Pre-purchase inspection - Vic.

track_addict · Postby **track_addict** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 7:48 pm

Hi guys,

Looking at buying an SE from Victoria but I live in Adelaide. Is the RACV the best place to get an inspection done? Or are there other places/good mechanics who do as good a job? The car is being sold by the mechanic who says the car is A1 but I want an independent inspection done regardless. Last thing I want is to fly over and find out its a dud!

Thanks guys,

Ash.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:16 pm

RACV are fine but you will need to get the timing sorted out and the logistics on where the car and where to take it. Melb is a big lump of a place- whats the location- so is the seller prepared to take it somewhere- you pay. If you buy from Vic get it with a RWC and also make sure the car is checked for write offs etc- have a look at the Vicroads web site. A rwc will cost the seller about $150 plus any things that have to be rectified

track_addict · Postby **track_addict** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:52 pm

The seller is happy to take it anywhere for an inspection. Since it's being sold by the workshop should make times a bit for flexible, in terms of getting the car to places. The car is in Brunswick. Do RACV check the numbers or if it has been written off? The RAA do that as part of their inspection here in SA. Why should I get it with a RWC if its going to be rego'd in SA where I don't need one? Is it a requirement at sale for a car to have a current RWC in Vic? Having said that, carsales says it has a RWC but I will check when I speak with the seller later this week.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:00 pm

Track_addict don't forget insurance cover if you are collecting and driving it home. Some companies are funny if the car is not already registered in your name, so check with your company first...

Bit nerve wracking this interstate purchasing ;) But choice and prices in Vic/NSW are so much better than here!

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Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:47 am

dont even think about buying it without RWC- technically you would not be able to drive it- without a rwc or you need a permit. A rwc also gives a tick to all safety aspects and its not that easy to get a car thru the test. It means safe tyres, ok brakes, probably a pristine windscreen ( they are super fussy) etc. If it passes a rwc in Vic you should have a car which will meet any safety insp in SA. The usual in Vic is that cars are sold with RWC and the seller often only gets it done when the car is sold because they only valid for about 1 mth.

RACV will not check the Security / write offs etc- that can be done on line - just check the website for Vicroads- the check is now centralised for Aust. . Agree 100% with Kevgoat- you must get an insurance cover note - if you have an accident without insurance its not a good look.

If you drop 93clubman a PM I recall( partially) that there is a MX5 Club guy who works in a senior role in one of the Mazda dealerships and its somewhere in the northern suburbs- they might do a check and someone drive the car etc.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:57 am

Here you go, Google is your friend, first unpaid link in the search for "pre purchase vehicle inspections victoria"

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:32 am

I'd just see if you can organise a workshop to do a roadworthy inspection (as well as the RACV one, not sure if RACV check RWC requirements)
Some will happily do the inspection for a nominal fee, and any RWC issues noted can be used as a bargaining chip on the price.

There's no point in paying for a Vic RWC if it won't be registered here.

If you intend to drive the car back you can organise an unregistered vehicle permit which allows you to drive the vehicle under certain conditions (daylight hours, to/from workshops, and I beleive from the sellers home to your own)
Of course, you may need to get two of these, since I'm not sure if a Vic UVP will be acceptable for the SA part of the trip.

Unregistered permits do not require a roadworthy certificate, but the car must be safe to drive (ie: must have the basic safety of brakes, lights, seatbelts)

The other option is to negotiate with the seller if they can leave the car regsitered for the trip and cancel it after an agreed period (ie: they leave it registered fro the weekend and cancel it on Monday when you've presumably got home)

I'd still recommend the permit though, much less risk to both parties.

edit:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Reg ... Permit.htm

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:38 am

Mr Morlock wrote:If you drop 93clubman a PM I recall (partially) that there is a MX5 Club guy who works in a senior role in one of the Mazda dealerships and its somewhere in the northern suburbs- they might do a check and someone drive the car etc.

