Buying an Interstate Car: How to Buy a Car from Out of State?

How hard is it to buy a car internationally?

Australia is a beautiful place in almost every way, but sometimes it can be a little...big. That is, while a country like England can advertise cars for sale anywhere on its tiny island and it's not hard to go and see them in person, buying a car interstate in that country can mean that between them 4000 km. you and the car you want to test.

And you have to really, really want something to consider buying when it's 40 hours away. But such is the global or at least national market created by the Internet - in the old days you only looked at cars for sale in the local newspaper, so all your options were, in fact, close to home - what if you go shopping for a car on the Internet, it is likely that you will be seduced by beautiful cars from miles away. 

So, how difficult is it to buy a car at the interstate level? Would you do it, could you do it, should you do it? The thing is, Australians across this vast country do it every day. So fear not and just read our handy guide below on how to buy an interstate car, the pros and cons, and the pitfalls to watch out for.

Can I buy a car interstate?

You can buy from an interstate dealer, but it's worth checking to see if your local dealer can do the same.

Of course you can, yes, and the reason you might want to do this is because the desire to do so increases the number of cars you can look at and can therefore provide you with a better price. Just be sure to take into account the additional costs that may be associated with transporting the vehicle to your home state when determining the amount of this discount. 

In some cases, cars can be a bit cheaper in other states, so it's definitely worth at least taking a look. 

Will the interstate purchase be private only or can I buy from an interstate dealer?

You can buy from an interstate dealer, although it's worth checking - even if you've found a particularly good price - if your local dealer can offer the same price, especially if you're buying a new car. It seems unlikely that you can get a new car from an interstate dealer that is so much cheaper than your local dealers that it offsets the cost of shipping etc. Although an interested interstate dealer may be interested in shipping the car to you. .

It's more likely that you can find the particular used car of your dreams at an interstate dealer with the right spec, color or mileage. The good news is that, especially if you can't physically go and inspect the car in person because of the distance, any car bought from an interstate dealer should be covered by a warranty.

Used car dealers are required by law to provide a three-month, 5000 km warranty if the car you buy has less than 160,000 km on the odometer and is not older than 10 years. 

How about buying an interstate car through an auction?

As online auctions become more common, many people are now buying cars and the good news is that the same used car warranty laws apply to any vehicle purchased from a licensed auctioneer. If you are buying from an auction and the car is out of warranty, the auctioneer must inform you of this, at which point you can either walk away from the deal or sign that you will be stuck with any costs due to any defects you were unable to discover because you have never been indoors with a vehicle.

How to check a car in a different condition?

Yes, if you're in the ACT and looking at a car in NSW, you might just want to go there and get your hands on it and your ass in it, but if the distance is too far, you'll want, and need, to pay someone something else so that he looks at him instead of you.

Once you've done all the obvious online checks on the vehicle you're looking at - making sure it's not stolen or encumbered with debt, all of which you can do through the Personal Property Securities Registry - you'll want to take advantage. presale vehicle inspection services in the state where the vehicle is sold. These services are available from all major automotive organizations and each state has one - for example NRMA, RACV in Victoria, RACQ in Queensland and so on. 

Resist the temptation to forego the cost of one of these inspections—usually $250 to $300—and buy the car without seeing it. The risk is too high and the equation of savings against potential losses does not make sense. 

How are you going to get the car home after you bought it?

Obviously, the cost of transporting your new car back to your home state will vary greatly depending on where you bought it - from Perth to Cairns, for example, it will be an expensive proposition.

That's why you should take this cost into account when choosing and check the price of shipping fees before buying. Be sure to get more than one offer from more than one company before you make your choice, as prices can vary, but costs can range from $250 to $1500, depending on vehicle size and distance traveled. .

What's with the papers?

When you buy a new car, you must take out insurance and change the registration to your name.

When you buy a new car, you have to sort out the insurance and change the registration in your name, and buying a car from an interstate just adds a bit of complexity to the process and maybe also adds a bit more cost.

Australia doesn't like having the same laws and regulations between states for such things, so you'll need to check what applies to the state where you're buying and importing a car.

You will need to transfer your registration from the state of origin where the seller is located to your home state, and if you intend to drive from one state to another, you will also need to obtain a temporary registration form, commonly referred to as an unregistered vehicle permit, which you can file with your government agency. This form will indicate that you have OSAGO insurance when transporting the car. 

Unless, of course, you are hauling a car with a truck and thus not gaining extra miles, you do not need to worry about this.

And the license plate?

Each state and territory in Australia has its own unique rules and regulations regarding the sale of used vehicles (pictured: 2020 Kia Seltos).

The NSW RMS website has some good advice about issuing new license plates and whether you can leave your old ones here.

When you register an Interstate vehicle in NSW, Roads and Maritime assigns the NSW license plates and records that the Interstate license plates are no longer associated with the vehicle. This information is also sent to the interstate body.

You will be issued a receipt that you can take to the interstate authority to receive a refund for your registration. Contact the interstate body for specific information.

Some states and territories allow license plates to be retained when they are no longer associated with a vehicle:

Queensland: You can keep all special, personalized, custom and prestige license plates.

South Australia: You can leave some special numbers, Grand Prix numbers, anniversary numbers and numbers only.

Victoria: All signs can be left

Tasmania: All personalized plaques can be saved.

Western Australia, Northern territories и Australian Capital Territory don't let you hold the plates.

If your vehicle is located in one of these jurisdictions, you will be required to turn in your existing license plates at a NSW registry or service center when applying for registration in NSW.

Detailed information on what to do in WA can be found here.

In South Australia, stamp duty is also a factor, as explained here.

And here: If you do not have an Interstate Registration Certificate, the vehicle must pass an inspection to confirm the correct ownership of the vehicle, and stamp duty will be paid, as well as the relevant registration fees.

In Victoria the level of difficulty is increased because you need an appointment, the whole process is explained here.

The surrender of interstate numbers is mandatory in Queensland, as explained here.

How about an interstate car sale?

If you're a seller, you want to cast your network as far and wide as possible, so it's a good idea to take offers from the interstate. Just be aware that you will get a lot of questions from those who are worried they won't be able to inspect the car themselves, and be kind when they want to send someone over to pre-check your car.