What should I check when buying a used Lexus IS?

On a IS, check cold-start the engine.; check the dashboard and door panels.; drive it cold, then warm., on top of the checks for any used car: the body, tyres and engine, a test drive, and the paperwork for money owing, a write-off and the odometer.

How much is a used Lexus IS?

Most 2008 IS are advertised at $8,000 to $20,000, with 100,000 to 220,000 km on the odometer. Prices depend on the year, the kilometres, the badge and the condition.

How many used Lexus IS have money owing or a write-off?

Of about 370 used Lexus IS checked on Carify since November 2023, 5% had money owing and 16% were recorded as written off. Across every car checked it was 9% and 13%.

Used Lexus IS Buying Checklist: What to Check

Before you go

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What a 2008 IS is advertised for

Asking price: $8k to $20k
Odometer: 100k to 220k km

Asking prices, not sale prices: the middle 60% of the 119 advertised in the last 12 months, one listing per car.

Get the rego or VIN From the ad or the seller. Enter it at the top of this page: the make, model and year should match the ad.
Compare the price With what similar cars are advertised for.
Ask the seller How long they have owned it, why they are selling, any accidents and any money owing.
Ask for the service book And for the engine to be cold when you arrive.
Meet in daylight In dry weather. For a private sale, at the seller's home: the address should match the registration papers.

Inspection

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Panels and paint Uneven gaps, paint that does not quite match and overspray on rubber seals point to accident repairs.
Rust Under the doors, around the wheel arches and under the boot floor.
Tyres At least 1.5 mm of tread, even wear across each tyre, and a spare.
Glass and lights No chips or cracks in the windscreen, and every light works.
Oil and coolant Check them cold. Milky oil under the filler cap, or oil in the coolant, can mean a head gasket fault.
Cold start Watch the exhaust and listen for rattles in the first few seconds.
Wear inside The pedals, steering wheel and driver's seat should fit the odometer reading.
Warning lights and controls Lights come on with the ignition and go out once the engine runs. Try the air conditioning, windows, locks and screen.
Flood signs A damp smell, water marks or silt under the carpets.

What to check on a IS

Cold-start the engine. Listen for rough idle, misfires, or shudder in the first minute of running; classic signs of carbon build-up on the intake valves. Ask when the valves were last cleaned and whether there are receipts.
Check the dashboard and door panels. Feel for any tackiness on the top of the dash and upper door trim, especially on pre-2009 cars.
Drive it cold, then warm. Pay attention to how the automatic gearbox engages from cold and how cleanly it shifts through the lower gears. Any significant lag or clunk deserves scrutiny.
Check the oil level and condition. Low oil between services, or oil that looks milky or smells burnt, is a warning sign. Ask for a full service history showing regular oil changes; skipped services accelerate carbon build-up and can cause premature engine wear.
Confirm Takata airbag recall status. Ask the seller or check Lexus Australia's VIN look-up tool to confirm the airbag inflator has been replaced. Do not purchase a car with an outstanding Takata recall.
Look for rust. While the IS250 is generally well-built, check underneath the car, around the wheel arches, and in the boot floor; cars from coastal areas or southern states can show corrosion on older examples.
Run a history check. Before committing, run a PPSR check to confirm there is no outstanding finance, whether it has been written off, and that the VIN is clean. A full Carify vehicle history report can surface additional red flags.

The IS's known problems, in full

Test drive

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20 minutes or more On slow streets and at highway speed.
Steering and brakes It runs straight with your hands light on the wheel, and stops straight without shudder or squeal.
Gear changes Smooth, with no slipping or flaring revs. In a manual, a clutch that bites near the top of the pedal may be worn.
Noises Knocks over bumps, and whines or hums that rise with speed.
Temperature and leaks The gauge settles and stays put. After the drive, look under the car for fresh drips.

Paperwork

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Money owing A car with finance owing on it can be repossessed after you have paid for it. A PPSR check shows it.
Write-off A statutory write-off can never be registered again, and a repairable write-off needs an inspection first.
Odometer Compare the reading with earlier records of the car: service book stamps, earlier listings and other records.
VIN match The VIN on the car matches the registration papers and the PPSR certificate.
Seller's licence The name and address match the registration papers.
Safety certificate In Queensland the seller needs a current safety certificate, and in Victoria a roadworthy certificate is needed to transfer the registration.
Receipt The date, the price, the VIN and rego, and both names and signatures.

Money owing and write-offs on the IS

5% had money owing

16% were recorded as written off

Of about 370 used Lexus IS checked on Carify since November 2023. Every car checked: 9% had money owing and 13% were written off.

These are cars people chose to check before buying, so they are not a share of every IS on the road. Money owing is what was registered against the car on the day it was checked.

Where to find the VIN

Most cars show it at the base of the windscreen, on a door pillar and under the bonnet. The registration papers carry it too.

Older cars also carry a compliance plate, usually under the bonnet or on a door pillar. A car supplied new since mid 2021 may have none: it is entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles instead.

After you buy

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Transfer the rego Into your name before the deadline, usually 14 days.
Stamp duty Worked out on the price you paid or the market value, whichever is higher.
Insurance Before you drive the car away.
Recalls Check that no recall work is outstanding.
Next service Book it on time.
Keep the papers The receipt and the PPSR certificate, with the car's papers.

What it costs on top of the price

It opens on $14,000, the middle of what a 2008 IS is advertised for. Put in the price you're offered for the stamp duty, the transfer fee and a year's rego.

State Price of the car What you pay, GST included

Is the car worth more than the price?

Duty is on the market value when that is higher than the price

Stamp duty (motor vehicle duty): $420
Transfer fee: $42
Rego, 12 months (estimate): $375
On top of the price: $837

Duty at Revenue NSW rates as at 27 October 2026 (revenue.nsw.gov.au).

How stamp duty works in NSW

Used Lexus IS Buying Checklist

The IS checklist

Before you go

Inspection

What to check on a IS

Test drive

Paperwork

Money owing and write-offs on the IS

Where to find the VIN

After you buy

What it costs on top of the price

Questions

What should I check when buying a used Lexus IS?

How much is a used Lexus IS?

How many used Lexus IS have money owing or a write-off?

Used Lexus IS Buying Checklist

The IS checklist

1Before you go

2Inspection

What to check on a IS

3Test drive

4Paperwork

Money owing and write-offs on the IS

Where to find the VIN

5After you buy

What it costs on top of the price

Questions

What should I check when buying a used Lexus IS?

How much is a used Lexus IS?

How many used Lexus IS have money owing or a write-off?

Before you go

Inspection

Test drive

Paperwork

After you buy