Backpacker Car Club (BCC)

Hi,

I'm looking for a car to buy in Melbourne and sell three months later in Cairns. I'm wondering what would be smart considering the registrations, insurance etc. Should I prefer a car with a QLD registration since I plan to sell it in cairns? Because it is easier to sell a car in QLD with a QLD registration? What are the roughly costs for those registrations and insurances?

Other tips are also welcome!

Hi Thooo,

Given you want to buy a car in VIC and sell the car in QLD you really have two options.

Option 1
Buy a car with local registration (VIC), then when you get to QLD, re-register it in QLD (or get the buyer to register it) before you sell it.

Note, it will cost you some time. money and effort to re-register your car in QLD ... but you can not sell a VIC car outside of VIC unless you have a VIC roads, roadworthy certificate of less than 14 days old ... so there is no legal choice other than re-registering if selling in QLD.
If you buy a VIC car with just a few months rego left, then you maybe able to negotiate a VIC car cheaper and re-register it interstate when the time comes anyway.

A good thing about buying a VIC car = RWC check is complete so you know it is safe
A bad thing = VIC cars are hard to sell interstate ... re-registering in another state can be difficult (paperwork and checks)

Option 2
Buy a car registered in WA ... they are harder to find if you are looking in VIC as basically they will likely be sold by a backpacker, but the registration and registration transfer can be done in any state via the Internet ...so you can sell the car in QLD with no problem.

A good thing about a WA car = easy Internet transfer
A bad thing = may not have had a safety check in years ... so get it safety checked yourself!

With the exception of WA cars, it is always easier to buy and sell in the same state.

Hope this helps