Hi, just wondering if anyone has experience and/or thoughts of the merits of buying a new Kia Carnival in SA and then driving it back to Melbourne Victoria.
It seems that the cars are thousands of dollars cheaper there. Of course I would have to factor into it the cost of flying there, driving back, and also any transfer fees (??) to re-register it in Victoria.
Anyone have experience in this; thoughts and suggestions are most welcomed.
Thanks!
How does it 'seem' that way? Have you spoken and haggled to both dealers?
Jumbo- I never thought of registering it in Victoria before driving it home. Is there an advantage to that?
Spaceback - I am going by the advertised price; I would have to negotiate thousands of dollars off with the Victorian dealer just to get the same price as in SA. If I then negotiate even a dollar more with the SA dealer then I'm still in front with them.
Do you have experience in this? How much would it cost to transfer a SA registered vehicle to Victoria?
haggle better
Buy in SA without rego, get an Unregistered Vehicle Permit, fly over, pay for it, drive it back, register it once you get back to Vic.
I have done this a few times between NSW and Vic. And that’s how I have done it.
Just check the prices though, as Vic may include drive away price and SA may just be quoting base price without stamps or rego…
Hi Pegaxas, I never thought of that. Thanks! And thanks for the warning to check prices too.
Say, why did you do it? And how do I calculate all the Victorian registration fees and other government charges etc once I bring it back to Melbourne? I was going to Google it, but as you have done it before, your advice would be appreciated.
I am in NSW and buy from Vic. I buy from anywhere that I can get the best deal. I don’t have much experience taking a car into Vic for rego.
If you get on the VicRoads fee structure website, it should be listed on there what it would cost you to get it registered. You may have to get a RWC when you get it back, but being a new car, it will pass. It will possibly be RWC, Rego, TAC and stamp duty (if you paid stamp duty in SA, you shouldn’t have to pay it again in Vic.)
The other thing is, if you don’t have a SA address and told the dealers over there that you are buying from Vic, they may not have added any of the rego costs, as they can’t rego it in SA unless you live there. It’s weird that there are thousands of dollars difference. The only thing I could think of is Vic is quoting on road, SA is car only. If it was thousands cheaper, everyone in Australia would be buying cars in SA.
Thanks! This helps me greatly! I will be making a lot off calls tomorrow. Thanks again!
Buy in SA without rego
How easy is to do that?
I recall a dealer (AKA 'used car sales person' = probably dishonest) mentioning that, in Queensland at least, they cannot sell brand new vehicles UNLESS the vehicle is registered and with plates.
Nonetheless, I have seen lots of unregistered permits plates (dealer, 'mechanics' and so on) driving around.
So, is it that easy to buy a brand new unregistered vehicle and then drive/truck it away?
It's easy. If a dealer wants to sell a car, they will sell it. You can tell them you don't want it registered because it will be going interstate and they will just subtract your rego costs from the price.
I believe that you will still have to pay stamp duty in the state of sale, but at that point, you own it and should not have to pay stamp duty again when you register in your home state.
A dealer cannot register a car in their state if they have no address to attach it to in that state. Most dealers are happy to sell me a car unregistered because it's less work for them. So I have never had an issue buying cars interstate without rego.
My only caveat on this is I have never bought new cars out if Qld, so, YMMV…
I bought my car in SA and drove it to VIC. It was mainly because of cost and attitude of Melbourne dealers.
You will just need a temporary permit to drive the car to vic.
To register the car in vic you will have to book for an appointment with vic roads and take you car to vic roads.
Hi Apple2016, wow how lucky am I to find someone who has actually done this before via SA. I feel the same way about the dealers I have met here and the prices are very different… or appear to be.
Just a few questions if you don't mind:
(1) Did you have to get a (RWC) road worthy certificate for the new car so that you could get it registered back in Victoria? If so, how did you arrange that?
(2) How do I calculate all the costs of registration and govt fees etc back in Victoria? Or is it that I only pay SA government taxes and fees instead if purchased there?
