Veme is a vehicle exchange platform designed to help protect you when buying a car privately. If you’re researching what to check when buying a used car, you’ll quickly realise how many moving parts are involved; identity checks, PPSR searches, finance validation, and payment safety.

Veme brings you one clear, guided process. Each step happens in the right order so you know exactly where you stand before money changes hands.

Learn more by watching our short explainer video here.

Buying privately can offer better value but it also can come with risks. If you’ve been searching for tips for buying a car from a private seller, you’ve likely seen advice about checking ID, running a PPSR search, confirming finance and being careful with how you pay.

The reality? You’re expected to manage all of that yourself. But Veme helps remove the guesswork.

Veme allows you to buy privately while helping you to verify identities, check vehicles and pay with greater confidence. It’s private buying, but with added checks built in.

Create your Veme account as soon as you find a vehicle you’re keen to buy. Invite the seller into Veme and move the transaction into the VEME environment. Any questions you have about buying privately should be covered through VEME’s process, or you can reach out to our friendly VEME crew for support. They’re experts in buying privately!

To use Veme, you must:

• Be over 18
• Hold a valid driver’s licence
• Be selling privately
• Have an Australian bank account

Veme costs just $128 to complete a private sale. The party that signs up pays and can invite the other party for free. If you’re researching what to check when buying a used car privately, this fee covers identity checks for both sides, a PPSR vehicle check, a lawyer‑prepared contract, a secure payment process and ongoing support and guidance from the VEME crew throughout the journey. Alternatively, you can pay just $29 to verify the seller and check the vehicle’s history. See our pricing page here for more information.

Veme is Australian owned and built specifically for private vehicle transactions in Australia. The platform was designed to support people looking for a safer and more structured way to complete a private vehicle sale. Learn more about ‘Our Story’ here

Veme verifies the buyer and seller’s identities through a government accredited digital ID provider, ConnectID, to minimise the risk of disingenuous participants, bots or scammers who don’t want their identities revealed. Verifying identity is easy on the Veme platform and confidential. If a seller refuses to share their information, it could indicate that the seller is not acting in good faith.

We collect essential details such as contact information, identification and payment details so we can support your purchase in a more secure way. We only share your name and email address with the seller - and a phone number if the buyer choose to provide it. We never share any other personal information - such as home addresses, birth dates or driver’s licence details - unless required by law or in rare situations outlined in our terms and conditions. We recommend you never share your home address with a seller (or any documents that reveal your address) and instead find a safe, public place to meet for test drives and handover. We take your privacy seriously. We only use your information to facilitate your purchase and in line with our Privacy Policy.

If you’re experiencing family violence, hardship, or any situation where safety and privacy matter more than ever, Veme is built to help protect you.We minimise the sharing of personal details. You can speak to a member of our Veme Crew to discuss your individual situation. We can guide next steps, and communicate in the way that feels safest for you. Because protecting people comes first.

If the vehicle you love is interstate and you’re unable to inspect it, Veme can help you obtain a mechanical inspection and arrange collection of the vehicle and transport to you. Contact the Veme crew for more information and a quote.

When buying privately, it’s important to confirm the vehicle’s legal and financial status, not just its appearance. 

Veme supports two types of checks:

• A Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR) search that identifies at the time of the search any recorded outstanding finance, stolen status or write-off history, the vehicle’s registration status and other details, such as the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, colour and year.
  
• An optional independent physical inspection carried out by a qualified mechanic. Veme can arrange this for you for an additional fee. Contact the Veme crew for a quote.

These checks help you avoid hidden risks, reduce the chance of unexpected issues, and give you confidence before moving to payment.

What is the PPSR?
The PPSR is an Australian government register that tells you if someone (usually a lender) still has a legal hold over the car, if the vehicle has been stolen or written-off and whether it’s registered.   

‍What is an encumbrance?
An encumbrance means the vehicle is used by the seller as security for a loan. Until that loan is paid out, the lender has a legal interest in the vehicle and may have the right to take the vehicle off the buyer if the seller fails to repay the loan. Buying a vehicle with an unresolved encumbrance can create significant financial risk, which is why VEME helps buyers understand how any existing loan will be cleared and supports sellers through repayment, giving both parties clarity on transferring the vehicle with clear title.

What is a lender?
A lender is a bank or finance company providing the loan for the vehicle. They supply the funds upfront and are repaid over time. For secured loans, the lender will register its loan on the PPSR.

What is a ‘Write-off’?
There are two types of write‑offs. A repairable write‑off is a vehicle an insurer believes could technically be repaired, but the cost of repairs is higher than the vehicle’s market value. A statutory write‑off is a vehicle that has been damaged so badly it is unsafe to repair. These vehicles can never be legally repaired or re‑registered for road use and are only permitted to be used for parts or scrap.

What if it's ‘Stolen’? (on the PPSR)
If a vehicle shows as “stolen” on the PPSR, it legally cannot be sold.
If it was previously reported stolen and later recovered, the PPSR record must be updated before transfer. Owners of previously stolen vehicles should contact the police in the State or Territory where the vehicle was reported stolen and request the stolen status be removed. They will also need to quote the vehicle reference number found on the PPSR search certificate.

