Getting a car legal

[Swanny87]

Travelling Australia (from the UK) for year and toying with the idea of getting some form of wagon (Falcon, Commodore). The way of registering cars in Australia is mind bogglingly confusing... Can someone please tell me what is required to make a car legal in all states/territories? The costs involved would be helpful as well

Or

Can I get a car legal in one state/territory and just drive it anywhere?

Thanks in advance

[Hasbeen]

Hi Swanny87, it really is not that difficult if you are buying a road legal car.

The dealer, or the private seller must provide a road worthy certificate. This is required, & is the result of an inspection, just as the UK MOT.

You take this & the completed transfer papers to a motor registry, where after paying a not insignificant transfer fee, the registration will be transferred to your name.

The car may then be driven anywhere in Oz, for a set limited time continuously in another state. This is either 3 or 6 months, depending on the state or territory.

A car can be sold unregistered, but it can be a hassle getting such cars back legally registered, & only worth it if restoring something a bit special.

You will have to follow the same procedure to sell a car when you've finished with it.

Hope this helps.

[Swanny87]

Thanks for explaining!

So I need to be looking at cars with a RWC and Rego?

What do you mean by unregistered? No plates or no Rego?

How long is a RWC valid for? A year the same as UK MOT?

Cheers

[Bibbs]

First question. Where are you starting?

[Swanny87]

Currently in Melbourne but only got a few days then heading up to Sydney

[Bibbs]

Swanny87 said:

Currently in Melbourne but only got a few days then heading up to Sydney

Okay. Because over in WA, we do things a little different to the rest.

[Google [bot]]

In NSW, rego (registration) consists of:

Pink slip (like an MOT cert)
Green Slip (Third party personal injury insurance NOT property insurance - think of it as a form of VED)
Registration costs

When you buy a registered car it will have all of the above. You purchase the car, go to RMS http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/ as Hasbeen said, pay your dues and you're the owner.

You will still need to take out minimum third property insurance cover. Not a legal requirement but you'd be a fool not to. I would assume you have maximum NCB.

That's it.

At registration expiry you will need to take the car for a pink slip (MOT), pay your green slip and then pay your rego (budget $1500 all in). You can check rego here:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-v...

The RMS link above will tell you everything you need for NSW ONLY.

[caterham2]

I live in Victorian country North east. To operate a car in this state the following is required: Car must have registration and Third Party Accident Insurance known in this state as T.A.C Insurance ( transport accident insurance). To transfer the vehicle into your name you need it to be registered and have current TAC ( all combined into rego costs) and a current Roadworthy Certificate. Don't be fooled into buying a car without a current RWC, they are strictly applied by the Licenced Vehicle Testers including a multitude of photos taken before, during and after the inspection. A reputable used car dealer with a LMCT ( Licenced Motor Car Trader) licence and number will be obliged to do this for you. Once you have it a fee is payable to VicRoads ( rego people) they will take your money and transfer ownership for you. BEWARE THOUGH a private seller cannot guarantee title for you IE no finance incumbrance etc and you need to get a WOVR check ( written off vehicle register) to ensure its not a little piggy that despite having plates on it may be a tarted up written off wreck being sold by a backyarder. If any other help needed PM me for more advice. Comprehensive Insurance for accident damage etc is not mandatory in Australia but well advised to be taken out for the obvious reasons. A RWC is valid in Victoria for 30 days/ 1000 KMS from time of issue. It is only required at transfer time or if the Police do a roadside check on you and issue a defect notice after they inspect roadside. If the car does not look like a pile of s#%t you should not have too many issues in this regard.

Edited by caterham2 on Thursday 26th May 11:08

[Swanny87]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! It's all starting to add up to about $4k for an '02 Falcon that's done 250k kilometres! I'll probably need to take a rain check on this one...

That's before the rego expires in November!

Edited by Swanny87 on Thursday 26th May 13:56

[Google [bot]]

Pretty sure you can do better than that.

[Swanny87]

To be honest that was an example on carsales.com.au... Haven't really had a dig round gumtree yet

Got any you can send my way?

[Google [bot]]

Depends how much of a 928 enthusiast you are.

I'll keep my ear to the ground. Do you require a car or specifically a wagon that can be slept in?

[Swanny87]

I like your train of thought! Wagon preferably, if I need a place to sleep as a last resort. I reckon you can sleep in the back of a 928 though...

[Google [bot]]

I'm not saying I recommend this, but in case you weren't aware:

http://www.travellers-autobarn.com.au/backpacker-v...

[Jader1973]

I don't know the answer to this, but can you register a car in your name without a local address?

Only asking because when we moved over here and I bought our car the dealer got all grumpy because I had a UK license and the QLD roads wanted a stat dec from my FIL saying I lived at his address before they would give me a QLD license, although I was in their system because as part of registering the car they'd set me up with a number. The woman dealing with me actually asked if I'd been caught speeding

I thought most backpacker cars were never re-registered and whoever has it at the time just pays the rego online. Hence there are a lot of "WA rego paid until Dec" type ads.

[Swanny87]

Jader1973 said:

I don't know the answer to this, but can you register a car in your name without a local address?

Only asking because when we moved over here and I bought our car the dealer got all grumpy because I had a UK license and the QLD roads wanted a stat dec from my FIL saying I lived at his address before they would give me a QLD license, although I was in their system because as part of registering the car they'd set me up with a number. The woman dealing with me actually asked if I'd been caught speeding

I thought most backpacker cars were never re-registered and whoever has it at the time just pays the rego online. Hence there are a lot of "WA rego paid until Dec" type ads.

If you get caught doing that, surely there is a fine? So you mean doing the rego under the previous owners name?

[Jader1973]

Swanny87 said:

Jader1973 said:

I don't know the answer to this, but can you register a car in your name without a local address?

Only asking because when we moved over here and I bought our car the dealer got all grumpy because I had a UK license and the QLD roads wanted a stat dec from my FIL saying I lived at his address before they would give me a QLD license, although I was in their system because as part of registering the car they'd set me up with a number. The woman dealing with me actually asked if I'd been caught speeding

I thought most backpacker cars were never re-registered and whoever has it at the time just pays the rego online. Hence there are a lot of "WA rego paid until Dec" type ads.

If you get caught doing that, surely there is a fine? So you mean doing the rego under the previous owners name?

I think that is what goes on, yes. Not uncommon to see backpackers selling 4WD, estates etc on gumtree with notes like "WA rego expires in 3 months. Just pay online."

As you say, must be illegal.

However I don't know how you can register a car without an Aus address. Maybe try the Holidays and Travel section - most of them won't live here. We're (probably) all legal and above board in here

[Hasbeen]

I lived on my yacht for many years. My address was care of the post office Airlie Beach, although it could be many weeks between visits there.

I ultimately took a post office box to give an address for things like licences & car registrations.

[Swanny87]

Out of interest, how much did that set you back?

[Jader1973]

Hasbeen said:

I lived on my yacht for many years. My address was care of the post office Airlie Beach, although it could be many weeks between visits there.

I ultimately took a post office box to give an address for things like licences & car registrations.

How did that work? Surely part of having needing an address is that plod can come and see you if you've been spotted doing something naughty?

Maybe they just stake out the Post Office until you turn up