Fredbearoz, who was VP of MX5 Club (Vic), works or worked at Max Kirwan Mazda, 120 Bell St, Preston. It's the closest place to take an MX5 that I'm aware of, particularly if looking for somewhere that's familiar with the MX5, although I'm sure there would be one or two others similarly close.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:47 am

track_addict wrote:Is it a requirement at sale for a car to have a current RWC in Vic?

Having said that, carsales says it has a RWC but I will check when I speak with the seller later this week.

In Vic a car must have a current RWC when being sold with registration.

An unregistered car however may be sold without a RWC (just make sure you get a receipt and whatever other information the SA roads people may need to register the car)

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:15 pm

Vic UVP is good in every state except WA. WA requires use of their own UVP.

Here's what Vicroads says on buying & selling:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Reg ... ngSelling/

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Reg ... orthiness/

Needless to say not everyone follows the above process to the absolute letter.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:30 pm

its a waste of time getting an UVP for a car that is registered and being advertised as being sold with a RWC which is built into the price. You will also pay about $60 for a UVP anyway and you have to apply for it on line or in person whereas a car with reg and RWC you drive it away and you should be able to claim portion of the unused reg when its re registered. I have bought a car without a rwc in Vic and with reg and also gone down the track of a UVP as a matter of no choice since the car was nowhere near rwc and not legal to drive- its a nuisance.
And yes its definitely worth having a car that has been certified rwc because the car will pass any safety check in the State you will go to if required ( you would want to check that) If you buy without a rwc then you can have a problem that is not necessarily visible and which you will pay for at some point . An example is a windscreen, brakes requiring attention, a tyres(s) that are not legal down to wear marks or cracked etc, oil leaks, leaking exhaust, steering wear, etc etc. The best looking cars can still have things wrong and a tyre or a windscreen has to be replaced if faulted otherwise no rwc.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:01 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:its a waste of time getting an UVP for a car that is registered and being advertised as being sold with a RWC which is built into the price. You will also pay about $60 for a UVP anyway and you have to apply for it on line or in person whereas a car with reg and RWC you drive it away and you should be able to claim portion of the unused reg when its re registered. I have bought a car without a rwc in Vic and with reg and also gone down the track of a UVP as a matter of no choice since the car was nowhere near rwc and not legal to drive- its a nuisance.
And yes its definitely worth having a car that has been certified rwc because the car will pass any safety check in the State you will go to if required ( you would want to check that) If you buy without a rwc then you can have a problem that is not necessarily visible and which you will pay for at some point . An example is a windscreen, brakes requiring attention, a tyres(s) that are not legal down to wear marks or cracked etc, oil leaks, leaking exhaust, steering wear, etc etc. The best looking cars can still have things wrong and a tyre or a windscreen has to be replaced if faulted otherwise no rwc.

As usual laden with assumption & time wasting trolling.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:23 pm

93 thats a bit ordinary- where did I get it wrong?

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:41 pm

Does a valid RWC virtually negate an RAA/NRMA pre-purchase check? From what is being said, it appears to me the RWC check is as thorough (if not more thorough) than the motoring association pre-purchase checks. Question in my mind being the "honesty" of the RWC vs a motoring assoc check ... ?

Of course, still require the PPSR certificate, but that's easily obtained online.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 3:28 pm

I wouldn't doubt the honesty of a RWC check, Vicroads are very on the ball about it being done well, and testers are extremely cautious about that (if they lose their licence due to issuing bogus certificates I think there is a large fine attached)

Testers are required to take photos of any issues and the later repair, and provide them to vicroads as proof of work being completed properly.
Although, that’s only when they are actually doing the certificate, an inspection without a certificate being supplied has no requirement to be honest, but most shops will be as it means they get to do the repairs later (income)

A RWC still doesn’t replace an external check, the external check may also cover things like bodywork, condition, engine health, legal status (stolen, written off, encumbrances)