Can you own a car in Oz without being a Passport Holder?

[Randompunter74]

Just wanted to check something. I can own a car in Australia without being an Australian Citizen can't I?

I assume this is possible seeing as I already bought a damn house there! Looking to buy a car in Brisbane and keep at home.
Thanks

[Jimmy T]

Yep. All good

I do and I’m not one.

[StefanVXR8]

You sure can, I bought a car and got finance on it when I was on a 4yr 457 visa (good way to build a credit profile). They would only finance for how long was remaining on my visa minus a couple of months but I soon paid it off as it was a small amount.

Stef

[forzaminardi]

Yes as noted above, no issues with the purchase itself, but you will only get a finance deal for as long as your visa however (if a temporary resident).

We bought our car for cash on arrival last year, I've since been offered various finance deals by Honda.

[Randompunter74]

Thanks all.
And I can also IMPORT cars into Oz if I am a brit moving to Oz with my wife (And going through the usual "Moving to Oz" forms etc)
Thanks

[StefanVXR8]

Randompunter74 said:

Thanks all.
And I can also IMPORT cars into Oz if I am a brit moving to Oz with my wife (And going through the usual "Moving to Oz" forms etc)
Thanks

Correct, though I weighed up the pro's and con's and decided to buy here. I have heard of some people with UK cars not being able to get service on items as dealers have refused to order parts for UK cars etc. I guess that depends on the age and make of course.

Stef

[forzaminardi]

Randompunter74 said:

Thanks all.
And I can also IMPORT cars into Oz if I am a brit moving to Oz with my wife (And going through the usual "Moving to Oz" forms etc)
Thanks

Depends what your situation is I guess in terms of how much money you have to spend and how much you like your car. Apparently the cost of moving it isn't huge, and the paperwork can be dealt with, but its a faff I imagine - and god forbid your tyres and the car isn't 100% spotless. We had to pay a slightly absurd amount because the packers shoved my UK gardening shoes (muddy) in a box and they were deemed a biohazard.

Used (and new) cars are quite a bit more expensive here than in the UK, like-for-like, but on the flip side petrol is way cheaper and my experience is that insurance is cheaper too. And there's a much wider range of interesting reasonably normal cars available than in the UK, with more semi-sporty petrol engined cars and some interesting Japanese imports and Oz-specific models. Finally, badge snobbery is less of a thing here, there's less 'keeping up with the Joneses' and all that premium badge crap.

[Rensko]

Also, don't expect anything on a trade in when it comes time to sell. Many dealers won't touch them! UK spec cars are also worth significantly less on the used market.

Unless you have something very special or desirable - I wouldn't bother.

[Tim_D]

The only challenge I've found with respect to car ownership in Australia is with a UK license I have to do everything in person at a NSW Service Centre rather than online.

If you have a nice / special car then worth checking the value in Australia. There are some cars that weren't available in Australia new and are also difficult to import unless you're bringing in as a personal import when you first move over.