(3) How did you arrange everything with the SA car dealer? eg Arranged price over the phone, that it would be delivered unregistered, pickup time, did you just get a taxi from the airport to the dealership, etc? My wife is very slightly concerned that if they know we are flying out from Melbourne they may not take the same care with the vehicle knowing that we won't have much of a choice but to accept, say a few minor issues with the car.
(4) Did you get the temporary permit yourself from Vicroads or from SA's equivalent?
Thanks again! I really appreciate it. Tomorrow I plan to be making lots of calls.
What do you mean?
All dealers pay the same amount for their cars and the only difference would be rego/stamp duty costs.
Methinks before you make such a drastic decision, check your SA prices are drive away, and genuine new or demo cars (not used cars, not hail damaged) and go haggle better with your local dealers.
So much ball-ache with what you're considering
Exactly. I can’t believe that it’s “thousands” of dollars difference without there being something missing or a catch.
Even if it is thousands, quickly add up what it will cost to get it home.
Flight: $200 (i have no idea, haven't flown for ages)
Airport transfers or parking: $100. To get from the airport to the dealer as well.
Fuel to get it home: 2 tanks? $200
Time off work: day's leave, $300
Food stops: $100
Potentially a night's accommodation: $100
There's near $1k.
it adds up pretty quick. (donning flame suit waiting for everyone to prove me wrong)
In the case of my inlaws a number of years ago(Astra) the dealer was going to send the car to them on a car carrier.Holdens was busy at the time and there were no transport options available so they paid for both airfares a tank of petrol and as compensation fitted headlight and bonnet protectors.(without being asked)
Agreed
May be … but a lot of people drive from Brisbane to Perth … just for fun.
So a buyer may see a +3000Km drive as a bush adventure, an experience and hence worth every penny … and every minute.
As always, each to his own!
You realise how much that trip would cost?
Sure, you could make a holiday out of it, but you're not gonna be ahead $$s wise for doing it.
No state is cheaper to buy new cars than another (used cars are a different story). OP just needs to haggle more and they can buy it from down the road.
Is it from mt barker Kia? I was buying a new S model and am located in Sydney. No one would really bargain locally. I was getting pricing 40-44k in Sydney. Yet in SA I could get about 38.5k. I was contemplating flying and driving back. You can get an unregistered vehicle permit to do that.
However I kept ringing around Sydney and finally found a dealer to do a cracking deal. I got a brand new S 2017 model for 38k driveaway. Metallic paint, 12 mths rego. He beat the SA one by 500 and saved me the issue of flying and driving back.
Try Werribee Kia. I was getting good pricing off them too. It helps to know exactly what you want. I'm surprised people would negotiate with me over the phone as past experience they don't.
Hi dammit, how recently did you buy this car? It's exactly what we want. Can you give me more details: where you ended up buying the car? What did Werribee quote you and who did you speak to at each place? It would be a great help.
I am happy for you to PM me if you prefer or can I contact you somehow?
Jan 2018. I’ll pm you mate.
Depends how much spare time you have and how big a difference in rice.
I bought a car from Melb, unregistered and drove it back to ACT with a permit and had it registered in ACT. Saved a few thousand but lost 2-3 days (travel time and inspection to establish registration), but turned it into a weekend getaway with girl friend
how big a difference in rice
So you found a dealer that would accept rice as payment, must have been a lot of rice!
or are they adding accessories, RICE style? Nice big wing, some stickers, one of those tag things on the tow hook.
Guess what I was eating at the time? typo
Guess what I was eating at the time?
Pie?
Subway, foot long
Yeah, crazy how stubborn VIC dealers can be compared to elsewhere. I saved a couple thousand buying my car from Perth. And that is even after getting it shipped to VIC (transported on train and then truck from SA I believe) via a company that transports car (can't remember the name) and paying for registration!
Get a quote from an SA dealer and get them to quote on freighting it to you and registering it in VIC, then compare that to a quote that a VIC dealer gives you and you can decide from there.
Fantastic post Bargainers. I too am looking for a new vehicle and would happily turn it into a road trip experience to save thousands (that saving can pay for the trip expenses - win win)
Can you register it in Victoria before driving it home?