Buying a Car in NSW

It's hard to get by without a car in today's world. In larger cities public transport may be a good option but many people still rely heavily on their private vehicles. Buying a car is exciting but also a stressful time. Here are few suggestions to help make buying a car in NSW, Australia's most populous state, a little less trying. Avoiding the pitfalls, especially when buying a second hand car, will help you get a better car and fewer ongoing hassles with maintenance and so forth.

Before you begin, you obviously need to work out how much you are willing to spend on a new car or used car. You also need to get clear on how you will need to use the car. There is no point buying a two-door convertible if you'll be regularly moving goods, pets or children that could be more easily managed in a wagon, for example.

Once you have the money together and have found the car you would like to buy, in NSW it is recommended that you do some important checks before you drive it away. One of these is a "REVS check". REVS stands for Register of Encumbered Vehicles. You don't want to buy a car that someone owes money or because if you buy that car, the debt then becomes yours and you could have your vehicle re-possessed.

Equally important is running an RTA check to make sure the car has not been written off in a different state after a serious accident and so forth.
A mechanical and body inspection for your car before you buy it is also a good idea. This includes checking the engine number and VIN number.

For used cars, inspect the car to check for any structural damage, body misalignment, uneven tyre wear, and so forth, as these may be indicative that larger problems exist. Checking the transmission and whether or not the air-conditioning works may save you some expense down the track.

Assuming you have found a good car to buy, considering the ongoing costs of caring for and running the car is also prudent. This will help you to understand what the real cost of buying that car is – a figure that includes the purchase price and ongoing expenses. You can then compare your top two or three cars to see which will best fit your budget and you lifestyle, not just your purchase price.

Part of this calculation will involve fuel costs and maintenance. Buying car that is more fuel efficient will benefit not just your pocket but the environment. Hybrid cars, electric cars and diesel cars may look better over time than other vehicles that may have a lower purchase price initially. This is why doing a real cost comparison can be very useful.

In NSW, once you have purchased a car, there are a couple more things to think about: getting a cover note from your insurer, purchasing ongoing insurance, transferring the car's registration into your name, and paying stamp duty.

For further reading, take a look at the NSW Department of Fair Trading website.