Buying a Used Car
Statutory Warranty on Used Cars in Queensland, Explained
Class A or class B? How Queensland’s statutory warranty on used cars works, what it covers, what it doesn’t, and how to make a claim.
When someone buys a car from us, one of the first questions is: what warranty comes with it? In Queensland, most used cars sold by a licensed dealer come with a statutory warranty set by law. You don’t pay extra for it, and the dealer can’t talk you out of it.
Here is how it works, based on the Queensland Government’s guidance on warranties for used cars.
Who has to give a statutory warranty?
Licensed motor dealers and chattel auctioneers. If you buy from a private seller, there is no statutory warranty. That is one of the biggest differences between buying from a dealer or a private seller.
Class A and class B
Which class applies depends on the car’s kilometres and age on the day of sale.
Class A: 3 months or 5,000 km
Applies when the car has less than 160,000 km on the odometer and was built no more than 10 years before the day of sale. The warranty ends after 3 months or the first 5,000 km, whichever comes first.
Class B: 1 month or 1,000 km
Applies when the car has 160,000 km or more, or was built more than 10 years before the day of sale. The warranty ends after 1 month or the first 1,000 km, whichever comes first.
For example, an 8-year-old car with 120,000 km is class A. A 6-year-old car with 175,000 km is class B, because of the kilometres.
What is covered
Most defects are covered. In the Queensland Government’s words, a defect is a part that doesn’t do what it should, or has worn out so it no longer works.
What is not covered
Both classes exclude:
- tyres and tyre tubes, batteries, fitted airbags and radiator hoses;
- lights, except warning lights and turn indicators used as hazard lights;
- an installed radio or CD player, and the aerial;
- service items such as spark plugs, wiper rubbers, oil and oil filters, heater hoses and fuel or air filters;
- paintwork and upholstery;
- accidental damage caused by your own misuse or negligence;
- anything you fitted after the sale.
Class B also excludes air conditioning.
Cars with no statutory warranty
Some vehicles don’t come with a statutory warranty, even from a dealer:
- motorcycles;
- caravans;
- commercial vehicles;
- cars sold on consignment for a private seller;
- vehicles that can’t be registered because of their design;
- vehicles on the written-off register.
Vehicles over 20 years old sold for restoration can also be sold without one. If a car has no statutory warranty, the dealer must say so clearly, in the advertisement, on a notice on the windscreen or price tag, or on signs at the entrance.
How to make a claim
- Give the dealer written notice of the defect while the warranty is still running.
- The dealer must respond within 5 days, saying whether the defect is covered and how to get it fixed. If they don’t respond within 5 days, the defect is taken to be covered.
- Take the car to the dealer or their chosen repairer. The repairer has 14 days to fix it, and your warranty is extended by one day for every day the car is being repaired.
The repairer should be within 20 km of the dealer’s business unless you agree otherwise. If you are more than 200 km away, the dealer can nominate the nearest qualified repairer or pay to have the car delivered.
Your rights don’t end with the warranty
The statutory warranty sits on top of the consumer guarantees. A car bought from a business must still be of acceptable quality, match its description and be fit for the purpose you told the seller about, for a reasonable time after the sale. That can apply even after the statutory warranty has expired, and a dealer can’t ask you to sign it away.
How we handle it at Safeway Auto
Safeway Auto is a licensed Queensland motor dealer (licence 4738159), so the statutory warranty applies to the cars we sell in the way described above. In practice, if something comes up, just tell us. We would much rather fix a problem properly than argue about it. That is part of why I started Safeway Auto, and you can read the story here.
Quick answers
How long is the statutory warranty on a used car in Queensland?
Class A is 3 months or 5,000 km. Class B is 1 month or 1,000 km. Whichever comes first ends the warranty.
Do private sellers have to give a warranty?
No. The statutory warranty only applies to licensed motor dealers and chattel auctioneers.
Are tyres covered by the statutory warranty?
No. Tyres, batteries, paintwork and upholstery are among the items that are excluded.
What if the dealer doesn’t reply to my claim?
If the dealer doesn’t respond within 5 days of your written notice, the defect is taken to be covered and the dealer becomes responsible for the repair.
Looking for a used car with proper backing?
Browse our current cars, see why people buy from us, or ask us anything about a car before you buy.
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About Safeway Auto
Safeway Auto is a boutique used car dealership at 4 Ferry Road, West End, Brisbane. We select late-model vehicles with clear history and documented servicing, and we also help people sell, trade in, consign and source cars.
