Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Hi I will probably have to buy a car when I move to Perth.
Hoe easy is it to just go to a garage, find a car and get it on the road.
What is the story with tax, reg, and insurance etc,
Do the Irish no claims bonus stand for anything with Oz insurance companies?

Thanks

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

As a Paddy new here in April, I was concerned too, but for no reason. Cars are easily got, shop around for value. Anything from $2500 for a half-decent run-around.
Buy it with "Rego" for 6/12 months if possible. This is reg/tax/3rd party combined (sort of) to what we were used to. I too brought my no claims statement from Hibernian but it hasn't been used yet. I paid $4500 for a 96 Camry so not too worried about getting her covered for fire or theft.
An Oz license was easily got too by producing full Irish Driving License, proof of address, bank cards x 2 and Passport.

Anything else just ask, the people here on BE are great for any query, no matter how trivial you think it is!!! :thumbsup:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

ronanbrady (may I call you Besty?) has it covered. All I would add is that I had a lot of trouble proving my no claims bonus here in Australia. The problem was I was insured with Direct Line and they wouldn't issue me with a no claims bonus until after the policy had been cancelled, which was of course my last ever day in England.

Trying to get my no claims letter out of them after that was a joke! Of course, you need to buy a car pretty much as soon as you get here. So I didn't have time to mess around. For me, the solution was an online insurer called Bingle. They are a subsidiary of AAMI, a well respected insurance company here but their premiums are much lower as everything is done online. Their quote, without any no claims was better than other companies quotes with.


They are definitely worth getting a quote from.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

We're looking at the moment (yawn) and there are loads of garages. We spent most of the week at Wanneroo where there is a whole road of garages and today in Osbourne Park. Plenty to choose from if you are not fussy on make and model - unlike my husband!

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Moon the Loon here!


Yep, will be looking for a shed on wheels, or maybe a carriage for the queen when we land? We will be based probably in either Southport or Labrador GC Qld?

How easy will it be for me to get a car? Its just the queen will need to get to work asap, to keep me in the quality of life i have become accustomed too?:fingerscrossed:

So no messing, we are going to hire one initially, but for how long? Do you think it will take me to get one after landing. The most we have to spend is $4500.00, no more than that? Do you think we will get a good deal, any advice where to go, where to look, how to haggle, cash in hand, finger on the pulse, he who dares etc etc? You know, no time to eat, a pot noodle on the go? You know it makes sense Rodder's?:D


Thanks for any advice, but buying a car is a big deal for us, you know a car is for life not just for Christmas?


Always Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Of course you need a new car, you drove your last one into a swimming pool didn't you, you loony!

Other than that I would say it is just like England. Best to stay away from car dealers and buy privately, you will save yourself around 20% just doing that. Haggle, yes of course and cash is always tempting. Just like in England, there will be the occasional car parked in a prominent position at the side of the road with a for sale sign on the windscreen and a mobile phone number.

The only thing that is different here, certainly in Queensland I'm not sure about the other states, is that "MOTs" do not exist. But this is what does happen. Before someone sells a car they have to to get a safety certificate. A safety certificate is a bit like an MOT and any car you buy must have a brand new certificate.

Once the car is yours, you can drive it for years without getting a safety certificate. But when you decide to sell it, you can't sell it without getting a new safety certificate.

Same as in England you can either be lucky and buy a lovely car or you can be unlucky and buy a bag of nails.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

and the 3rd party ins that comes with ur rego only cover the persons u hit :thumbdown: and not there car or property so might be an idea to get some extra ins which is quite cheap :thumbup:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Hi

Is it necessary to have an Australian driving licnnece before buying a car?

We will be in temporary accommodation for a while and so proof of address may be difficult.:confused:

Charlie

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

I imagine an international driving license issued from Ireland would be grand to use for driving a car in Oz, I used one when I drove there last year.
Some great advice here guys.
So haggling works in Oz too, which is good to know.
Also if you buy privately, could you get caught for any finance that might be owed on the car and the private seller failed to mention?
So is it better then for piece of mind to buy from a dealer?
Aslo how much roughly would a reg cost?
I will defo try Bingle for insurance, cheers Brisbane Bob.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

my uk drivin lic was fine had to leave it with the dealer when i was test drivin the cars we bought got 2500 off me ute so haggle if u think u can get them down have a go u might only get a tank of gas :thumbup: u have to pay a transfer fee and stamp duty of about 2.5% the value of ur car u buy and pay that to the DPI u get a bill which i didnt understand and put in the draw then got a hundred dollar infringement bit of shock should of let the wife deal with it payin it :eek: and dont rush to get ur lic changed to an Oz one u have three months so wait till ur in ur perm rental as it has ur address on, good luck :fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Are there plenty of petrol munching V8 monsters up for grabs?

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Plenty of everything up for grabs.

We bought on my UK licence, paid by UK credit card ($10,000) in one hit and all was fine. Bought one day, picked up the next. Very easy...

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Paid with yookay credit card? Does that mean you have a free car now;)

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

:fingerscrossed:Ummmm!

Been looking at the online classifeds, some heeps for heeps,uummmm?


As a thought i will be in and around the Gold Coast, anybody know of any good trust worth mechanics in the area, it would seem if i get me a heep, well the chances are its gonna have problems, oh yeh?


Any guys who fix up cars, not garages, but one man bands?

