Working holiday makers can buy a car or campervan in Australia. Before you pay, do a $2 PPSR check to make sure there is no money owing and it isn’t stolen or written off. After you buy, you have 14 days to transfer the registration (rego) into your name with the state the car is registered in. Victoria and Queensland need a safety certificate from the seller, the ACT and NT need one for older cars, and in NSW, WA, SA and Tasmania you don’t need an inspection to transfer a car registered in that state. You pay a transfer fee and stamp duty, usually around 3% of the price.
Last checked: 12 November 2026
Car, campervan or 4WD?
Most travellers buy a station wagon or a small van and sleep in the back. A converted campervan saves you hostel money but costs more to buy and run. A 4WD only makes sense if you’re heading to the Kimberley, Cape York or the outback tracks, and they use a lot more fuel.
| Type | Typical price from a traveller | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Station wagon (Falcon, Commodore, Camry) | $2,500 to $6,000 | Cheap to buy and fix, mattress fits in the back |
| Small van (Hiace, Previa, Tarago) | $4,000 to $12,000 | Sleeping, storage, farm work trips |
| Converted campervan | $8,000 to $25,000 | Longer trips, cooking and sleeping inside |
| 4WD (Land Cruiser, Pajero, Hilux) | $8,000 to $30,000 | Outback, beaches, Fraser and K’gari tracks |
Prices are a rough guide from traveller sales. Cars sell for more in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns at the start of the season and cheaper in Perth and Darwin when everyone is leaving.
Where to find one
- Facebook Marketplace and backpacker car groups. The most popular option. Lots of choice, but check everything.
- Gumtree and Carsales. More private sellers and some dealers.
- Hostel notice boards. Travellers leaving Australia often sell cheap, sometimes with camping gear included.
- Dealers. Pricier, but they do the transfer paperwork, and in most states you get a statutory warranty on cars under a certain age and kilometres.
Checks before you hand over money
- PPSR check ($2). Search the VIN on the government’s PPSR site. It tells you if there is money owing (finance), and if the car is reported stolen or written off. If a car has finance on it, the lender can take it back from you.
- Rego check. Check the registration is current and the expiry date. A car with months of rego left is worth more. Each state has a free rego check on its transport website.
- Match the paperwork. The VIN on the rego papers must match the VIN on the car (usually under the windscreen and on a plate in the engine bay). Ask to see the seller’s ID and check their name matches the rego.
- Get it inspected. A mechanic or a mobile inspection (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT all do them) costs around $150 to $300 and can save you thousands.
- Test drive. Cold start, brakes, gears, air con, warning lights, and look under the car for leaks.
- Get a receipt. Both of you sign a receipt with the date, price, VIN, rego plate and both names and addresses.
What you need to transfer the rego
- The transfer form, signed by you and the seller (or the online transfer, if you can use it).
- Your passport, and in most states extra ID. Some states also want proof of a local address.
- The safety certificate or roadworthy, if the state needs one (see the table).
- Money for the transfer fee and stamp duty. Duty is worked out on the price you paid or the market value, whichever is higher.
Online transfers usually need a local driver licence. As a traveller on an overseas licence, plan to visit a service centre in person with your passport.
You need an address. Your rego papers, renewal notices and any fines are posted to you. If you’re moving around, a TAW Mailbox gives you a fixed Sydney address and we scan your letters, so you never miss a renewal or a fine.
State by state: transferring a car you buy
You transfer the car with the state it is registered in, not the state you are standing in. If you buy a WA car in Queensland, you deal with WA.
| State | Deadline | Inspection to transfer | CTP insurance | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 14 days | No. Cars over 5 years old need a pink slip (safety check) when the rego is renewed | Green slip, bought separately at renewal | NSW Government |
| Victoria | 14 days | Yes. A Roadworthy Certificate issued no more than 30 days before the sale | Included in rego (TAC) | VicRoads |
| Queensland | 14 days | Yes. The seller must give you a current safety certificate, plus a gas certificate if gas is fitted | Included in rego | Queensland Government |
| Western Australia | 14 days | No for a WA car. An interstate car needs an inspection to be licensed in WA | Included in rego | Transport WA |
| South Australia | 14 days ($108 late fee) | No for cars | Included in rego | SA Government |
| Tasmania | 14 days | No | Included in rego | Service Tasmania |
| Northern Territory | 14 days | Yes for cars 7 years and older (from 9 February 2026) | Included in rego | NT Government |
| ACT | 14 days | Yes for cars over 6 years old | Included in rego | Access Canberra |
CTP (compulsory third party) only covers injury to people. It doesn’t cover damage to your car or anyone else’s. Get at least third party property insurance as well.
New South Wales
Fill in the Application for Transfer of Registration (Form 1010) with the seller and take it to a Service NSW centre with your passport and ID. The seller should also lodge a notice of disposal. You can only transfer online if you hold a NSW licence. The green slip moves to you with the rego. When it’s time to renew, cars over 5 years old need a pink slip from an authorised inspection station.
- Transfer vehicle registration (Service NSW)
- Transferring registration when buying a vehicle, with the Form 1010 link
Victoria
The seller fills in their half of the vehicle transfer form and you fill in yours. You send the form, the Roadworthy Certificate and the fees together within 14 days. If you don’t have a Victorian licence or VicRoads customer number, you go in person to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with full ID. Motor vehicle duty is paid with the transfer.
