As a new migrant are there any advantages/disadvantages to buying a car in the state that you intend to settle in? In my circumstances I'll be in Sydney for a few days after arrival before settling in Canberra. Strategically it makes more sense to get the car in Sydney but are there any additional paperwork and/or cost considerations? Thanks

When you move State you need to register it with the new State, and get new rego plates for that State.

I don't think it cost anything, but I am a bit vague on that, it was 2003 when we did it, and I think I waited till the registration was due.

I think it depends on the State you are re-registering it in. We nearly bought our friends car in Sydney but when I looked into bringing it down to VIC it was going to cost a fair bit and a bit of hassle. So we just bought in VIC!

Check out what you need to do in ACT.

Cheers

KK

On the contrary, it costs a ****** fortune! We bought our current motor in Cairns (through necessity) and then had to re-register it in NSW.

Costs from what I can recall involve;

*Registration fees.
*Stamp duty.
*Number plate fees.
*Inspection fee (the blue slip).
*Vehicle identification inspection fee.
*CTP insurance premium (the green slip).

I don't think we got much change out of $1000 (for a Nissan XTrail)

RTA page about interstate registrations

Yeeikes! In that case, I think I'll buy in ACT .

Reading the link that you provided, they want proof of this, proof of that... . I'm so over the bureaucratic red tape - and we haven't moved there yet

Thanks everyone for your responses

Here's a link to rego.ACT, seems they want as much paperwork and cash as NSW!

Clicky

It isn't as bad as it seems, at least in Queensland.

When you re-register in Queensland, you can apply for a refund of the unexpired portion of your interstate registration.
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home..._or_territory/

That's why it didn't really cost me anything, when worked out on a cost per month basis.

It does cause extra paperwork etc., though.

I think it is more expensive to register a car in ACT than it is in NSW.

It will probably be a bit swings and roundabouts price wise if you add in the cost of hiring a car from Sydney for the few days until you get to ACT there may well be little difference just a bit more hassle. Oh yes, and dont forget to budget for stamp duty on the cost of purchasing the vehicle (another little earner!)

Negotiate with the dealer to get them to pay it. I always have

Are you buying new? If so, get the dealer to register it in Canberra and then deliver it to Sydney airport. They may charge a bit extra, but at least you will have a car straight away and no re-rego fees.

BB

Now that is a sensible and simple solution

Is it safe for me to assume stamp duty is just on new cars? I am picking up my car on Saturday (second hand one).

Can they do that? We bought our car new (in NSW) and the dealer had to have our NSW driver number before they could register the car

Nope, when you change the rego to your name you pay duty

Rego? Sorry I am finding this amusing as adding an "O" to everyone's name seems to the norm where I work.

And could anyone shed any light on what this might involve in a financial sense? 10c or $1,000?