Backpacker Car Club (BCC)

I am a textbook example of an idiot/moron/stupid, I will let yourselves think of more.

I landed in to Sydney with a plan to grab a backpackers van to drive about looking for regional fruit picking jobs [to complete my visa requirements]. Every week I pay a hostel, the more the budget decreases so my plan was to get a van within the first week. There were a few options but one stood out. It was a Nissan Urvan camper van registered to Victoria expiring a week later. I looked up the NSW transfer procedures which looked like straight forward procedures. [I should have checked Vic rego procedures as well which I didn't] I got a good impression at the viewing and I went through with the purchase filling out and the transaction was complete.

Now a day later I realised my long string of errors. I then looked up Vic procedures and found 3 missing elements.

Another bombshell or simplified problem, the selling section of the paperwork actually has the previous owner details and not the current owner I bought it off, still no reply, trip to the police station?
1. There was no RWC with the van.
2. No paperwork of rego 3rd pty insurance [ I thought the sticker was enough]
3. I need to have a Vic residential address [ I have an uncle there]

On the phone to Vic they said get a vic address sorted and get in touch with the seller to re-do the purchase paperwork.

Before I do anything have I got the wrong end of the stick [will I post new ownership forms with a NSW address anyway?] or should I be panicking?

Ok ... no need to panic! There are ways to get out of this situation without pain!

1st and most important ... you did not mention if you checked the ID of the seller?
i.e. the person who sold you the van, did you match the seller to the registration document?
To be totally clear, the person who you gave the cash too ... was their name on the paperwork ... and did you double check they are who they say they are by looking at their passport or drivers license?

Assuming yes ... then the best option is to get a NSW blue slip and register the van here in NSW.
You can get a Blue Slip in Kings X @ Flash:
http://www.backpackercarclub.com/forum_au/mechanics/mechanic-sydney-kings-cross-pink-and-blue-slips/

Vic registered cars are the hardest car/van's to sell because you must sell them with a roadworthy certificate of less than 4 weeks old (as you now know!!) ... so if you sell in Perth or QLD you have a problem :-)

My advice, if you have the receipt and VIC rego paper, get a NSW blue slip, re-register in NSW and away you go :-)

Don't feel bad, Australian rules are confusing and this is just a part of travelling ... a good story to tell in the future :-)

Good luck and let us know how you go!

Cheers

Ivan

BTW - I made exactly the same mistake in 1995 

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, but im not out of the woods yet. here is an update of my situation. I did a rev check and its clean not stolen or written off. I did not cross id check simply because I had a childish immature attitude of o look a camper and I can afford it. Now I know the guy who sold it to me did not have proper ownership, I filled out the part where he should have completed and submitted. So I can only think of the Police to go to. John as he called himself is so far unreachable.
All I know is that he is heading for Perth and was desperate to sell. I was just stupid not to follow the basics of buying a vehicle. Rego expires on the 18th so im not sure if that will help or worsen the situation.

I would make a great trio with dumb and dumber, dumbest maybe?

Hi,
I would not go to the police at this stage, as the van is not reported stolen (revs check) and from all you have said, I don't see a crime has been committed?
Just get the blue slip, register the van in NSW and you are good to go.

You may get a bit of a hard time at the registration office, and may need to jump through a few hoops, but this is not too unusual I am sure. Most people at the RTA are friendly!!
Don't beat yourself up too badly - you are just human - help others to avoid the situation and share your story!

Cheers

Thanks Ivan, Im not freaking out as much.

Basically the only doc I have to prove ownership [only doc I have from the van] is the vic roads transfer of rego. Do I send this document to vic roads within 14 days? Y/N?
 [even tho vic roads said it needed to be a vic address I already put down a NSW address which is imprinted on the sellers copy]

I am assuming I will get some confirmation of ownership?

By then rego will have expired so I only need a blue slip from a mechanic to rego it in NSW and its smooth sailing from there?

Cheers

Hi,

You have 14 days to do something ... that is for sure  

If you send the document to VIC roads, in my opinion, you will have an issue because you don't have a VIC roads safety certificate and where will they post the document back to you?
If your address is NSW, they will tell you to register the car in NSW.