- Buy a registered vehicle (VicRoads), with the transfer form
- Motor vehicle duty (State Revenue Office Victoria)
Queensland
The seller must give you a safety certificate (and a gas certificate if the van has gas fitted). You need a Queensland licence or a customer reference number (CRN), which you get at a Transport and Main Roads centre with your passport. You pay a transfer fee and vehicle registration duty, worked out on the higher of the price or the market value.
Western Australia
The seller fills in the Notification of Change of Ownership (MR9). You get the red buyer’s copy and send it to the Department of Transport within 14 days, or transfer online with DoTDirect. Without a WA licence you include certified copies of your ID. You are then invoiced for the transfer fee and vehicle licence duty. WA is popular with travellers because you can post the form, so you don’t need to be in WA to transfer.
South Australia
Use the transfer form on the back of the seller’s registration certificate, both sign it, and lodge it at a Service SA centre, by post, or online through mySAGOV. The transfer fee is $33 plus stamp duty. Miss the 14 days and you may pay a $108 late fee.
Tasmania
Fill in the MR1 form on the back of the registration certificate (or the MR116) and visit a Service Tasmania centre. Without a Tasmanian licence you need original ID documents in English, and at least one has to show a Tasmanian address. Duty is based on the higher of the price or market value.
Northern Territory
Apply to the Motor Vehicle Registry within 14 days, in person, by email or by post. Since 9 February 2026, cars 7 years and older need a roadworthy inspection when ownership changes, and the buyer or seller can arrange it.
- Buyer: apply to transfer vehicle ownership (NT Government)
- Transfer ownership of a vehicle form (PDF)
- NT stamp duty calculator
ACT
Transfer in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre within 14 days. Cars over 6 years old need a roadworthy inspection first.
- Buying an ACT registered vehicle (Access Canberra)
- Application to Transfer Vehicle Registration (PDF)
- ACT motor vehicle duty
Buying a car registered in another state
Travellers buy and sell interstate cars all the time. It’s legal to drive a car registered in another state while you travel. The catch is the paperwork: you transfer it with the home state of the car, and some states want you to come in person or show a local address. Before you buy, check you can actually do the transfer from where you are. If you settle in one state, you are expected to register the car there after about 3 months, which can mean an inspection and new plates.
Campervans: extra things to check
- Gas. Fitted gas needs a gas compliance certificate in Queensland when you buy, and it’s worth having checked anywhere. Never use a gas cooker inside a closed van.
- Is it a registered campervan? Some vans are registered as a campervan, others as a normal van with a bed. It matters for insurance and some campsites.
- Self-contained. Free camps sometimes only allow vans with a toilet and grey water tank.
- Extras. Solar, second battery, fridge, awning, camping gear. They add value when you sell.
Insurance
CTP is compulsory but only covers injuries. Most travellers add third party property (covers damage to other cars, around $300 to $700 a year) or comprehensive (also covers your car). Some insurers will cover overseas licence holders and visitors, but check before you buy. Roadside assistance from your state motoring club is worth it for older cars.
Selling before you leave
- List it 4 to 6 weeks before you fly. Prices drop fast when you’re desperate.
- Give the buyer what the state needs: signed transfer form, safety certificate in VIC and QLD, roadworthy in the ACT and for older cars in the NT.
- Lodge a notice of disposal or your half of the transfer straight away. Until you do, speeding and parking fines go to you.
- Cancel your insurance and keep a copy of the receipt.
Driving rules and your licence
How long you can drive on your overseas licence depends on the state. Read our driving in Australia guide for the state-by-state rules, road rules, tolls and outback driving.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a car in Australia on a working holiday visa?
Yes. There is no rule against it. You need ID (your passport), and in most states you transfer the rego in person at a service centre because online transfers need a local licence.
Do I need an Australian address to register a car?
Yes. Your rego papers, renewal notices and fines are posted to you. A TAW Mailbox gives you a fixed Sydney address and scans your letters, so you can travel and still get them.
How long do I have to transfer the registration?
14 days from the day you buy the car, in every state and territory. Late transfers can mean a late fee and fines.
What is a PPSR check and do I need one?
A PPSR check costs $2 on the government’s PPSR website. It shows if there is money owing on the car, and if it’s been reported stolen or written off. Always do it before you pay.
Do I need a roadworthy to buy a car?
In Victoria and Queensland, yes, the seller provides it. In the ACT for cars over 6 years old and in the NT for cars 7 years and older. In NSW, WA, SA and Tasmania you don’t need one to transfer a car registered in that state.
How much is stamp duty on a used car?
It depends on the state and the car, but it is usually around 2% to 4% of the price or market value. Each state has a calculator on its revenue or transport website.
Can I buy a car registered in another state?
Yes, and lots of travellers do. You transfer it with the state it’s registered in, so check you can do that from where you are before you pay.
Is a campervan worth it on a working holiday?
If you plan to travel for a few months, often yes. You save on accommodation and can move between farm jobs easily. Factor in fuel, insurance, repairs and the price you can sell it for at the end.
Sources: state transport departments listed above and the PPSR. Rules and fees change, so always check the official page for your state before you buy.
