Buying a Car Needing a RWC

[VicCop]

This time I've got a question.

I'm in the market for a new car. Not a new new one, just needing to replace my second car that I got rid of a little while back due to it ****ing out oil everywhere. It was an early 90s Mitsubishi, that says it all I suppose. I paid about $9000 for it back in 2001 and sold it the other week for $300. Anyway, another story.

There's a few good ones around but do you think these sellers are so diligent that they get a roadworthy done before selling? Hell no.

Bascially there's one right now that looks good. Currently registered but no RWC of course. The price is right as it is. It was only just newly registered (with RWC of course) back in July last year. The only thing the seller has mentioned is that it needs a new light globe in one of the indicators.

My question is, are sellers usually comfortable with offloading cars and signing transfers and leaving it all up to the buyer? Who's done this before?

Yes, I'm a cop but I have absolutely no car buying experience. All my cars have either been bought for me (when I was a teenager), bought from a dealer or like my current good car, through a novated lease.

With this car, like I said, the price is right so if there happends to be something I've got room to move. I'd imagine though only six to eight months since its last roadworthy not much could have gone wrong. It's a fair bit less than what I'm actually budgeting for.

[LeojVS]

mate, having had a few cars in the past, take it to a garage, someone who you know and trust. Get them to look it over for you, and see if anything wrong. If its unreg, I always say to the person Im buyin it off " You get rego sorted, and once its passed, Ill pay you for that too"

Also being a cop, let them know that. "Yeah, my SNRSGT has one of these" or whatever. drop it in conversation somewhere. Might make them a little more weary. "Never under estimate the power of a ****ed off cop" was what I was told one night after some problems with local scumbags. (crim ended up in hospital )

Q: whats a RWC proove? here in NSW, we have a pink slip, which tells the RTA your car is road worthy. Once thats handed in, I hand over $600 for the privelage, and get a little sticker. Thats it.

[VicCop]

It's currently registered to August. In Victoria a RWC is required in order to have the registration tranferred, after paying the applicable stamp duty and transfer fees of course.

[LeojVS]

oh OK. Here we just pay the money. Lots of money. Can you ask the person to get the RWC then you will talk $$ ?

[VicCop]

Not an option. They're looking to sell nice and quick. However, as I said, the price is right.

[sircruisealotVS]

i usually get the seller to supply the roadworthy before buying the car, usually works if they want to sell it. if they cant/dont get it and they go on about how good the car is then you can turn around and say "well it shouldnt have any dramas passing a roadworthy then".
in qld its actually mandatory to supply a roady when selling a car that is registered too, not to say people dont try to snake out of it.

[VicCop]

The only drama in this case (and a lot of others I've noticed) is that the seller is quite comfortable doing the exchange, signing the transfers and letting me, the buyer, go away and do everything else.

Really, if I did it smartly, I could go and buy this thing for bugger all (which it is) and then go pull an armed holdup and make back three times as much as what I paid for it then just dump it somewhere with it still registered to the current owner.

[LeojVS]

Really, if I did it smartly, I could go and buy this thing for bugger all (which it is) and then go pull an armed holdup and make back three times as much as what I paid for it then just dump it somewhere with it still registered to the current owner.

Hmmm, so you play 'bad cop' when interviewing

Well, if the price is right, hook in.

[adam69]

The seller must hand the plates to vicroads if they are selling without RWC.Buyer then has to get the RWC and the buyer then has to take the relavent paper work tho Vic roads and do the changeover and get the plates.Thats the law,but i have owned over 30 cars in my 20 years of driving and have never done it that way.If the seller is happy to sing the paperwork and give you the car then go for it.Take somebody thats knows their way around cars before you commit.What type of car is it?

[matty88]

I'd get the roady done myself (paying out of pocket), that way it ensures the seller can't get a dodgy RWC cheap from a family member or mate in the know. Saves hassle down the track

[VicCop]

It's a 1990 Fairmont. I couldn't really care how long it lasts just as long as it can be on the road without hassle.

