Is it worth buying a car interstate?

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You might be looking for a specific car, only to find out that it’s in another state. We examine the pros and cons, as well as how to buy a car interstate.

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If you’re looking for a new car – a specific one at that – you might find yourself browsing the classifieds in another state.

It always seems to be the way that you will find the exact car you’re after for the best price, but it’s thousands of kilometres away.

We review everything you need to know before pulling the trigger on a car from interstate.

Moving the registration interstate

Perhaps one of the biggest expenses, besides buying the actual car, is the cost involved with moving the registration interstate.

When buying a car registered in a state other than where your driver’s licence was issued, you must transfer the registration within a few weeks of purchasing the car.

You cannot buy a car, for example, with a Queensland registration and own it with a New South Wales address and licence. The vehicle must be transferred to a New South Wales registration (or whichever state is relevant to you).

New South Wales

In New South Wales, if you purchase a car from another state, you must transfer or cancel the interstate registration within 14 days of purchasing the vehicle.

Prior to the transfer of registration, you will need to acquire and pass a blue slip from an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS) station within the past 42 days, purchase compulsory third party insurance (CTP green slip), and remove the existing licence plates from your vehicle.

You will need to apply for 12 months of registration. You will not be able to transfer the existing registration from the state of purchase. Instead, you will need to send the licence plates back to the original state for a partial refund of the existing registration.

On average, green slips cost around $578, while New South Wales registration can cost between $255 and $1397. A blue slip costs an additional $78.

Photo: iStock/dima_sidelnikov

Queensland

If you have purchased a car with interstate registration in Queensland, you have 14 days to transfer your vehicle registration into Queensland registration.

You will need to acquire a Queensland safety certificate from an authorised inspection facility and purchase. If you haven’t already surrendered the previous licence plates, you will need to before paying for your new registration. They will provide you with a receipt showing that you have surrendered them, which you can use to apply for a refund in the previous state.

Queensland Roads says that registration and CTP will cost you between $646.70 and $1170.10

Victoria

You have 14 days to transfer your vehicle registration to a Victorian registration.

You must take your new ride to a licensed vehicle tester for a Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) and head into your local VicRoads Service Centre.

You will need to bring proof of identification, a receipt of purchase, your Roadworthy Certificate completed within 30 days of applying for registration, and your old licence plates. You will be given a receipt for these, and you can apply to have the registration from the state of purchase refunded.

The registration cost ranges from $780.10 up to $907.70.

Australian Capital Territory

You must transfer or cancel the interstate registration in the ACT within 14 days of purchasing the vehicle.

If you transfer registration from another state to the ACT, you must take your vehicle for a roadworthy check and a Certificate of Inspection. After this, you can apply for registration at your local Access Canberra service centre.

Here, you will be asked to fill out a vehicle registration form, show a receipt of purchase for the car, and provide proof of identification. You will also be asked to hand in your plates. When surrendering the old licence plates, you will be given a receipt, to which you can apply for a refund from the state where the vehicle was previously registered.

Establishing registration in the ACT will cost you between $900 and $1700 depending on the vehicle.

South Australia

South Australia allows you to drive a vehicle with interstate registration for up to three months after purchase.

Transferring the registration to South Australia is slightly more straightforward than in other states. You will still need to have the vehicle inspected, but this is all done via appointment at the Service SA centre (or South Australia Police in country areas).

You need to book an appointment. You will be asked for proof of identification, a vehicle purchase receipt, and the previous licence plates. All the fees will be paid at the service centre, and you’ll get a receipt to apply for a refund for the existing registration from other states.

South Australia charges between $250 and $750 depending on your area and your car’s engine size.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Government website states, “You must transfer your vehicle if you will drive your interstate vehicle for more than three months. Otherwise, it may be deemed unregistered and uninsured even if it has current registration interstate”.

If your vehicle is under five years old, you’ll only need a free compliance check through a government vehicle inspection facility. If it’s over five years old, you’ll need a compliance and roadworthy inspection before applying for registration. If it needs repair, you may get a temporary licence on a case-by-case basis.

Next, you’ll just need to fill out the R11 application to register a vehicle, attach proof of identification and a vehicle purchase receipt, and submit your application with supporting documents at an MVR office.

You will not be able to transfer the existing registration from the state of purchase. At best, you can send the licence plates back to the original state for a partial refund.

For a year’s registration, you will pay between $850 and $1400 depending on the engine size.

Tasmania

Tasmania allows you to drive on interstate registration for up to three months.

To transfer the registration from another state into Tasmania, you will need to attend an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS) and have the vehicle pass a roadworthy inspection.

After this is completed and passed, you will need to attend a Service Tasmania centre where you will be asked for proof of identification, the AIS certificate and a bill of sale for the vehicle.

You will need to send the plates back to the state they were previously registered in and apply for a refund of existing registration over the phone.

Registration is between $593 and $763 depending on the weight of your vehicle.

Photo: iStock/Sundry Photography

Cost to transport the vehicle

In terms of flights, accommodation, and fuel to drive the car back, it is almost always cheaper to transport the vehicle via truck to a depot or your house.

Depending on where you are located, you can expect anywhere between $500 and $1500 from one major city to another. However, if you live in a rural area you will need a quote tailored to your location before weighing up the pros and cons.

It is worth noting, however, that some used car dealerships now offer free delivery on their used cars, making the process smoother and easier than if you were to buy privately.

The risk involved with buying a car interstate

Dealings should always be done in person when purchasing a car interstate, especially privately.

You run the risk of the car not being in the condition you expected it to be, and of being scammed out of a deposit or even the cost of the entire car.

Some mobile mechanic services offer a pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle for around $200 to $400, depending on your location, which can give you some peace of mind.

However, there is no real risk-free way of purchasing a car without seeing it unless you go through an established dealership, which can ease some of the anxieties of sending money.