News

Selling a car can be stressful but did you know that there are certain responsibilities for the buyer.

As the seller of a car, you are required to provide the buyer with a proof of your entitlement to register the vehicle.

Here are some of the documents that you as the seller can provide the buyer during the sale

• An original copy of a registration certificate, renewal notice or other registration documents signed by the seller/owner;
• A certified copy of a dealer warranty form
• An original copy of a sales contract or proof of purchase
• An original copy of a Notice of Disposal form signed by the seller.

It’s also the responsibility of the seller to notify the NSW Roads and Maritime Services when a car is sold in order for them to update their records to the new owner’s details. This can be done by lodging a Notice of Disposal form with your details (as the seller) and signature, the car’s registration number, date of sale and the details of the new owner. There is no fee when lodging a Notice of Disposal form.

There are other actions that you as a seller need to be aware of.

Did you know that if your car is older than five years, it must undergo an annual safety inspection to show that the car is roadworthy.

But probably the most stressful part of selling a car is finding the right buyer and selling for the car for the right price – Carbiz takes the hassle out of buying and selling your car, contact us today to find out more.

While there is a lot of car maintenance that you should leave to the professionals, there are a few things that you can easily do at home – without too much trouble.

Before doing any of these things, be sure to check your owner’s manual.

Windscreen wiper blades

Wiper blades can deteriorate due to sun or just perish over time. Wiper blades vary between cars, so be sure to check which wiper blades you need before purchasing them. They are usually very easy to change – and if you have any questions, there are many resources online to help you along!

Replacing globes

Headlight or taillight globes or even interior lights are relatively simple to replace. Replacing them yourself can save you both money and hassle – but be sure to buy the correct parts! The most important thing to research is how to access the old globe – which you should be able to find in your owner’s manual.

Oil and oil filters

While the change of oil and oil filters should be done at your annual service, it’s always a good idea to keep a check on your oil levels and oil quality. Be sure to do this check when your engine and oil are cool and if you do change your oil, be sure to follow your manufacturer's recommendation for grade and type of oil to use.

While general car maintenance is normally taken care of in your annual car’s service, tyres are often neglected or overlooked. From the tyre tread to the inflation pressure, there are many things to consider when maintaining your tyres.

Tyre maintenance checklist

Check the tread wear

Tread is vitally important in creating grip to the road. Without tread, the tyre’s ability to grip a wet road is severely limited. Tyres have a tread wear indicators which are moulded into the tread grooves to indicate when a tyre is worn to it’s a limit of safety. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.5mm across the width of the tread. 

Ensure your tyres are inflated correctly

Tyre pressure is one of the most important things to maintain. An under-inflated tyre will wear differently on the edges, while an overinflated tyre will wear more along the centre of the tyre.

Set tyre rotation reminders

Your tyres will wear at different rates depending on their position on the car. On a Rear-wheel drive car, the back tyres will wear faster than the front tyres. Tyre rotation will help wear out all the tyres evenly. Regular tyre rotation should be done every 5000km’s – so be sure to set a reminder to not forget!

Check your spare wheel

The spare wheel is almost always forgotten – when last did you check your spare tyre? It’s important to check the tyre’s pressure regularly.

When buying a car, you need to consider many things, but did you know that the advertised car prices don’t always display the full cost you will need to pay? Dealers will include GST and luxury car tax if applicable, but they will often omit the on-road costs.
On-road costs include stamp duty, registration, compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance and dealer delivery charges.

Stamp duty

State governments charge stamp duty, rates vary by jurisdiction, and some offer reduced fuel-efficient or even hybrid vehicles.
The car's value determines stamp duty – mid-tier models will have higher stamp duty than the entry-level model. But did you know that if you add options to your new vehicles, such as a body kit or up-sized wheels, you’ll pay more?

Registration

Registration is payable to your state’s motor authority. Your registration means that your car will be road legal for the first year thereafter. You will need to renew it yourself.

Compulsory third-party insurance

CTP is a requirement for all registered vehicles and covers the cost of personal injury or death wrought on third-party parties should your vehicle be deemed to be at fault in an accident. Separate insurance is needed if you want coverage for yourself or your car’s damage.

Dealer delivery charges

These delivery charges cover costs that the dealership incurs to get your car ready to be driven off the lot. These could include removing all protective tape on the car, filling out paperwork, giving the car a wash and a scrub and attaching the car’s number plates.

