Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Purchase
Australian cars are not cheap, but if you plan to stay several months and do plenty of driving, buying a car will probably
work out to be cheaper than renting one. You can buy from a car dealer or a private vendor (private sales are often
cheaper). Hostel noticeboards are good places to start looking. Online, have a look at
Car Sales
(
www.carsales.com.au
)
and
Trading Post
(
www.tradingpost.com.au
)
.
REGISTRATION & LEGALITIES
»
When you buy a vehicle in Queensland, you need to contact the Queensland government's
Department of Transport
& Main Roads
(
www.tmr.qld.gov.au
) to transfer the registration into your own name within 14 days. Similarly, when
selling a vehicle you need to advise the Department of the sale and change of name. To facilitate this, the buyer and
seller need to complete and sign a Transfer of Vehicle Registration Application form. Note that it's much easier to sell a
car in the same state in which it's registered, otherwise you (or the buyer) must re-register it in the new state, which can
be a hassle.
»
In Queensland, sellers are required to provide a safety certificate when transferring registration; a gas certificate is
also required for vehicles running on gas. If the vehicle you're considering doesn't have these certificates, it's worth
having a roadworthy check done by a mechanic before you buy it. Contact the
RACQ
(
13 19 05;
www.racq.com.au
)
for a list of licensed vehicle testers.
»
It's the buyer's responsibility to ensure the car isn't stolen and that there's no money owing on it: check the car's de-
tails with the
Personal Property Securities Register
(
1300 007 777;
www.ppsr.gov.au
)
.
»
For full details on processes and costs, see
www.tmr.qld.gov.au/registration/transferring-registration
.
BUY-BACK DEALS
One way of bypassing the hassles of buying/selling a vehicle privately is to enter into a buy-back arrangement with a
dealer. Beware: many dealers will find ways of knocking down the price when you return the vehicle - even if a price
has been agreed upon in writing - by pointing out repairs that allegedly will be required to gain a safety certificate. The
cars on offer have usually been driven around Australia several times, often with minimal servicing, and are generally
pretty tired.
Road Hazards & Precautions
»
Be wary of driver fatigue; driving long distances (particularly in hot weather) can be utterly exhausting. Falling asleep
at the wheel is not uncommon. On a long haul, stop and rest every two hours or so − do some exercise, change drivers or
find a decent coffee.
»
Unsealed road conditions vary wildly and cars perform differently when braking and turning on dirt. Don't exceed
80km/h on dirt roads; if you go faster you won't have time to respond to a sharp turn, stock on the road or an unmarked
gate or cattle grid. If you're in a rental car, check your contract to ensure you're covered for driving on unsealed roads.
»
Queensland has few multi-lane highways, although there are stretches of divided road (four or six lanes) in busy areas
such as the toll roads and freeways around Brisbane. Two-lane roads however, are the only option for many routes. Be
aware that you can only overtake other vehicles when there is a dotted white line down the middle or on your side of the
road. Never overtake on full double lines as these are placed along high-risk, low-visibility stretches of road.
»
Many rural Queenslanders avoid travelling after dark because of the risks posed by nocturnal animals on the roads.
Kangaroos are common on country roads, as are cows and sheep in the unfenced outback. Kangaroos are most active
around dawn and dusk and often travel in groups: if you see one hopping across the road, slow right down, as its friends
