Buying a Car in Australia

Most Popular New Cars in Australia

The most popular New car sold in Queensland in 2008 was the Toyota Corolla, with 8,699 being sold in the year. This was followed by the Holden Commodore with 7,541 being sold.

Stamp duty on Australian Cars

Stamp Duty is payable when you buy a car in Australia, whether New or Used.

This figure varies between the States, and is not always mentioned when you speak to the Car Dealer, until while you are signing up. The seem to expect us all to know about it.

• NSW - July 2008 :
  Stamp duty is $3 for each $100 (or part $100) of the sale price or market value of the car (whichever is greater) up to $45,000, then $5 for each $100 (or part $100) on the amount above $45,000.
• QLD - July 2008 : Government Vehicle Registration Duty (previously called stamp duty):
  • Hybrid and Electric vehicles: $2 for each $100 (or part $100) of the dutiable value of the vehicle.
  • Other vehicles with 1 to 4 cylinders: $3 for each $100 (or part $100) of the dutiable value of the vehicle.
  • Other vehicles with 5 or 6 cylinders: $3.50 for each $100 (or part $100) of the dutiable value of the vehicle.
  • Other vehicles with 7+ cylinders: $4 for each $100 (or part $100) of the dutiable value of the vehicle.
• VIC - 6th May 2008 :
  Stamp Duty rates $5 per $200 value up to $57,009. $10 per $200 value over $57,009 for New Cars, and $10 per $200 value for used cars.
• WA - July 2008 :
  Stamp Duty on New and Used Cars is:
  • Up to $25,000: 2.75% of the Dutiable Value
  • Between $25,000 and $50,000 (calculated)
  • Over $50,000: 6.5% of the Dutiable Value

Vehicle Registration costs

All vehicles need to be registered annually, in the same way as British vehicles have to pay for Road Fund Licence. Here it is called registration or REGO,
The costs vary between the States, and the vehicle engines sizes

Current prices can be found at:

• QLD Queensland Motor Vehicle Registration fees
• NSW New South Wales Motor Vehicle Registration fees
• Vic Victoria Motor Vehicle Registration fees

Compulsory Insurance

see Car Insurance

Australian New Car Manufacturers Models, Specifications and Prices

• Discount New Cars New Car Prices in Australia with Manufacturer Specifications.
• Carguide New Cars with web sites for all manufacturers
• Carsguide News over 900 Road Test Reports

Using a Car Broker to buy your car

A carbroker is often able to get significant savings for you when you are buying your new car. They know what discounts can be obtained, and use their buying power to get the best deals.

• An Australian car buying service.
  
  "We specialise in minimising the cost of car purchases, and we are very good at what we do - because we have buying power. We leverage the use of leading edge technology and our massive volume to bring you the savings."
• The Britzinoz Carbroker Car Buying Service, via Clevercarbuying .com.

Used Cars

• Redbook A useful guide to used car prices in Australia
• Government Car Auctions Ex Government cars for sale are available here.
• Information on Buying a Used Car:
  Drive.com.au :
  Carsguide.com.au

Annual Roadworthy Certification (MOT)

• QLD - No annual Test required. Roadworthy certificates are required in certain cases.
• NSW - Light vehicles, unless exempt, require an annual inspection. Normally called a Pink Slip
• WA - Buses, taxis and left hand drive vehicles require an annual roadworthy test, but most private cars do not.
• SA - No reference found requiring an annual safety inspection. ?
• VIC - In Victoria a Certificate of Roadworthiness is generally required when a vehicle is sold or if a used vehicle is to be re-registered.
• TAS - Vehicles require inspection on various occasions including when the registration has expired for more than 3 months, and vehicles previously registered interstate/overseas.

Buying a USED car

NSW Used car statutory warranty NRMA Warranty Information

• Applies to all dealer-sold passenger cars with less than 160,000km and under 10 years old and not exceeding the luxury car tax threshold.
• The warranty is valid for three months or 5,000km from date of purchase.
• This warranty will cover most items on a car relating to safety, reliability and roadworthiness.
  

QLD Used car statutory warranty QLD Office of Fair Trading

• A three-month or 5,000km warranty (whichever comes first) covers a used car with an odometer reading under 160,000km and manufactured less than 10 years before the sale date.
  
• A one-month or 1,000km warranty (whichever comes first) covers a used car with an odometer reading above 160,000km or manufactured more than 10 years before the sale date.
  

VIC Used car statutory warranty VIC Warranty Information

• A used car Standard Statutory Warranty is 3 months or 5,000km
• A used car over 10 years old or has travelled more than 160,000 km, is not covered by a Statutory Warranty.

Ownership Check on Used Vehicles

In Queensland you can request a VCHECK, which is a Vehicle Information Check,
and full details are shown at:


• transport.qld.gov.au/vehicleinformationcheck

There are 4 options of checks available at prices between $14.05 and $30.95 (July 2008).
The premium version provides "vehicle identification, status, history and REVS information

• Status provides information such as: stolen status, written-off status.
• REVS (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) provides information on outstanding finances etc.

Links

• RACQ - Guide to Buying a Used car in Queensland - www.racq.com.au
• QFleet - Buying an ex government car in QLD - www.qfleet.qld.gov.au

• Australian Car Broker
• Click here to get the best price on a new car
• Beat the car dealer! Get the Best Price Every Time!
• The truth behind new car prices!
• Get smart! Use a car broker when you buy your new car.