Buying a car interstate

[scotty_dee]

Hi, just after people's experience on buying cars interstate. Am interested in a car from Tasmania but am a bit daunted buying a car sight unseen, assuming I can't make it there to see it. Also, is it a huge hassle changing registrations and roadworthys? Really just after some insight on people who have done this before. Thanks

[Rob 351]

No drama. If bringing to nsw will need to be blueslipped even if it is a new car. If buying from dealer they will prob cancel rego & give you a 24 hr pass if driving (pretty hard from tassie) & you blueslip & rego car when you get it back to your state. Thats for nsw anyways.

[Jastel]

First I wouldn't buy a car unseen but that's up to you.

Most states have some laws that say you must register the car there (where you live/or it is garaged) within a certain time limit. This ensures that that states gets the CTP rather than everybody registering in VIC because it is cheaper for example.

They also will probably require an inspection of roadworthiness or whatever it is called in your state before they will register it.

You should not have to pay stamp duty on the purchase price twice so long as the owner remains the same, only in the state of sale, not your state when you t/f it over.

If the vehicle is registered you can drive it wherever you like.
If the vehicle needs to be driven unregistered there are various permits you must apply for and pay. Sometimes it is easier to put it on a truck etc. It depends on time/distance/ wear and tear etc.

This is general and I would look up the details for specific states involved.

[kypez]

I bought my G6E in Melbourne and drove it to Sydney. The dealer organised a permit that was valid for a week. You can drive it without numberplates to NSW.

Once in NSW, you will need the above mentioned Blue Slip and Pink Slip (if the car is over 5 years old) else the Bluey will do. Take that to the RTA and pay your 3% stamp duty, numberplate fee and I think you're done. Cant remember any other costs.

RTA have a rego calculator as well:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...evehicles.html

and the fees:

https://myrta.com/myRego/pages/content/rc/terms.page

[Bushbasher]

Firstly, ALWAYS get experienced eyes to check out the car even if you have to pay RAA/RACV/NRMA etc, whoever the body in Tas is, to do it for you. Try to get someone you know and trust to haggle the seller face to face as you'll always get a better deal that way. A seller who knows you have to come so far has you over a barrel. If it's a paid inspection make sure you get pics so the seller doesn't do the old switcheroo on you or pull bits off that were on at the inspection. Give the seller a token deposit and pay the balance on pick up.

In my case I posted up to ask if anyone in the vicinity of the car would go and have a look for me and got lucky when the most experienced set of eyes I could hope for put up his hand and went and looked then haggled the seller for me then paid him and drove the car away. for my part i had to trust the bloke who inspected the car and sent him the money and he did the deal for me. I went on his forum reputation and post history and the fact that others thought very highly of him plus I got a very good vibe from him when we spoke on the phone. (at some point you'll have to trust someone). I fly out next Monday over to Melbourne from SA to pick up my new (used) AU Fairlane Sportsman. A VERY BIG thank you goes out to forum member Kristo for his outstanding effort in helping this deal come together and I'll see you next monday Chris.

As for rego. I'll be driving the car back on a 7 day permit and when I get back my local cop will give the car a once over and make sure the car is as it should be and not stolen or written off then I just go to my nearest RTA office and register the car paying the rego, stamp duty and the cost of new plates and that's it.

Cheers
Bushbasher

[danzvtil]

This must happen a lot, i drove from ADL to Melbourne for holidays recently, the whole day I passed 5 brand spanking new audis with no plates but a permit stuck in the window.
Adelaide is too small with only 1 or 2 outlets for some top end brands meaning youll pay more there.

[Maysik]

Airfares are cheap these days, I flew from Newcastle to Adelaide via Melbourne to see a car. He appreciated I went to those lengths and I got a bit of money off.

If distance is unreasonable, the V.I.P (Car Carrier) mob do an inspection service now like the N.R.M.A used to do. I have spoken to V.I.P on the phone and seem to know their stuff and no 21 year old mechanic is doing the inspections either. The rest is up to you re negotiations.

[scotty_dee]

Thanks for the replys, very helpful. I'm in Victoria so I guess it isn't really far away, bit of work getting it back on the boat etc. have thought about a car carrier service that inspect the car as well, but how much would I expect to pay for something like that? Definatly give me peace of mind though, but whether it's viable enough to do on a sub-ten thousand dollar car?

[EB#]

I have bought a car from another state (QLD to NSW) once before and am considering
doing it again. It is a bit of a hassle with transfers and new rego etc, but if you do the
sums and the car is right, it can be worth it.