What is a Payout Quote?
A payout quote is a letter from a lender stating the amount the seller needs to pay to clear a car loan in full. It includes the remaining balance, any interest owing, and applicable fees. Once paid and confirmed (usually through a paid in full letter from the lender), the lender is required to remove their registered security interest from the PPSR.

What is a Log Book?
A log book is the record of a vehicle’s ownership and service history.
It shows how the car has been maintained over time and a well-kept log book can give you extra confidence as the buyer.

What is Vehicle Registration?
‍Vehicle registration gives a car legal permission to be driven on public roads. It includes number plates, official registration records and confirmation that required fees and compulsory insurance (in most States and Territories) have been paid. Getting registration right protects both buyer and seller.

The response time depends on traffic to the government PPSR system. If the database is busy, results can take slightly longer.

Yes.

Veme guides sellers to help them verify the amount owing on the vehicle. Veme also requires that the loan is paid out directly from the transaction funds at the time of handover. This helps the buyer and seller to minimise risk of a vehicle being exchanged without the seller’s debt being paid. (See ‘How does Veme help guide sellers to remove encumbrances’ for more information.)

Contact the Veme team and we will help you investigate and resolve the issue.

If a vehicle has an encumbrance, it means the owner still owes money to a lender, and the lender has the right to reclaim the vehicle if the debt isn’t paid. This is why it’s important that encumbrances are removed as part of a transfer of vehicle ownership. Veme guides the seller to help them confirm how much is owed to their lender and when both parties are ready for handover, Veme uses the money owed to the seller to clear the seller’s loan first, then pays any remaining amount as directed by the seller. Once paid in full, a lender is required to remove their encumbrance from the PPSR within 5 business days.

It is your choice, but we recommend it. An independent mechanical inspection can help you understand the vehicle’s true condition and reduce the risk of unexpected repair costs after purchase.

In most cases, yes.

Buying a vehicle with current registration means it can be legally driven immediately (subject to local government transfer rules). It also reduces additional steps and potential costs before you can use the vehicle. An unregistered vehicle might be cheaper, but if you want to register it, it’s best to get a mechanic to inspect it first so you know what it may cost to make it road-ready.

Insurance policies vary. Before test driving a vehicle, confirm with the seller that the car has comprehensive insurance and that you are permitted to drive it under their policy. Most insurers will only cover you if the seller is in the vehicle with you during the test drive.

Consider the following:

• Meet in a well-lit public place, like a police station
• Bring a friend or let someone know where you are
• Confirm the seller’s identity and the vehicle’s history on the Veme platform prior to any test drive
• Avoid sharing unnecessary personal details
• Black out sensitive information on any documents shared (such as a certificate of registration)
• Agree on a clear route and time limit
• Let the seller know beforehand if you intend to bring a family member or friend
• Ensure the keys are returned before exiting the vehicle
• Small precautions can make a big difference

Before you are asked to sign the sale contract, the platform will ask you to confirm the agreed price in the platform and review and sign the digital sale agreement prepared by Veme.

Once both parties sign, the agreement becomes legally binding. You and the seller will both have access to the signed contract within the platform.

Once the agreement is signed, you will be prompted to make payment to Veme. Your funds are held securely while the Veme crew guides the seller to verify any finance owing. Once all steps have been completed, the parties can book in a date and time to handover the vehicle. When the vehicle has been handed over to the buyer, Veme releases the funds as directed by the seller, including paying the lender’s seller directly.

You will receive:

• A signed sales agreement
• A sales invoice between you and the seller
• A Veme fee receipt, if applicable

Buyer’s can transfer payment to Veme via electronic funds transfer and BPAY. Funds are transferred to Veme’s account held with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia until all agreed conditions are satisfied.

You will provide payment from an Australian account in your own name.

Your payment is verified and securely held within Veme’s trust account until settlement requirements are met

Your funds are only released once:

• The signed agreement is in place
• Any vehicle finance has been verified
• Settlement conditions are satisfied, and you have picked up the vehicle

In some cases, Veme may require sellers to pay out the finance before the sale takes place.

Veme’s structured process helps minimise the risk of buyers paying for a vehicle that still has finance attached, or paying in advance for a vehicle that is then never delivered.

If finance is owing on the vehicle, Veme guides sellers to help them verify the amount owing with their lender. Veme also requires that the loan is paid out directly from the transaction funds at the time of handover. This helps to minimise risk of a vehicle being exchanged without the seller’s debt being paid.

If the seller owes more than the agreed price, the shortfall must be resolved before settlement can proceed. Veme helps guide the seller to resolve the issue before the vehicle is handed over.

Agree with the seller on a suitable time and public location such as out the front of a police station. Never share your home address with a seller.

Yes. Bringing a friend or informing someone of your location adds an extra layer of safety.

If the vehicle is interstate or you prefer transport assistance, Veme can help coordinate collection. Simply contact the Veme crew for a quick quote.

• Confirm the vehicle details match the signed agreement
• Re-check the VIN and registration details
• Review any log book and service records
• Ensure all agreed keys and accessories are provided