Automotive

• 5x Free PPSR Car History Checks (Normally $2 Each, Australian Mobile Number Required) @ Budget Direct
• Electric Vehicle Government Subsidies, Registration, Stamp Duty Discounts @ States & Federal Governments
• [VIC] Fee Reduction for Learners & Test Fees + Free Probationary Licences @ VicGov / VicRoads
• 1 Free 60-Minute Driving Lesson for Learner Licence Holders @ Keys2Drive (Australian Government Funded)
• PPSR/REVS Vehicle Check $2 @ PPSR
• Roadside Assistance $76.46 for First Year (Was $89.95/Year) @ Budget Direct

Car Insurance Deals

List of often posted car insurance providers.

• AAMI
• Australia Post Car Insurance
• Budget Direct
• Bupa
• Everyday Insurance by Woolworths
• My Heritage Bank
• Kogan Insurance
• My State Bank
• NRMA
• Progressive Direct
• RACV
• ROLLIN Insurance
• GIO Insurance
• Coles Insurance

OzBargain has a dedicated wiki page listing discount offers, gift cards and loyalty programs redeemable at various service stations across Australia. Please note this wiki page does not cover fuel charge cards (e.g. AmpolCard, Shell Card, BP Plus), due to these cards generally only being available to ABN holders.

Interesting forum discussions:

• Negotiating New Car Price – lots of great tips there.

Things to consider when buying a car:

If you are looking at buying a private sale vehicle;

• Do a PPSR check(transact.ppsr.gov.au) (written off, money owing, stolen)
• Check rego details match car AND owner
• Have someone mechanically inspect the vehicle (Local mechanic/RAC*).
• Test drive the vehicle to make sure it is sound to drive.
• If in Vic or Qld for example, make sure the car is supplied with a road worthy (so any road worthy items like brakes, tyres and oil leaks are their problem, not yours)
• Pay by bank cheque with their details on it. If they dispute the transaction later, you can prove that you paid and that they cashed the cheque.
• Get a separate invoice for the sale of the vehicle. (Rego alone does not always equal proof of ownership.)
• Get the “Notice of Disposal” on the back of the registration papers signed.
• Get some insurance before you drive it.
• Go to your local transport authority and transfer the vehicle into your name within 14 days (in most states)

If you are buying from a reputable car yard; (It's virtually the same, but you can omit/change a few of the steps.)

• Ask to see the PPSR check. (They will have it, check for any written off status.)
• Check advertised details match the car (MY, build date, colour, accessories, etc…)
• Make sure the Model Year accessories and features match the manufacturers specifications.
• Have someone mechanically inspect the vehicle (Local mechanic/RAC*) NOT the dealer selling it to you.
• Test drive the vehicle to make sure it is sound to drive.
• From a dealer, the car should be supplied with a road worthy (so any road worthy items like brakes, tyres and oil leaks are their problem, not yours)
• Pay by bank cheque with their details on it. If they dispute the transaction later, you can prove that you paid and that they cashed the cheque.
• If you negotiate something, get it in the contract. DON'T accept them saying, “yep, we can do that”. GET IT IN WRITING!
• READ THE CONTRACT! At payment time, do not sign off on the vehicle until you have confirmed what you are buying matches what you can see.
• Get some insurance before you drive it off the dealers lot.
• Go to your local transport authority and transfer the vehicle into your name within 14 days (In most states. Unless the dealer has it IN THE CONTRACT that they will do it for you.)

Here's a general hint from OzBargain member 'Stitchy':

One day I figured that if I can fix other people's computers I should be able to fix my own car. So I got online and read 'auto repair for dummies' and 'electronics for dummies'. I watched some youtube vids (like 'how to change an oil filter'). I found an awesome website for my car (a hyundai - hmaservice.com)

Soon enough, I had troubleshooted and fixed my blinkers, changed coolant, removed decrepid tinting, changed oil and filter, fixed starter motor.. The thing is.. It felt great! I need few extra tools.. and it became addictive while saving hundreds!

Get amongst it! =p

Here's a hint from OzBargain member 'Stitchy':

So, you wanna get under your car to change the oil filter or poke around. You don't have ramps and don't trust a jack.. whatchya do? Well, do what Stitchy does (must have no shame):

- open a suitable storm drain cover
- carefully drive car over it
- slide yourself into storm drain
- you should now be able to stand and see your car above you ready to work on.
(please don't spill oil/coolant into the drain.. will kill animals and possibly is illegal)

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Anybody in the 5 major cities and surrounds should watch the ACCC page for their city for the right day to buy. Don't assume that the cycle is 7 days; it isn't.

It's better to be a little early and pay a little bit more than the trough than to be late because it shoots up rapidly. Also bear in mind that the graph lags by one day; the last point shown is yesterday.