I agree that its always best to see the car yourself, or have a trusted advocate do that
on your behalf. In your case, give TAS Transport a call and see what their system is
for purchasing a TAS car and driving it to VIC. Some states are easier than others. For
example in VIC everything can be done over the phone and the temp rego certificates
are cheap. QLD on the other hand requires an 'in-person' visit to a QLD Transport office
and their temp certificates/insurance daily rate is about equal to the weekly rate from
VIC.

Remember also to do an online PPSR check on the prospective car (if a private sale) for
a finance check, and you may wish to call the local Police Station regarding a check on
the register of stolen vehicles.

All the best with the car mate.

[ebv8]

I haven't done interstate but bought a car from central NSW and i'm from Sydney, we did the haggle on the phone and then agreed that if the car was not as described i'd walk away, anyway i bought it and drove it home, i'm looking at cars in VIC now, i would just arrange to meet the person at the airport (get lowest price on the phone) check out the car at the airport and if its ok drive home and get the old owner to cancel the rego the next day (after i get home) that way its registered for the drive home but the old owner is liable if i have an accident so they may not go for it.
i sold a car to a chick from QLD and she flew down, i met her at the airport, she gave me cash and dropped me at work, she had no interest in looking at the car but i made her look, got an SMS the next day saying she was happy and loved it.

[MercurySilver]

you could also ask a fellow member from here to go have a looksy and then sling him some petrol money
nowdays you can vid anything with a phone and chuck it on a disc
prob much much cheaper compared to flying over??
could speak to the guy selling and even get all the info on film, dont have to visually see the sellers face just hear him talk about the car why you vid it start it up and inspect it

obviously youd want to go look at it in the flesh but sometimes its not possible.

[Streets]

If you're buying a 351, for christ's sake get someone to measure the stroke to make sure that's what it is

[Xr347]

I've done it but it had a few more scratches then I thought, also the car carrying company wouldn't allow extra tyres and wheels that came in the deal to be transported in the car.

[[Buckets]]

I've bought my last two cars from interstate, both unseen. But I also had them professionally inspected, and obviously make sure you do a background check on the car as well.

Your transport costs from Tasmania might be quite high, but if you're buying from a dealer just negotiate it into the price.

Also if it's modified, you may have issues getting it registered depending on the extent of the modifications and the state you're in. I was lucky with my last purchase but the previous one was too loud to register which was a pain...

[scotty_dee]

Thanks for all the advice, real helpful. Has anyone used a good inspection company in Tasmania they could recommend? I'm thinking of going down this path of getting a vehicle check done and if it comes back good ill fly over with the cash and drive it home.

[scotty_dee]

So Saturday arvo heading down to Tas to pick up new car, had it inspected over there and I'm happy with the report. Just a question regarding rego. Do I basically just leave the car in the current owners name till I get it home and then cancel the tasmanian rego, or will I have to transfer the car into my name over there? I'm thinking as long as I get a receipt with VIN and current rego number, then I should be safe to cancel it once I get home?

[deesun]

Yes you can drive it back to Vic, sort of. They will have a timeframe in which you have to re register. QLD is 7 days, not sure about Vic. QLD isnt hard and fast on that rule, there must be thousands of people living, working, studying on the Gold Coast who dont change over for some time. Mine was a couple of months and they didnt bat an eyelid but its best to do it asap.

[GT014]

You have to transfer it in vic as you cant transfer it in tas as you meed a tas home address. 14 days to transfer it in vic, otherwise they will suspend the rego (IF the original owner has notified vic roads)

I bought my last car from TAS. You have to get a vic rwc, pay the stamp duty, full rego and ur done

[GasoLane]

But, but, but.. you haven't told us what it is your getting !

[scotty_dee]

Haha oh yeh forgot about that! Nothing special really, just a nice clean XH XR8. Hopefully all goes to plan...

[Jastel]

Driving back under current owners rego is a trust deal both ways.
Any camera speeding tickets/tolls etc you get will be his.
You might not actually reregister it or rob a bank etc.
Registered owner will get the headaches until paperwork is sorted.

He could phone the TAS rego office and cancel rego the second you leave his driveway. He could also report it stolen.
You get the headaches and paperwork


Extreme, I know but just warning you it can sometimes get messy.
But at least you have someones rego and are legal.

[Bushbasher]

I just drove my Fairlane back from Melbourne to the Eyre Peninsula on a 3 day permit with no plates on the car. I'd like to see anyone checking speed or point to point camera pics try and find me, lol. And not one cop stopped me or even looked at me even as I cruised back and forth across Adelaide for half a day.