I am a retired UK citizen who would like to spend each UK winter touring in Australia. I am planning to purchase a new car and caravan or fifth wheeler and utility vehicle so that my wife and I can spend up to six months each year touring.
Are there any problems or issues you can see with my plan, from an ownership, registration and insurance perspective, considering I will not have a base or permanent address whilst here in Oz ? The rig will also need to be stored for 6 months when I am back in the UK checking out how bad the summer is there !
I would be grateful for any advice or guidance you can provide. I hope too see you on the road some time from October onwards.
Regards,
Roger Barton
Dougwe said
02:47 PM Mar 14, 2013
G'day Roger, welcome, enjoy here and out in the Oz playground when here.
Now, I'm not sure what Australian State you intend landing in when coming down under so makes a little difficult but from what I read on here Victoria is the easiest State to register vehicles etc. If so just contact "Vic Roads" and I'm sure they will help you out with any info you need. Maybe even have a wonder through their website first. www.vicroads.gov.au
There are heaps of great and very knowledgable members on this forum so I'm sure you will get many replies and many different ideas of what and how to go about things, just read through them all and use what you think is best for you.
Rogerdodge51 said
03:03 PM Mar 14, 2013
Great stuff Dougwe, already useful input !! Looking forward to more and the first trip as a visiting grey nomad ! I can't afford to wish my life away but roll on October.
Webmaster said
03:11 PM Mar 14, 2013
Hi Rodgerdodge51, Great timing! We are just in the process of putting together a special UK edition of the Grey Nomad Times (our free fortnightly e-newsletter) which will be distributed to subscribers on Friday. Please send me PM if you'd like to subscribe and I will put you on the list. Good luck with the planning.
bill12 said
04:54 PM Mar 14, 2013
Can I geta copy of the english version as I am supposed to be going over there in may/ june. Thanks, Bill
Rogerdodge51 said
12:03 AM Mar 16, 2013
I have been in contact with NSW vehicle licensing and it seems I cannot register a vehicle or caravan in my name unless I can provide proof of an Aussie residential address that is either owned or rented by myself. That sort of defeats my objective as I don't want to be based in just one place.
Does anyone have any ideas how I get around this first obstacle ?
tommo said
02:51 AM Mar 16, 2013
Hi Roger i would come in your somer as the weather will be just as good i know its the winter but the somer is hot very hot and extreamly hot in some parts, if you get a car rego in victoria you dont have to get a as you call it a MOT each year to my knolage some states you have to each year as you do in the UK. as you are only doing six months it will be a good saving hope this helps
Regards Paul
Rogerdodge51 said
04:44 AM Mar 16, 2013
It does indeed thanks Paul, I will check out Victoria as you and Doug have suggested. I still need to get around the addresss issue though.
vk6tnc said
05:25 AM Mar 16, 2013
Perhaps the location you choose to store the car and caravan could be used as your "permanent" address ???
Duh said
05:45 AM Mar 16, 2013
In regards to the car and caravan, in WA you don't have to have the car inspected every 12 months before registration renewal, can also renew online (no rego stickers).
WA also does not have stamp duty on new caravans.
Not sure of the WA laws, but like vk6tnc says, perhaps your storage place may be ok in some states.
I haven't been through this but you might like to browse these links;
Bear in mind that insurance companies will also require a garaging address....
JCT said
11:34 AM Mar 16, 2013
Hi Roger, I am a recently arrived POM having only been here permanently for 2 years. I was however coming over to Oz for 10 years prior during the UK winter. (Our daughter is married to an Australian and we have 2 grandsons here.) My wife and I did however have to leave Oz before 90 days were up during each visit. The normal visa allows multiple visits each year with a maximum stay of 90 days at any one time. In our case we flew to New Zealand for a long weekend about mid term of each of our visits. May I suggest you look into this as it may add extra flight costs to your visit, or you may be able to obtain a special visa for a 6 month visit. My wife and I now have a Winnebago and during various trips in the last year have travelled over 20,000k seeing some of this vast and wonderful land. We reside in Sydney and if I can be of any help in your planning please feel free to contact me.
Kind regards Colin (JCT)
-- Edited by JCT on Saturday 16th of March 2013 07:36:28 PM
Hylda&Jon said
03:13 PM Mar 16, 2013
Duh wrote:
Hylda&Jon wrote:
Welcome to the forum Roger!
My only bit of advise is DO NOT REGISTER YOUR VEHICLES IN N.S.W. It is the most expensive state in Australia for that stuff.
Cheers
Jon
....................and you have to have your vehicle inspected annually to renew the rego.......
Both vehicles, caravan and car have to be inspected at registration time, and then you have to pay for a gas guy to check the gas fittings on the caravan. Might be handy having everything checked once a year but the $100 or so cost doesn't help.
We might have the safest vehicles in NSW but we pay for it.
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Saturday 16th of March 2013 03:15:31 PM
Hylda&Jon said
03:52 PM Mar 16, 2013
Welcome to the forum Roger!
My only bit of advise is DO NOT REGISTER YOUR VEHICLES IN N.S.W. It is the most expensive state in Australia for that stuff.
Cheers
Jon
Duh said
06:40 PM Mar 16, 2013
Hylda&Jon wrote:
Welcome to the forum Roger!
My only bit of advise is DO NOT REGISTER YOUR VEHICLES IN N.S.W. It is the most expensive state in Australia for that stuff.
Cheers
Jon
....................and you have to have your vehicle inspected annually to renew the rego.......
Grams said
10:07 AM Mar 17, 2013
I'm also an ex-Pom, though I have been over here a long time now.
