Cars & Driving in Australia Facts
Discussion
Thought i'd start a thread for all that post to add to giving info about cars and driving here to those moving here, those here who need more info or just a chance to post your little facts that will help.
This can accomodate driving rules, car purchasing and costs, servicings, cheap places to get tyres, mechanics recommendations etc.
If any incorrect facts are posted then please feel free to edit them.
Maybe make it a Wiki if people thinks its helpful.
1. In WA you just have to do Rego which will tax your car and provide 3rd party only insurance. This will mean that you do not legally need to get any more insurance, but it will only cover the other party for personal injury. You will still be liable to theirs, and your own, property.
You dont have to MOT a car in Oz and as long as you keep it Rego'd you can keep it on the road. Unless of course the police deem it unroadworthy.
Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
This can accomodate driving rules, car purchasing and costs, servicings, cheap places to get tyres, mechanics recommendations etc.
If any incorrect facts are posted then please feel free to edit them.
Maybe make it a Wiki if people thinks its helpful.
1. In WA you just have to do Rego which will tax your car and provide 3rd party only insurance. This will mean that you do not legally need to get any more insurance, but it will only cover the other party for personal injury. You will still be liable to theirs, and your own, property.
You dont have to MOT a car in Oz and as long as you keep it Rego'd you can keep it on the road. Unless of course the police deem it unroadworthy.
Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
Fiddlemesticks said:
You dont have to MOT a car in Oz and as long as you keep it Rego'd you can keep it on the road. Unless of course the police deem it unroadworthy.
Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
That might be true in WA, but is not the case in NSW or VIC and, I'm sure, QLD. Not called MOT, but is a form of annual roadworthy check. In NSW its a pink slip, and in VIC its a RWC and you'll need to present these before you can rego the car - which needs to be done every year. Pink slip only needed once car is three years old. In NSW rego is around $300, but on top of this you need Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, known as Green Slip, which also needs to be in place before the rego can be bought. CTP is anouther $320'ish.Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
As a guide, for a mid-30's man with licence for 18years driving a new'ish Forester (not turbo), I pay $280 rego, $332 CTP and $900 fully comp insurance - about $1500 all up.
PomBstard said:
Fiddlemesticks said:
You dont have to MOT a car in Oz and as long as you keep it Rego'd you can keep it on the road. Unless of course the police deem it unroadworthy.
Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
That might be true in WA, but is not the case in NSW or VIC and, I'm sure, QLD. Not called MOT, but is a form of annual roadworthy check. In NSW its a pink slip, and in VIC its a RWC and you'll need to present these before you can rego the car - which needs to be done every year. Pink slip only needed once car is three years old. In NSW rego is around $300, but on top of this you need Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, known as Green Slip, which also needs to be in place before the rego can be bought. CTP is anouther $320'ish.Rego is about $570 per annum for a private car.
As a guide, for a mid-30's man with licence for 18years driving a new'ish Forester (not turbo), I pay $280 rego, $332 CTP and $900 fully comp insurance - about $1500 all up.
Good idea for a thread!
Road rules here are not tooooo different to those in the UK but are generally enforced with a concrete fist in the anus.
Overtaking on the left is allowed and though you are supposed to stay in the left lane over 90KMH many people dont and are to happy to dawdle along next to each other.
In WA there are no fixed speed cameras, they are all small portable units that are usually well hidden in the shadows in an area you would least expect...on an empty freeway on a Sunday afternoon for example. They can also be disguised as a wheelie bin or other roadside object.
Speeding is a massive no no as is cornering quick enough for your suspension to move as is accelerating quicker than the road will erode from the wind.
Depending on the police office, your age, sex and the car your driving you will either get the usual points and fine or you will get well and truly reamed under the anti-hoon laws...these are incredibly harsh and also open enough to be hard to fight. Be warned that if they pin you with hoon laws the punishment ranges from losing our car for 48 hours to losing your car permanently and your license for a long long time.
85MPH is enough speed to find yourself standing in court fighting to keep your license.
Driving standards are simply shocking here...thats all I can say about that!
Modifying a car is a bit of hassle...You can do it legally but you will need to have an MOT style test to get a permit for the mods. Any subsequent mods will need another test for permits.
The police have the right to pull you over and inspect your vehicle and ask to see permits for anything non-standard.
Note that the police do not have any special training so anything they pick up on is purely in their judgement and it may be you get picked up on a standard item...I have hear of Evo owners getting hassle for the vents in their bonnet.
Anything they deem to be non-standard or unsafe will be written on a yellow sticker and stuck to your windscreen. You then have a set time to get your car to an inspecion station ('the pits') to have the yellow sticker cleared, this means returning your car to stock standard.
The mods you are legally allowed could be written on the back of a stamp so lots of people dont bother with permits and just risk being pulled over.
Another point worth noting is that even with permits the police can still give you a yellow sticker!!
Road rules here are not tooooo different to those in the UK but are generally enforced with a concrete fist in the anus.
Overtaking on the left is allowed and though you are supposed to stay in the left lane over 90KMH many people dont and are to happy to dawdle along next to each other.
In WA there are no fixed speed cameras, they are all small portable units that are usually well hidden in the shadows in an area you would least expect...on an empty freeway on a Sunday afternoon for example. They can also be disguised as a wheelie bin or other roadside object.
Speeding is a massive no no as is cornering quick enough for your suspension to move as is accelerating quicker than the road will erode from the wind.
