Motorhome registration and insurance

ukSteve · Member

Motorhome registration and insurance

Dwilz · Veteran Member

ukSteve wrote:
Hi, I have been registered here for a while browsing other people's posts to glean information. Getting started with buying the motorhome but any general tips and information will be greatly appreciated as I'll be heading to Australia later this year. I intend purchasing a used motorhome and then traveling full time. Among the many things to sort I am wondering what is the best way to deal with the motorhome documentation, driving license and insurance and is a postal address needed?

I think the first place to go is the RMS that's the roads and maritime services to see what class licence you are elegable for

that will determine what weight motorhome you can legally drive.

-- Edited by Dwilz on Sunday 5th of February 2017 06:41:18 AM

brickies · Guru

Each state in Australia have different regulations , So do a google for the state which you would be arriving into and where you intend to buy your motorhome , If you google CMCA website they have a big list of of used motorhome for sale .

-- Edited by brickies on Sunday 5th of February 2017 07:19:27 AM

ukSteve · Member

Thanks for the tip. I'll be driving on my uk license which authorises me to drive 10 tonnes plus 5 tonne trailer, however I am currently touring in my fiat ducato panel van conversion which is under 3.5 tonnes which is plenty big enough for me. Are there restrictions on this size?

brickies · Guru

If you join CMCA in Australia you can get very good insurance through them at a good price so have a good look at their website .

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

ukSteve wrote:
Thanks for the tip. I'll be driving on my uk license which authorises me to drive 10 tonnes plus 5 tonne trailer, however I am currently touring in my fiat ducato panel van conversion which is under 3.5 tonnes which is plenty big enough for me. Are there restrictions on this size?

In Australia, the transition from car to heavy vehicle is 4.5T Gross Vehicle Mass, not 3.5T as in Europe, so you will find lots of vehicles in that range.

Yes, you will need a local "garaging" address which will determine the State of registration. Even a caravan park might be OK. Then you will need a postal address too and maybe a mail forwarding organisation would be the go? If you have a friend who lives here, that would be good for both.

If you can, pick a State that has no annual vehicle inspections. That makes things simpler. SA is suitable and allows registration renewal to be done on line easily. An inspection will normally be required if you buy a vehicle in one State and transfer it to another.

It is easier to do what you want in Australia than it is in Europe.

Cheers,

Peter

Jaahn · Guru

Hi ukSteve smile

From my limited experience I would say do not base yourself in NSW as it is the most onereous as far as regulations and restrictions go. I live there ! cry

I have heard SA is the best but have no direct experience. If you want to search widely you may find a rig that is registered in a particular state and you could just continue that on after buying it. Find the requirements on line. The states all have websites you can look at for their rules.

There are plenty of web sites for finding a motorhome for sale. Google is your friend. The rigs on the CMCA site are mostly overpriced IMHO. But the club is worth it for the insurance they can get for you through their broker. There are big sales yards full of rigs to buy that are also overpriced too, so buy carefully on the sales web sites available.

There were a lot of medium sized motorhomes sold here in past times which were scam rated at less than 4.5T for the purpose of enabling people with a car licence to drive them. However loaded for travel they are actually over 4.5 T gross (GVM) This can cause problems as the inspectors are now weighing vehicles out at the side of the road at the truck checks. Be aware of that. You will be able to drive them OK on your licence, but the registration legality may be questioned if they are over weight.

good luck Jaahn

PeterInSa · Guru

We have had a good experience with buying a Motorhome from SydneyRV, they honor any warranty issues for their interstate customers eg SA. However as said above, I agree NSW is not the place to base yourself re regulations and restrictions. At the time SydneyRV provided better value at a lower cost than local units for sale in SA.

www.sydneyrvgroup.com.au/used-motorhomes

This organisation may also enter into a buy back arrangement with you when you have completed your trip.

Peter

ukSteve · Member

Thanks to all for the information, the annual checkup like we have in UK would be well worth avoiding, although I intend completing the lap in one year to tie up with my visa. Buyback deal would be a perfect option for me at the trips end.