Car if non resident?

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Discussion

wisbech

Original Poster:

2,977 posts

121 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
We’ve bought an apartment in Oz for holidays - but in the end will probably stay there 3-4 months a year. Won’t have residency - just tourist visa

Possible to buy & insure a car without having residency rights, or will we be stuck with Long term rentals?

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

181 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
A gazillion backpackers manage it, so it's possible. Back when I was on my UK license though you didn't have to put your license number on purchase/transfer documents, or you didn't HAVE to - I believe something has changed in that regard but there must be a way around it, plenty of folk do it.

NBTBRV8

2,062 posts

208 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
To the best of my knowledge you don't need to be a resident to own a car, but you might need a state licence if you want to register it in your name. You'd need to speak to the relevant state transport department.

wisbech

Original Poster:

2,977 posts

121 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
Cheers all

mikal83

5,340 posts

252 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
we bought a campervan a coupla yrs ago, was easy registering it in our name, online, with the address we were staying at and getting the paperwork of ownership forwarded on

captain_cynic

12,004 posts

95 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
wisbech said:
We’ve bought an apartment in Oz for holidays - but in the end will probably stay there 3-4 months a year. Won’t have residency - just tourist visa

Possible to buy & insure a car without having residency rights, or will we be stuck with Long term rentals?
No you don't need to be a resident to own a car, but you will need a mailing address for insurance and registration (road tax).

Technically you don't even need insurance as it's not mandatory in Australia (compulsory medical insurance is included in your registration except for NSW IIRC) but third party property insurance is so cheap you'd be daft not to given you could easily be up for A$100,000 for hitting a C Class. Comprehensive is fairly cheap too.

Which state were you planning on visiting? Buying a cheap car is certainly cheaper then renting one in Oz.

wisbech

Original Poster:

2,977 posts

121 months

Monday 30th July 2018
quotequote all
Thanks c_c. Apartment is WA (beach suburb in Perth) so will have mailing address

Bibbs

3,733 posts

210 months

Tuesday 31st July 2018
quotequote all
Insurance isn't mandatory in WA, just pay your Rego every year and you don't need an MOT (equivalent) either.

I bought a car on a UK lic, and registered it to a rental property. No issues.

Just remember we have stamp duty on cars too. Or thrill get a bill in the post a few weeks later (you can pay it up front with the car usually).

Which Suburb? Plenty of choice.

wisbech

Original Poster:

2,977 posts

121 months

Tuesday 31st July 2018
quotequote all
Scarborough...

Bibbs

3,733 posts

210 months

Tuesday 31st July 2018
quotequote all
Nice now they have finished the renno. I'm in Doubleview.

captain_cynic

12,004 posts

95 months

Tuesday 31st July 2018
quotequote all
wisbech said:
Thanks c_c. Apartment is WA (beach suburb in Perth) so will have mailing address
Check out the RAC for decent insurance, not the cheapest but definitely the best product.
https://rac.com.au/

I was with them for years, each year noticing my insurance going down instead of up.

Compulsory Third Party (insurance) or CTP is included in your rego (registration or road tax) in WA. However this only covers injuries, so it's recommended that you get at least Third Party insurance.

Also as Bibbs pointed out, there's no yearly road test so take a little care if buying a used car, there are some utter bombs out there in nice shells.

mikal83

5,340 posts

252 months

Tuesday 31st July 2018
quotequote all
As I wrote, just register at your address, pay the rego and forget anything else

marcella

153 posts

124 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
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A bit late to the thread but thought I could chime in as I just bought a car in Rockhampton, QLD since moving from the UK. Everything is correct as mentioned above but one thing that hasn't been mentioned is your CRN number.

I didn't know this was required until I went to a dealer to buy a car. They need this number for the registration as the number links your license and address etc so if you get caught speeding etc they know who to send the fine to.

You get your CRN number by taking your license, passport, any bank cards and proof of address in oz and take all this to your local department of transport (their DVLA equivalent). Fill out a form and they give you a slip with your number and take that when you go to buy a car.

mikal83

5,340 posts

252 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
quotequote all
marcella said:
A bit late to the thread but thought I could chime in as I just bought a car in Rockhampton, QLD since moving from the UK. Everything is correct as mentioned above but one thing that hasn't been mentioned is your CRN number.

I didn't know this was required until I went to a dealer to buy a car. They need this number for the registration as the number links your license and address etc so if you get caught speeding etc they know who to send the fine to.

You get your CRN number by taking your license, passport, any bank cards and proof of address in oz and take all this to your local department of transport (their DVLA equivalent). Fill out a form and they give you a slip with your number and take that when you go to buy a car.
Nope, not needed when visiting

marcella

153 posts

124 months

Friday 10th August 2018
quotequote all
mikal83 said:
Nope, not needed when visiting
Oh well, that's what I was told as he would not sell me the car without one. Got one anyway as it was no hassle and doesn't cost anything.

Jader1973

3,992 posts

200 months

Saturday 11th August 2018
quotequote all
marcella said:
mikal83 said:
Nope, not needed when visiting
Oh well, that's what I was told as he would not sell me the car without one. Got one anyway as it was no hassle and doesn't cost anything.
You are right.

I bought a car in Qld on a UK licence, from a dealer - they did all the paperwork. About a week later I went to get a Qld licence and the lady serving me asked if I'd been caught speeding because I was already in the system. When the dealer registered the car they'd given me a number in the system with my UK licence details.

So either you get the number yourself or the dealer gets it for you, but you will be in the system with a number against your name.


Edited by Jader1973 on Saturday 11th August 09:53