Australia is a huge country and to see the most of it, buying a vehicle to travel in makes it way easier to the country. But, buying a vehicle to travel a foreign country can feel overwhelming. There’s so much to think about when arriving to a new country.
When I first arrived to Australia, I needed a vehicle ASAP, but I really didn’t know where to start aside from checking out vehicles. In the end I learned a lot of tips on buying a vehicle in Australia, which is why I created this guide. This also comes after living in the country for over two years and driving over 50,000 kms.
Since arriving in Australia, I’ve talked with other travellers and residents on buying vehicles to figure out what I missed. In this article I’m sharing all that I’ve learnt, the major themes here are understanding Australia’s auto market, where to buy a vehicle, the cost, what is a good vehicle and what to check during an inspection.
Disclaimer: I’m not a mechanic or vehicle expert, this article is based on my opinions only and I’m not liable for recommendations I may make.
Table of Contents
Before buying a vehicle, here’s some questions to ask yourself:
- What type of vehicle do you want? There’s camper vans, 4WDs, SUVs, AWD and cars.
- Do you want to sleep in the vehicle, deal with a rooftop tent, regular tent, or stay in accommodation?
- What are the pros and cons of the options?
- And really… what’s the budget?
For more information on answers to these questions check out my tips to buying a vehicle to travel Australia.
Understanding Australia’s Auto Market
Depending on the auto market in Australia, it could be a struggle to find a vehicle—let alone a good deal for one. There’s a few things to know about Australia’s auto market that are imperative to finding a good deal and the best vehicle for your needs.
Auto market volatility based on travellers
Australia’s auto market, especially when it comes to travellers buying vehicles greatly depends on when and where. The volatility of the auto market definitely depends on this because it changes the needs of the market based on consumers needs.
Focusing on travellers, think about the road trips people take. Before the COVID pandemic when Australia’s international border was open, travellers would go from the south to the north of the east coast, or vice-versa depending on the season.
Normally travellers would be south in the summer (November-February) and north in the winter (April-August). When loads of travellers would arrive to Melbourne or Sydney in early summer, they needed a vehicle right away. Those same people would try to sell the vehicle in Cairns maybe around March, as many travellers would only stay for a few months.
During those times it makes the market more promising for either the buyer or seller. Keep that volatility in mind when purchasing or pricing a vehicle to get the best deal. And always remember time is of the essence (especially in pre-COVID times) because people need to sell or buy vehicles either right before or after international flights.
I expect these times will return if the COVID pandemic ever ends and international borders open again. Australia has long been a tourist destination and because of the Working Holiday Visa program, it attracts thousands of travellers from around the world.
Buying a vehicle to travel Australia isn’t easy, but following the auto market of travellers can help with the search.
Where to Buy a Vehicle in Australia
Depending on the auto market in Australia, it could be a struggle to find a vehicle at times. What helps is how easy it is to find vehicles for sale. Finding vehicles for sale in Australia is largely online, and it’s easy to check out the most options.
Here’s a few of the most popular options online:
- Gumtree (online marketplace)
- Facebook
- Public and private groups (backpacker-specific or other buy and sell groups)
- Marketplace
- Online auctions
- Other location-specific websites for auto sales
Gumtree is a lifesaver, but the turnover rate can be high. As with other markets, when there’s a good sale getting responses from someone may be difficult. Which is why it’s important to regularly check for vehicle sales.
When I first came to Australia in February 2019, I heard back from about one in 10 people I had reached out to about buying a vehicle. With only a few new ads showing up each day, that’s not much.
This really depends on the location and time of year travellers are looking for a vehicle (see the section above for the Australia auto market volatility). Next is about what goes into the value of a vehicle and the cost.
Cost of Buying a Vehicle in Australia
The cost of buying a vehicle in Australia can vary greatly. There’s some good deals, but personally I find Australians charge quite a bit for used items, including vehicles. The most important factors in the cost are determined by the vehicle’s basic value (make, model, year), mileage, fuel consumption and mechanics. First though is the actual price of the vehicles.
Actual cost of buying a vehicle to travel Australia
The actual cost of buying a vehicle in Australia could be anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands. That’s not what’s important though. It’s more important to know about buying a reliable vehicle to travel Australia. There’s are good deals from about A$2,500 to A$8,000 (and definitely above), but don’t count on the lowest cost here.
Plan to spend around A$6,000 on a reliable vehicle to travel Australia. If the cost is lower then that’s great, if it’s higher, then it’s also understandable. Included in that price should be a reliable vehicle and some equipment for travelling, whether that’s a build-out camper van, or a 4WD with a rooftop tent and extra equipment.
Higher up on the pricing scale has vehicles that have been properly renovated to live in. Now onto other conditions about buying the perfect vehicle.
