Australia is that massive country, with crazy dangerous wildlife and the most impressive landscapes but mostly, all of this beauty is spread in a very, very big territory being the sixth largest country,
If you are planning to travel Australia for several weeks at your own rhythm and your plan is to see as much as possible you are going to love this idea.
While public transportation is well developed within the cities, there are lots of beautiful places out of their routes, like national parks, villages, beautiful beaches and the best surf point breaks.
Traveling at your own pace can be the starting point for a trip with lots of fun but it can also lead to a more meaningful experience.
Have you ever thought you could travel Australia at your own pace?
Buying a car and selling it right before leaving the country its part of the plan. If you have only limited time, then it’s a better idea to just rent a car, but if you are going on a Working Holiday Visa or just taking your time to explore this incredible country buying a car can be smarter and cheaper.
How to Buy a Car in Australia
Driving a car has been always one of my favorite ways of traveling, the freedom to explore on your own terms, the fun of exploring places you might not get to see if you travel with public transportation, and having all the time you need is priceless.
Buying a car in Australia is very popular among long-term travelers and several friends keep telling me how good idea it is as it’s cheap and easier than in other countries.
Despite this, there are few things to consider before buying a car in Australia.
- Each state is having its own rules, prices, and paperwork.
- Most of the times you will have to buy it in cash. Cars can be cheap in Australia ranging from AUD 1500 to 5000 for a relatively new compact car.
Where to buy a car in Australia
There are several places where to research and find the perfect second-hand car for your Australia trip.
- Gumtree: You just need to create an account and search for the section “Cars & Vehicles”
- Hostels, hotels, and supermarkets have their own market wall with direct owners selling cars.
- The Facebook Market and travelers Facebook groups.
- Friends already traveling there might know about someone selling their car.
REGO TRANSFER
After buying a car in Australia
After buying your car you have 14 days to transfer the registration under your name. The regulations vary state to state and there’s a fee related to the car price that usually goes around 100$ and it’s usually very easy and fast.
Be sure the car is having a current REGO to make things easier and cheaper, it’s a fee paid for 3, 6 or 12 months. Keep in mind that there are high fees to transfer the REGO to a different state, so try to buy in the same state where you’ll do the registration under your name.
The 12 months are costing AUD 800, so if the car is having some months still you will be saving money.
In some states, you will also need a Road Worthy Certificate before the transfer to assure the car is mechanically roadworthy. You can check the information for every state in this links New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Western Australia.
Even if you don’t need this officially, it’s a very good idea to do a mechanical check up with a certified mechanical before buying any car and avoid later bigger problems and spend unnecessary money.
There are three different badges:
- Pink Slip, given when you do the Roadworthy
- Green Slip or CTP (Compulsory Third Party Insurance ), mandatory for every car only covering damages on people, but not in property. You can always buy an extra Third Party Property Damage costing about AUD 500.
- Blue Slip, a deeper inspection of cars with an expired REGO or when you need to register the car in a different state.
Choosing the perfect car
When buying a car there are several things to keep in mind, from technical to practical details.
Perhaps the most important is the technical and mechanical details, together with the service history of the car and details about former repairs, as the kilometers driven.
Also, considering the brand and age is a good idea in case you need to do any repair you will be able to do it easily.
What type of car should I buy?
It will depend on your needs and pans. If you need the car to go around the city or you will be working in farms on a Working Holiday Visa, a small car like a Toyota Yaris will be perfect. This cars are easy to maintain and cheap, price starts usually at AUD 1500.
But if you will be doing a long road trip, or traveling during the weekends, and you plan to sleep on the car it might be a better idea to get a station wagon, a campervan or a 4WD if your plan includes remote areas with no sealed roads. Don’t forget to check the camping equipment already available so you can save some money. Station Wagons are very popular because they cost around AUD 1500-3000 and there’s lots of them in the market. Some of the good options are the Ford Falcon, Mitsubishi Magna, or the Holden Commodore.
If you are a couple planning to travel for two or three months, then the best option is to rent or buying a CamperVan as they have the perfect space for two people.
If you want to get more about planning a trip check THIS LINK
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