I looked at one at a dealer recently. They weren't supplying the RWC, saying that whoever bought it would have to get their own. They wanted to do the same thing with taking plates off until it was done. But the first thing I asked myself when walking away was how do get it to/from getting that done in the meantime? There's no provision for doing it, can't get a permit because it's still registered.

[crazyspoon05]

I got my last car with rego but no current RWC, seller was more than happy to let me take my time to get the RWC and transfer the car to my name, then when I got the certificate I just dated the otherwise complete form

Apart from my dodgy first roadworthy test where the major service chain was convinced the car needed over $2500 in things fixed to be passed I just had to fix a few small bits and pieces and give the engine a good clean

[needwork2-4fillhabbit]

Just watch out for speakers in the rear parcel shelves, my rwc mechanic picked that up straightaway and 650 bucks to fix the parcel shelf.

[VicCop]

I got my last car with rego but no current RWC, seller was more than happy to let me take my time to get the RWC and transfer the car to my name, then when I got the certificate I just dated the otherwise complete form

I noticed that with the transfer forms and that it says the RWC to be obtained not more than 30 days prior to the selling date. Basically the date it being sold would have to be AFTER the date on the RWC. Or would that be because the RWC has a 30 day expiry?

I've heard of people using a 'Bill of Sale' to sign thereby releasing the seller of any liability in the meantime. Anyone still use that?

[VicCop]

Just watch out for speakers in the rear parcel shelves, my rwc mechanic picked that up straightaway and 650 bucks to fix the parcel shelf.

I've heard about that one. Because of people who cut huge holes in them to fit massive sub woofers in. It's got a pair of 6x9s on the back. Shouldn't be a problem. I was once told by a mechanic that it's to do with being able to fit the anchor for a child restraint. Applicable in my case.

[crazyspoon05]

Yeh, I waited a day or two after the roadie was done and went down to Vicroads with the papers dated the day after the roadie (including the receipt the previous owner wrote out that I didn't need at Vicroads anyway)

One thing I had to do with mine was refit the rear speakers as they were deemed to be incorrectly mounted

[adam69]

The roadworth lasts for only 30 days,as long as it transfered within that time all is Ok.I always make sure all their details are correct.I even add the time of sale.Fords of that age usually need some front end work for RWC and usually have an iol leak fron the head right at the front.Head gaskests can be a problem too.I got offered a EA 1990 Fairmant Ghia wagon on gas with electric sunroof for $800.Needed an auto and rego as the owner handed in the plates when the trans blew.I have bought and sold a few EAs and found them to be a good run around car.

[VicCop]

It's got a reco motor in it that's believed to have only done 20,000 kms.

[adam69]

It's got a reco motor in it that's believed to have only done 20,000 kms.

Thats a plus.I love working on them.Very easy to work on and parts are cheap too.

[Full Spectrum]

Have you considered getting the RACV to go out and look over it?.. Maybe they can help ease your pain into buying it with more confidence?.

[Moff]

mate you could always tell the guy that you will buy it but first you want to put it in for a rwc to see if there is any costly problems coming up. It should only take a day then you will know for sure . I have done this heaps of times and never had anyone say no. i would rather pay $60 odd for a rwc check then get stuck with a pos

[VicCop]

At least one person subscribing to this thread guessed that this car was on E-Bay. WAS being the operative word there. I sat there today waiting for it to end making sure I stayed on top if I could. It always ends up in a last few seconds fight between two bidders and I lost.

Ah well, back to the drawing board.

[Just_a_stocker]

RWC cost 56$ anyone thats not selling one with their car has somthing to hide.

end of story.

[Low_VX_Taxi]

bad luck Viccop, I know the feeling....... my wife had a gift lined up for me off ebay, it was my favourite movie (not sold in Aus) and she watched it right up until a minute before it finished because she was willing to bid anything to get it... 3 seconds before the end of the sale sum little turd burglar bid $1 over her..... SPEWING!!!!!!!!

[Dayvo]

Maybe jump onto a Ford forum ( or whatever brand of car you decide to buy ) and find out if the model that you are interested in has any major problems . Just like you do on this forum.