What’s a Good Vehicle in Australia?
Continuing on from the cost/pricing section I want to add some light information about other contributing factors to a vehicles value in Australia. As noted above, I’m going to to discuss a vehicle’s basic value (make, model, year), mileage, fuel consumption and mechanics. Some of these might be obvious, but most are pretty specific to Australia’s road conditions and auto market.
Basic Vehicle Value (Make, Model and Year)
Australia and Australians have some pretty clear opinions over what should be valued and what not. First off, Australians loves Toyota. Most Australians will describe them as reliable and worth the price. It’s a pretty cultural staple if you think of the Land Cruisers, which in my view are a big vehicle of Australia’s outback life. For these reasons, Toyotas may be priced higher than other vehicles.
Moving on from just Toyota’s specifically, there are certain makes and models that hold value over different vehicles. Mitsubishi’s Pajeros, Toyota’s Landcruiser, Hilux and Troopies, and Nissan’s Patrol are also popular, well-known and reliable vehicles. Also, the Mitsubishi Delica is well-known as one of the only 4WD vans in Australia, it’s also priced accordingly.
I’m not saying there’s no problems with these vehicles, I just mean that they are popular and known for being reliable. It may also explain higher price tags in some circumstances.
It’s pretty known worldwide known that older vehicles could have more problems. What I’ve noticed in Australia is that older, common vehicles may have more problems but mechanical problems may also be cheaper. Think about that when focusing on the year, 2003 over 1999 may not be a better vehicle option, sometimes thinking about the vehicle make, model and mileage could be better answers to the vehicles value.
And, when it comes to year, some vehicles hold value more than others. No matter what year, a Toyota Landcruiser will probably be more expensive than other 4WDs vehicles based on its reliability.
Vehicle Mileage in Australia
Growing up in Canada—an even larger country than Australia—it was uncommon to buy a used vehicle with a mileage over 100,000 km. However when I was purchasing a vehicle in Australia, most I looked at had over 200,000 km. And, I regularly see vehicles for sale over A$5,000 with close to, or over 400,000 km.
This is because Australia is a huge country, and those people living and travelling in the country want to drive a lot. Personally, from living in Australia for over two years, my partner and I have driven over 50,000 km. So, think about large mileage a bit more casually when planning to purchase a vehicle in Australia.
Fuel Consumption
If you’re buying a vehicle to travel Australia, you’ll be travelling thousands of kilometres so it’s important to consider the amount of fuel consumption.
My partner and I have a 1999 Ford Econovan, which is heavy as it’s filled with equipment, we generally use around 450 km per 60L tank on petrol. The price per litre can vary from A$0.99 to A$1.70 although it’s most often around A$1.15 to A$1.30.
Factors that affect this fuel consumption are the wind, hills, bumpy roads and speed limits, to name a few. Before purchasing a vehicle ask about the tank size, kilometres per tank and what fuel the vehicle consumes.
Vehicles that take gas (propane) may seem to have cheaper fuel consumption, but they may not get the same mileage per tank and speed. Same goes for diesel, which may be better for long distance but not as much in the city doing short and fast drives.
Mechanical Problems
A vehicle having mechanical problems is a nightmare. Especially when that means costly repairs and possibly long waits for parts. When it comes to inspecting a vehicle before purchasing, try to follow through with everything before giving purchasing a vehicle. It can be helpful to get a mechanic to look at the vehicle, but mechanics can also make mistakes too.
The older the vehicle the more major problems there could be with a vehicle if certain things haven’t been maintained properly. On the other hand, newer vehicles may also have costly problems whether that’s more expensive parts or services.
No vehicle is going to be perfect but before buying a vehicle there are a few things to check:
- Ask and review previous notes from services mechanics have performed on the vehicle
- Check for regular services based on time or kilometres
- This includes changing filters regularly and some belts (not just oil filter, there’s also the fuel filter and more)
- Check for drips for at least five minutes after a vehicle has stopped
- Even if there’s no drips, check the engine if fluids have dripped anywhere
- Turn on and test everything about the vehicle while it’s running
- Including: A/C, radio, windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, all lights and more.
- If something isn’t working properly and the owner didn’t mention it, then try to get a better price
- Check for unusual exhaust or smells coming from the vehicle
- Inspect for rust both structural and non-structural
- Inspect for chips or cracks in windows, as major chips or cracks can be a problem for road worthy
This sums up the most important information when it comes to buying a vehicle to travel Australia. The only not included here is road worthy test. That information is found in the Guide to Understanding Vehicle Insurance in Australia. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to road worthy tests so check out that guide.
Driving in Australia? Also check out what to know about a State-by-State Guide on International Drivers Licensing and Tips for Buying a Vehicle to Travel Australia.