Depending on the police office, your age, sex and the car your driving you will either get the usual points and fine or you will get well and truly reamed under the anti-hoon laws...these are incredibly harsh and also open enough to be hard to fight. Be warned that if they pin you with hoon laws the punishment ranges from losing our car for 48 hours to losing your car permanently and your license for a long long time.
85MPH is enough speed to find yourself standing in court fighting to keep your license.
Driving standards are simply shocking here...thats all I can say about that!
Modifying a car is a bit of hassle...You can do it legally but you will need to have an MOT style test to get a permit for the mods. Any subsequent mods will need another test for permits.
The police have the right to pull you over and inspect your vehicle and ask to see permits for anything non-standard.
Note that the police do not have any special training so anything they pick up on is purely in their judgement and it may be you get picked up on a standard item...I have hear of Evo owners getting hassle for the vents in their bonnet.
Anything they deem to be non-standard or unsafe will be written on a yellow sticker and stuck to your windscreen. You then have a set time to get your car to an inspecion station ('the pits') to have the yellow sticker cleared, this means returning your car to stock standard.
The mods you are legally allowed could be written on the back of a stamp so lots of people dont bother with permits and just risk being pulled over.
Another point worth noting is that even with permits the police can still give you a yellow sticker!!
Anyone know the script with bringing late model Left Hand Drive American muscle into WA as personal import. Have heard it can be done without getting them converted to RHD and all you need is a LHD Sticker on the rear. Tried to bring a 98 Viper into SA but no deal without expensive RHD conversion
Personal import will be a none starter unless you have owned and used the car personally for a minimum of 12 months.
I am not entirely sure what the go is with LHD cars or the compliance an American car needs to get in to WA. I have seen LHD cas around with the stickers on the back (which look terrible!) and I believe there is a importer / dealer in Osbourne park somewhere so they might beable to help you. Cant remember their name though.
I am not entirely sure what the go is with LHD cars or the compliance an American car needs to get in to WA. I have seen LHD cas around with the stickers on the back (which look terrible!) and I believe there is a importer / dealer in Osbourne park somewhere so they might beable to help you. Cant remember their name though.
Hi chaps, good thread Idea.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
What are you bringing over?
I think everything should be in this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Its vitally important you have owned and operated the car for 12 months and that you get approval to ship it before you bring it over...there are no loopholes in the system either and trying to play games will see your car crushed or on the next boat home at YOUR cost.
I think everything should be in this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Its vitally important you have owned and operated the car for 12 months and that you get approval to ship it before you bring it over...there are no loopholes in the system either and trying to play games will see your car crushed or on the next boat home at YOUR cost.
busta said:
Hi chaps, good thread Idea.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Depends on the budget. for 5k of your money you could pick up a ropey early 90s MX5. The Australian car market is a pile of poo. I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
deviant said:
What are you bringing over?
I think everything should be in this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Its vitally important you have owned and operated the car for 12 months and that you get approval to ship it before you bring it over...there are no loopholes in the system either and trying to play games will see your car crushed or on the next boat home at YOUR cost.
Well that's my idea out of the window then. My brother had offered me his E55 AMG at a silly price but as I don't even own the car yet any chance of bringing it over here has evaporated after reading that thread. :-(I think everything should be in this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Its vitally important you have owned and operated the car for 12 months and that you get approval to ship it before you bring it over...there are no loopholes in the system either and trying to play games will see your car crushed or on the next boat home at YOUR cost.
Colonial said:
busta said:
Hi chaps, good thread Idea.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Depends on the budget. for 5k of your money you could pick up a ropey early 90s MX5. The Australian car market is a pile of poo. I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
busta said:
Colonial said:
busta said:
Hi chaps, good thread Idea.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Depends on the budget. for 5k of your money you could pick up a ropey early 90s MX5. The Australian car market is a pile of poo. I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Your chances of getting something unhideous are remote at best.
Colonial said:
busta said:
Colonial said:
busta said:
Hi chaps, good thread Idea.
I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Depends on the budget. for 5k of your money you could pick up a ropey early 90s MX5. The Australian car market is a pile of poo. I'm gonna be coming over to Oz soon for a year or so on a working holiday visa and was considering buying a car while I'm over. It sounds fairly straightforward, If a little more expensive and fussy than car ownership here in the UK.
Any suggestions regarding finding a cheap yet still vaguely interesting car, and what the fixed costs will be for a years motoring? I'll be mostly in WA if that makes any difference.
Your chances of getting something unhideous are remote at best.
deviant said:
Do you feel free? Twisty roads that most cars feel quick on and being able to drive quickly without worrying about what some other idiot is going to do and not worrying so much about a hidden speed camera?
Motoring in the UK is a whole different game than to here!
God I miss UK driving!Motoring in the UK is a whole different game than to here!
An example of the t
ttery encountered on a daily basis here, I had gone out for lunch and so parked my car in the servo next door, so I'm reversing out of my spot, and this ttoid in a Range Rover, decides he's far to important to wait at the traffic lights like everyone else so proceeds to mount the kerb, hook a heavy left hand turn over the pavement, and screeches across the servo forecourt and get this, goes around the front of me, at this point I am about a car width from the kerb and still reversing! The tt was driving so fast that the Rangey was on 2 wheels as it left the forecourt doing about 100kmh!Gassing Station | Australia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff