Thread: Buying a Car in Western Australia back to Queensland: Achievable & Possible Drawbacks

Lionel, so many questions, so many options.
Driving back is always fun, but which route?
Port Augusta, Dubbo, home is the quickest and most usual, also cheapest.
Port Augusta, Innamincka, home is interesting, slightly higher cost than the above but requires more confidence in the mechanical condition.
Pilbra, Kimberley, N.T., Western Queensland is without doubt the dearest and longest. Also the greatest scope for alternative routes.
If cost is a concern, consider freighting the vehicle to Adelaide or Port Augusta. Avoid specialised car carriers, there are plenty of empty trucks returning east, happy to do a cash deal.

Expensive exercise. First thought is the car good enough to do the trip? Fuel and travel costs both ways. Permits. Get a Safety Certificate in Qld. Registration and stamp duty. The car needs to be a bargain to absorb all these costs. Maybe find one close to home.

Hello Bigjohn,

Al your points are very reasonable.

There seems to be a trend in that the WA vehicles have less kilometres and are lower in price than their East Coast counterparts. How much the will remain nameless vehicle costs it will be in A1 condition mechanically and otherwise. It had want to be!

Time and Expense: I have plenty of time up my sleeve, so I can spend time looking around. Holidays are usually expensive. It could be a holiday with a purpose and I get to keep the holiday car.

Of course the dealer may tell me to take a hike too. Or the independent vehicle inspection will find lots of nasties like the one I had checked yesterday did. It was even in my own state! It started with the vehicle being inspected and found to be in limp mode. The quality of the vehicle rapidly descended from there. The under body inspection found that the previous owner liked driving on the beach and did not like cleaning it off. Also, that it would be good to practice rock climbing with. Seriously dented undercarriage, fuel tank and exhaust system along with extensive surface rust. Leaking airbag suspension. No electronic handbrake. Externally it looked as pretty as a picture. Only driven to church on Sundays ...

Cost of independent vehicle inspection ... money very well spent

Kind regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel
When buying a car in this great state, if you don’t have a great state (WA) address, the seller in obliged to remove the plates and sell the vehicle unlicensed. If they don’t they can cop a substantial fine (trust me I’ve been there)
Once you have purchased your unlicensed vehicle, you will require a permit to drive the vehicle on the road.
This permit is only valid in this great state and only for 24hours at a cost of around $30
So if you intend to take a holiday on the return visit, you will need to break land speed records unless you intend to hang around for a while (and why wouldn’t you) and pay for the privilege
If you do decide to go ahead with a purchase for way out west, the bottom route would be a better option as last time I brought a vehicle across from the other side I’m sure the permit lasted a week and was transferable between states (or maybe I only bought one and winged it, it was a few years ago)
Just something to ponder for the next few weeks/months/years????

Gav

Hello Gav 110 and Others,

Thank you for your reply. Interesting about what happens if you don't have an address in WA!

It has been a long time since I have gotten an Interim Registration Certificate in Queensland for a vehicle that I bought interstate and drove home. Back then, it was a number of decades ago - there was no need to access the vehicle's department of transport because you already had the Queensland - the car's final destination state's interim permit. Has this procedure since changed?

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Gav 110 and Others,

Thank you for your reply. Interesting about what happens if you don't have an address in WA!

It has been a long time since I have gotten an Interim Registration Certificate in Queensland for a vehicle that I bought interstate and drove home. Back then, it was a number of decades ago - there was no need to access the vehicle's department of transport because you already had the Queensland - the car's final destination state's interim permit. Has this procedure since changed?

Kind regards
Lionel

Just to be sure, check with the TMR in Qld. We bought a RR in Melbourne a few years ago (same deal with the plates, as mentioned above) bought the permit online in Qld and drove back. Supposed to travel via the most direct route, but we took a week to do it, with quite a few sightseeing detours. Only got waved down once near Wellington, and he was happy as soon as I showed him the paperwork. I'd check about WA though. They do things a week bit different over there!

Without plates you will be stopped by NSW Highway patrol maybe several times.
My son bought a Typhoon in Melbourne and aside from almost having the car impounded n the first kilometer it was a good trip.
With a victorian pass you only have 24 hours to transit home.

Regards PhilipA

7 year anniversary of this trip. Perth to NE VIC, still a big highlight for the girls today.

Two Chicks and a Defender