For most, one of the first major purchases when migrating is the purchase of a motor vehicle. You can choose to either buy a new car or a used car.
Used cars can be purchased from licensed car dealers or private sellers. Car dealers have a legal requirement to provide a statutory warranty of three months. When buying a vehicle from a private seller, it is recommended that you check the REVS (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) to find out whether any money is owed on the vehicle.
Upon completion of your vehicle purchase, you must advise the Department of Transport within 14 days of purchasing a vehicle. Failure to do so may result in a penalty. As a buyer (or seller), you have the option of transferring the vehicle ownership using an online system, DoTDirect, or by submitting a paper form.
You should be aware that some vehicles cannot be transferred online. These include vehicles that are:
- Part of a court order or deceased estate
- Jointly owned
- Being transferred between spouses or de facto partners
- Heavy vehicles
- Issued with optional plates
If you decide to use the online system to transfer the vehicle ownership, you may want to obtain a proof of purchase from the seller for your own records.
You can find more details on vehicles transfer on the Department of Transport’s website.
