Buying a car in SA

[Guest leemina]

Due to arrive in August and am researching buying a car, and got some questions.

 

1. Do they have MOTs??

2. How much does registration cost?

 

We drive a ford fiesta in the UK, and want similar or a little bigger. Family of four, so prefer 5 door. Anyone got any recommendations of cars and sellers? We'd prefer to buy from a dealer at the beginning than a private seller.

 

Any good tips on driving, any rules over in Oz that we dont have in UK??

 

Thanks a lot

 

Leemina

[xzibit]

Cars don't have MOTs over here. Basically when buying, check to see if it has any rego (road tax and third party insurance) left on it, if not then try and get the dealer to throw some in. You can then buy comprehensive insurance if you wish - which is a good idea.

It may be worth doing a check on the securities register to make sure the car has nothing owing against it from the previous owner or anything. It's called a REVS check here.

They sell the Fiesta here, so you can get one, but be prepared to pay double what you would in the UK for it lol.

[Guest Guest5035]

Good place to start is here

http://www.carsales.com.au/

 

driving tips....................just go for it, the rule book was re written in Adelaide.

 

stevo

[Guest Mitchell]

Rego depends on lots of things like the no of cylinders so just google sa rego and you will get a link to the calculator. As far as road rules the signs and markings are basically the same but you can over and undertake here plus you can only park on the left ie you must be facing the right way!

[xzibit]

And you also pay a small fortune to transfer the car into your own name. $201 for my crappy 6 year old barina.

 

As said, Adelaidians cannot drive so just point the car and shoot. And if you're at the front when at the lights, it's compulsory to race the car next to you - so it seems.

[Jimjustin]

Hi,

 

My advice would be buy japanese, and buy once!

 

Japanese because they are cheap here, as is servicing and spares- european cars cost an arm and a leg here, especially german stuff. Toyotas, mitsubishis, mazdas, honda etc, all run forever- very reliable.

Buy once, because everytime you buy a car here, new or second hand you have to pay stamp duty on it which I think is 6.5% It can be expensive to change your car too often!

 

Generally people here arent flash with their cars here like they are in the UK. Lots of people still drive older cars. Unfortunately that means that second hand prices are much higher here.