obtain insurance and roadside-assistance quotes for the exact variant? |
| Resale and exit | Is there credible local resale demand, and are warranty rights transferable? |
Obtain an insurance quote using the exact model, variant, powertrain and postcode. Ask the insurer whether parts availability or repairer choice affects premiums or claim delays. For finance, compare the total amount payable, not only the weekly figure, and check cancellation terms before the vehicle is ordered.
8. Use a written pre-purchase workflow
Complete these steps in order and do not let a launch deadline remove a check:
- Collect the legal names and contact details of the dealer, importer, manufacturer representative and warranty administrator.
- Obtain the exact VIN, written specification, drive-away quote, delivery date and deposit-cancellation terms.
- Search the VIN in the RAV and resolve any missing or mismatched record.
- Confirm the precise safety configuration and review current ANCAP material for that configuration.
- Search government recall information and obtain the dealer’s VIN-specific recall status.
- Call a service site and document booking times, diagnostic capability, parts lead times and regional support.
- Read the warranty booklet, maintenance schedule and roadside-assistance conditions.
- Price insurance, finance, servicing, fuel or electricity, tyres and likely registration costs.
- Arrange an independent pre-purchase or pre-delivery inspection if the vehicle’s condition, build quality or software is difficult to assess yourself.
- Put every material promise in the contract, including equipment, delivery date, approval, recall repairs and refund rights if the car cannot be registered.
An optional OBD-II scanner can reveal some diagnostic trouble codes during an inspection, but it cannot confirm Australian approval, a crash rating, warranty rights, parts availability or the strength of the local support network. Treat it as a supplement, not a substitute for the documentary checks above.
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- The seller will not provide a VIN for the actual vehicle or supplies a VIN that does not match the car.
- The RAV result is missing, inconsistent or explained only with an undocumented promise.
- No one can identify the Australian supplier responsible for a warranty claim.
- A service map lists locations, but staff cannot confirm diagnostic equipment, parts ordering or booking times.
- The warranty booklet is unavailable until after payment, or important exclusions are described only verbally.
- The dealer insists that buying an extended warranty is necessary to obtain rights that the ACL already provides.
- The written price omits delivery, registration, accessories, finance fees or other mandatory charges.
- An open recall has no parts, repair date or named party responsible for completing the work.
One unresolved item may be an administrative delay; several together indicate that you are being asked to finance the launch while carrying the support risk yourself.
10. What to do if something goes wrong
Notify the supplier in writing as soon as a defect, missed delivery promise or service failure appears. Describe the symptom, date, mileage, safety impact and the remedy you seek. Attach the contract, warranty, invoices, photographs, diagnostic reports and towing records. Give a reasonable opportunity for a response, but do not continue driving a car that may be unsafe.
If the issue concerns a potential safety defect or non-compliance, the Australian Government explains reporting and referral options in Reporting a vehicle safety or non-compliance issue. For a disagreement about a refund, replacement or repair, use current ACCC information and the consumer-protection agency in your state or territory. Keep communications factual and preserve the vehicle until an inspection or evidence collection is complete.
A practical decision rule
Proceed only when you can answer “yes” to all of these questions:
- Do I know which Australian entity sold the car and which entity will handle a claim?
- Has the exact VIN been checked in the RAV, with any exception documented?
- Have I checked safety evidence and recalls for the precise configuration?
- Can a workshop near me diagnose and repair this model, with a credible parts path?
- Have I read the warranty and separated it from my ACL rights?
- Does the complete written ownership cost make sense against alternatives?
- Are delivery, equipment, approval and refund conditions written into the contract?
If any answer is “no”, delay signing until the gap is closed or choose a vehicle with evidence you can verify.
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