Always Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

troy from Autocare, brisbane road labrador. 55632166

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

You are very temptinain'tyeh! cheers me dears, have a karma with you bengel!

Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

No worries, he's an honest man.

Unlike many on the Coast!

;)

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

I might bell him anyway, when i land, the queen will need a car, and we ain't flush, the gigs have been drying up!;)

Some of the cars i have seen for $3000.00 to $4000.00 that is our price range, uh, queenslanders on wheels, sheds on segs!


Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Sorry, he's a mechanic- not a car fixer-upper.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Do you know any of them? If you wanted a car, say within a week, where would you look?

Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Trading post, courier mail, gold coast bulletin or the dealers who will cost more.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

So its a wait till i land, hire a car, and get look'in? I hate buying old cars, you always buy someone elses problems, its like taking on an old divorcee!:D

Keith:fingerscrossed:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

RE not rushing to get a QLD driving licence, I would do the opposite and get asap - it is used everywhere (and requested everywhere) as an ID. NOt saying you cant get by without it but it has been invaluable to us

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Do you need a permanent address before you buy a car in Oz?
The plane so far is to get to Oz, Book temporary accommodation, rent a car, then go to the garages and but a car.
But do I need a permanent address or rented place as proof for the reg?

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Any rental address should be fine. I can't speak for the other states, but in Queensland we have Queensland Transport "shops". There are three such shops within about 20 minutes to 35 minutes drive from where I live.

Just walk in, bit like a post office, and you can register vehicles, get your driver's license immediately (they even take the photo), change your registration, do all that kind of stuff. Much better and much quicker than dealing with Swansea.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

am i the only one that has trouble understanding that??

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Save some extra cash by signing up to www.buckscoop.com.au, Aussie cashback site and they payout $40 for every completed Bingle policy. Not used this particular deal but had cashback payouts for other retailers without any problems.:thumbup:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Ok I think I have it a bit now, So when buying a car in Oz make sure there is at least a good few month of Rego left( tax + 3rd party insurance combined ).
I was looking at gumtree perth and there seems to be some handy cars there going at a good price.

Ho would I know though by buying privately that there is no outstanding finance remaining on the vehicle from the previous owner?
Maybe a cheap car probably wouldnt.

Can I insure the car using my original Irish license? since I dont need to get an international driving license.
Or would I have to change my Irish license to an Australian one?

Thanks for all the info everyone

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

I am pretty sure you can use your Irish licence as soon as you get here and insure a vehicle with it, you certainly can with a UK licence.

Before buying a car privately you need to do what is called a REVs check to make sure there is no outstanding finance on the car and that the seller has clear title. This check will cost you $25. If you don't do it, you could lose the car!

Read more about it here......

https://www.autocheck.com.au/

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Thank you very much for that revs check bit Brisbane Bob.
Some of the car prices on Gumtree in Oz look quite appealing for a few thousand AUD, just a reliable run around would be the job.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

I went to the licencing office yesterday. If you are temporary you do not need to change over to an aussie one unless you want to (you can for either 1 year or 5) but you are ok to drive on your UK one and buy a car with it.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Watch out for clocking aswell, some dodgy geezers about! I think the REVs check can confirm odometer readings. There was an article about it just yesterday....

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003402,00.html

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Stay on your uk driving license as long as you can,they say to change over after 3 months, i got snapped about 5 times speeding and never got a ticket,solely because you havent got an ozzy license ,theres nothing they can do.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Thats a good one macmorrow1, I will hold onto my Irish license and hopefully be able to use my Irish no claims bonus for an insurance discount.

Thats interesting brisbane bob about the clocking, do you think they would go to the bother of doing this on older cars that are fairly cheap to buy regardless of the mileage, or do they clock the mid range priced cars and over?

I am getting a car for less than 4k AUD to begin with.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Hi first off

Yes your irish licence is fine well in Victoria it is to buy and drive a car. :thumbup:

The whole buying klunkers is not how I would go if you can avoid it. If you can buy a decent car for about 10,000 that has some sort of warranty. Insure it and buy a sat nav all up its about 11,000 outlay. Then you are on happy motoring :)

On gas if you can find one. ;)

Buy at least you are not stuck with a piece of crap that is sending you broke in Mechanic bills. :thumbdown:

If all else fails look for a Ford Falcon XT sedan > 150,000km if it can be a taxi in most of australia it will put up with whatever you throw at it.:thumbsup:

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Cheers for that Zambia,
I will be going to WA, so hopefully the Irish License be fine there as well.
Does the Ford Falcon XT Sedan come in a manual version?
Will be getting a car for under 4k AUD as I will be there for just under a year,unfortunately!

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

Are you back packing in that case go cheap.

Manual cars are cheaper as they are not prefered by Aussies.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

I will be living in WA for 6 - 12 month, then I will be going back to Ireland.
If I was staying for longer then I would definitely get a more expensive car that would have warranty etc.
I have sat nav on my phone so I shouldn't need an in car version to find places.
Your right though they are a valuable tool to have.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

You can aquire a Navman here for about 180 Bucks if you need it, but if your phone is tried and tested excellent.

Re: Buying a Car in Oz?
 

:curse:
Forget my earlier post, just spent $800 on new drive shaft!!! :thumbs_down:
Spend a few extra pound if needs be to save time, hassle & $'s in the long run!