So, in my opinion, your only options are:

1. Get a NSW blue slip today. Take the blue slip, the green slip (you will need to buy a green slip), the VIC roads document and the VIC number plates to the NSW RTA office and register the van here in NSW.
Note: Go to an RTA office with a car park ... it is illegal to have the van on the street without number plates.
(Top Ryde (Blaxland road) has an RTA with a carpark ... 14 kms from the city)

Before you spend any money ... just pop into the RTA (any office, the closet one to you) and explain your situation ... the blue slip and the green slip will cost you several hundred $'s ... so double check your facts and document requirements before spending any cash!

2. ... drive to VIC and sort it out there ...

Let me know how you go.

Cheers

Went to the RTA, they said that's fine, earliest I can get a blue slip inspection is Friday. If the worst happens, cant get a blue slip, too expensive to repair, would fleeing to Victoria to try and sell it unregistered be my only option? If that didn't happen and I am stranded how could I dispose of it?

Sorry for the more stupid questions but I naturally don't want to mess this process up any more that I have done so already. The green-slip best to do it on-line or in one of the insurance companies office? I fear doing it on-line I wont get a green-slip in time although the RTA can electronically detect it or I can bring in a printout?

Okay - great news from the RTA ... things are looking better  

Answer to new questions:

1. If the worst happens, cant get a blue slip, too expensive to repair, would fleeing to Victoria to try and sell it unregistered be my only option? If that didn't happen and I am stranded how could I dispose of it?

You can sell the car ANYWHERE as unregistered ... no need to flee
NOTE1: You can not park an unregistered car on the road ... so you would need to move it to a carpark or private land.
NOTE2: If repairs are expensive, get a 2nd BLUE slip ... some mechanics are stricter than others ... I have seen this and heard it MANY times. (Flash are good and fair (tell them we sent you - it may help ... also tell them you will write a review for them on this site     ))

IF the repairs are too expensive, note the cost of the repairs and advertise the car on BCC for sale with the list of repairs needed ... OR call one of the scrap guys who will collect the car. (also listed on this site as LAST option)

2. The green-slip best to do it on-line or in one of the insurance companies office? I fear doing it on-line I wont get a green-slip in time although the RTA can electronically detect it or I can bring in a printout?

Because you have an international drivers license, it will probably be easier to do this at the insurance company. Get two or three quotes, prices can vary by several hundred dollars.
If you do it on-line, the RTA will know instantly ... don't worry about that, I have tested it many times and the system is perfect    (but I have a NSW license ... so I get a good price   )

Cheers and good luck ... if you have more questions, please ask, maybe the answer can help others too  

Good news! Got it sorted the way I hadn't planned!

Morning of the blue slip, I got my details from my Uncle in Melbourne, so I rang up vic roads to try again through them. I explained my situation and he said there's nothing that vic roads can do, just let it expire and use RTA. I was disappointed, but put my mind to the challenge to get it roadworthy. It only lasted 10 minutes basically the mechanic saying that he needs proper rego papers and an engineers certificate for the [forgot to mention earlier] pop top roof. He said he goes by the books because the RTA can suspend his licence with one unsatisfactory job [his main business is to fix cars up for blue slips] he also mentioned rust, my heart just sank.

Feeling devastated and planning to try and profit or just live in it at its current caravan park resting place I had one last shot with vic roads from another perspective. The perspective was the same but this guy [unlike the other] did not care about the previous owner, he said put your vic address on the transfer sheet and send it in anyway, it will take up to 4 weeks to transfer your name so when that is confirmed just request your rego documents at a charge and it will be fine! He mentioned hassle from police but if I keep my receipts for the motor transfer fee's and the rego, it will clear any court!
I had a gleaming smile to hear him say your rego will expire on 18DEC12 which just made my day. My camping neighbours seemed envious as I could profit $2-3k when selling, but for now its my home and I couldn't be happier!

Time to hit the hills and satisfy immigration fingers crossed for my 2nd year, if it happens straight back to Perth to settle and earn and if all is still going well, maybe export her to a new home in Ireland.. but hey that's if she survives the challenges to come!

Lessons I have learned, Backpackers do not get a NSW vehicle due for rego, they are too strict for a budget traveller.
From my experiences Victoria and Western Australia are simple and travel friendly.

Thanks Ivan I would have lost my sanity over a simple fix issue without your assistance! Advice from family and friends made no sense to me I was that confused!

One of things I admire in people the most is persistence ... and you have demonstrated that!!!

Good luck with your travel and especially the 2nd year visa!!

All the best

Ivan