Take care when choosing a car to buy. Taking the time to research your choices and rights before buying can help avoid problems.
Before buying a car, you should:
- compare on-road and operating costs including:
- including registration
- compulsory third-party insurance
- stamp duty
- additional insurance
- fuel
- servicing and spare parts.
- get an independent safety assessment on new cars through the Australian New Car Assessment Program
- test drive the car
- get an independent vehicle inspection on a used car by a qualified person
- check the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to make sure there’s no money owing on it (there a small fee to check vehicles)
- ask about and compare after sales support and warranties that different sellers and manufacturers offer
- understand the purpose of fuel consumption labels on new cars
- note there are no statutory cooling-off rights or “lemon laws” for motor vehicle sales in Tasmania.
All motor vehicle traders in Tasmania must have a licence to sell:
- used cars
- other used cars.
Search for the motor vehicle trader licence to make sure the dealer is licensed.