A major stumbling block in the electric vehicle purchase decision is range – will you be able to travel to more than just your office and back home?

Chargefox has just announced its plans to build a nationwide charging network – each rapid charge station will be able to deliver a range of 400 kilometres in just 15 minutes.

Chargefox is an Australian start-up committed to sustainable mobility. Their initial rollout includes 21 locations across Australia for the network and first stations. The locations planned included Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane; with the first stations located in Euroa and Barnawartha North in Victoria.

Funding has come from a combination of sources – such as from The Australian Mobility Clubs (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC,RAA, RACT), Wilson Transformers and the founder of Carsales, Greg Roebuck.

Excitingly, these ultra-rapid charging stations will be accessible to all EVs. The chargers will have a power output of at least 150kW and up to 350kW. This makes these chargers faster than any charger currently available in Australia.

Owning an electric vehicle is becoming more accessible with the commitment of investors – perhaps it is time to consider switching to an EV?

Fuel economy is always important when purchasing a new car. Manufacturers are required to test fuel economy in line with a mandated procedure (detailed under the Australian Design Rule (ADR)).

The full testing procedure for light vehicles is conducted over a continuous 20 minutes and is split into urban and extra-urban cycle. The urban cycle testing makes up about 67% of the test, while the extra-urban cycle makes up the remaining 33%.

The urban cycle consists of a lower average speed – designed to replicate city driving with a constant element of stop/start driving at an average speed of 19km/h with considerable idle periods.

While the extra-urban cycle consists of a higher average speed of 63km/h with a peak speed of 120km/h.

Here are some interesting facts about the tests run

-       All of the vehicles that are tested need to have 0 kilometres on the odometer.

-       A number of readers are taken to determine fuel consumption. The density of the fuel used, the emission of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are added together in a calculation to determine the fuel consumption.

-       The tyre pressure, engine oil viscosity and all other consumables need to be at the recommended manufacturer levels.

-       The lights and signalling devices are switched off or are in the normal operating state.

-       Testing is conducted between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius ambient temperature. 

Next time you buy a car and wonder if the fuel consumption is actually the truth, now you know how they get to that number! Just remember that your driving won’t be the same as test conditions, braking late and accelerating hard will increase consumption.

With Mercedes-Benz confirming the pricing and specs for the new A250 4Matic, we are excited for its availability in November.

The A250 offers 165kW power and 350Nm torque. Power which is put to all four wheels through its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The new A250 will hit 100km/h in 6.2 seconds and has a claimed combined fuel consumption of 6.6L/100km.

Mercedes-Benz has again delivered on style – the A250, like the A200, features 18-inch alloy wheels, a dual-screen MBUX infotainment system and LED headlights with high-beam assist. Other extras like keyless start and wireless phone charging are included as standard with these models.

Safety is, as the norm with Mercedes-Benz, an area where the A250 excels. Featuring nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and a rear-view camera.

Pricing hasn’t been fully released for the 2019 A class models, with the A180 pricing to be announced before the end of the year. But Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the A250 4Matic with these features is only available for a limited time.

The pricing for the A200 was confirmed as $47200 before on-road costs, while the A250 4Matic will be priced at $49500.

Even a little bit of rain can change the experience of driving, here are a few tips to stay safe while driving in the rain

Slow down and keep your distance

Your speed should ideally be half of that during dry-weather speeds. Wet roads also need a longer stopping distance – so don’t rush! Harsh breaking will likely cause you to lose control. In wet weather you need to allow about four seconds between you and the car in front of you.

Switch on your headlights

Besides regularly checking that your headlights are working, during rainy spells headlights should be switched on. Visibility may be affected due to storm clouds, turn on your headlights to help others see you.

Allow more travel time

Rain generally brings more accidents on the road, and people also tend to drive slower – everything may just take a bit longer than you are used to. In order to avoid rushing to your destination, we advise adding a bit more travel time to your trip.

Avoid aquaplaning

Aquaplaning can happen in a split second – and not a lot of water is actually needed between you and the road. Driving slower and maintaining your tyres are a few ways you can avoid aquaplaning, but what should you do if you suddenly find yourself losing control? First it’s important to not panic. Secondly, gently take your foot off the accelerator and continue holding the steering wheel in the right direction. Never slam on brakes as this will cause your tyres to lock.