In SA you don't have to have your vehicles inspected at all. You register your vehicle (car, bike, caravan, etc) each 3 month or yearly period on line. But you DO need a place of residence, or a legal address where you can be contacted. As we will have no place of residence when we sell our home, we are using our daughters PO BOX and her house, as that's where we will stay when coming back this way.
As for the visa, I too only thought you could get 3 monthly visas, but I could be wrong. My uncle from the UK, also called Roger (aka Roger the Dodger ha ha) used to come over every year for 3 months, he would loved to have stayed longer but couldn't.
Good luck.
Rogerdodge51 said
03:23 PM Mar 17, 2013
Thanks for all the advice, it will help my planning a lot. You guys are right about the Visa, you can only stay for 3 months at a time, so a trip to NZ will be needed in the middle. I can live with that :)
I just need to sort an address for car and trailer ergo then I am sorted.
See you by a river!!!!
Rogerdodge51 said
03:25 PM Mar 17, 2013
Damn speller checker !!! That should say car and trailer rego not ergo
JCT said
05:32 PM Mar 17, 2013
Hi Roger,
You say you will be leaving your rig here when going back home for the UK 'summer'.
Have you enquired about where you will leave it as it may be possible to use that address as your Australian address.
Just a thought
Kind regards
Colin
Rogerdodge51 said
05:40 PM Mar 17, 2013
I haven't just yet but I will enquire. There is a large secure storage park just North of Sydney that looks good. I will try there. One problem I have just this minute found is that the government are making big changes to the visa rules from 23rd of this month and it doesn't look like you can do multiple entry 90 days anymore. So a weekend trip to NZ may no longer be acceptable. My big fear is that it may mean I can only do 90 days each year which will be a tradegy.
JCT said
06:59 PM Mar 17, 2013
Hi Roger,
I have just been on the Gov Visa site and hope that you are wrong in your reading.
It does state that you can study for up to 90 days but if my interpration of the new visa items below is correct you can still stay for 90 days on any one trip.
I sincerely hope for your sake that I am correct.
Good luck,
Colin
eVisitor (subclass 651)
What the eVisitor lets you do
An eVisitor allows you to enter Australia for tourism or business purposes. You may stay for up to three months during each visit during the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted
Rogerdodge51 said
07:12 PM Mar 17, 2013
Hello mate, yes you are right you can stay for 90 days but I am not sure that you can still hop over to NZ for a couple of days then come back to Oz for another 90 days. I will try an speak to someone at immigration to find out this week.
JCT said
06:18 AM Mar 18, 2013
The operative part of the para states states 'up to three months during each visit during the 12 months'.
eVisitor (subclass 651)
What the eVisitor lets you do
An eVisitor allows you to enter Australia for tourism or business purposes. You may stay for up to three months during each visit during the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted
vk6tnc said
06:31 AM Mar 18, 2013
Just fly to Indonesia and catch a leaky boat to Australia. Problem sorted, and your holiday will be paid for too !!!
Hi All Grey Nomads !!
I am a retired UK citizen who would like to spend each UK winter touring in Australia. I am planning to purchase a new car and caravan or fifth wheeler and utility vehicle so that my wife and I can spend up to six months each year touring.
Are there any problems or issues you can see with my plan, from an ownership, registration and insurance perspective, considering I will not have a base or permanent address whilst here in Oz ? The rig will also need to be stored for 6 months when I am back in the UK checking out how bad the summer is there !
I would be grateful for any advice or guidance you can provide. I hope too see you on the road some time from October onwards.
Regards,
Roger Barton
Now, I'm not sure what Australian State you intend landing in when coming down under so makes a little difficult but from what I read on here Victoria is the easiest State to register vehicles etc. If so just contact "Vic Roads" and I'm sure they will help you out with any info you need. Maybe even have a wonder through their website first. www.vicroads.gov.au
There are heaps of great and very knowledgable members on this forum so I'm sure you will get many replies and many different ideas of what and how to go about things, just read through them all and use what you think is best for you.
Great stuff Dougwe, already useful input !! Looking forward to more and the first trip as a visiting grey nomad ! I can't afford to wish my life away but roll on October.
Hi Rodgerdodge51,
Great timing! We are just in the process of putting together a special UK edition of the Grey Nomad Times (our free fortnightly e-newsletter) which will be distributed to subscribers on Friday. Please send me PM if you'd like to subscribe and I will put you on the list.
Good luck with the planning.
I have been in contact with NSW vehicle licensing and it seems I cannot register a vehicle or caravan in my name unless I can provide proof of an Aussie residential address that is either owned or rented by myself. That sort of defeats my objective as I don't want to be based in just one place.
Does anyone have any ideas how I get around this first obstacle ?
Hi Roger i would come in your somer as the weather will be just as good i know its the winter but the somer is hot very hot and extreamly hot in some parts, if you get a car rego in victoria you dont have to get a as you call it a MOT each year to my knolage some states you have to each year as you do in the UK. as you are only doing six months it will be a good saving hope this helps
Regards Paul
In regards to the car and caravan, in WA you don't have to have the car inspected every 12 months before registration renewal, can also renew online (no rego stickers).
WA also does not have stamp duty on new caravans.
Not sure of the WA laws, but like vk6tnc says, perhaps your storage place may be ok in some states.
I haven't been through this but you might like to browse these links;
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/20410.asp
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/566.asp
Bear in mind that insurance companies will also require a garaging address....
Hi Roger,
I am a recently arrived POM having only been here permanently for 2 years.
I was however coming over to Oz for 10 years prior during the UK winter.
(Our daughter is married to an Australian and we have 2 grandsons here.)
My wife and I did however have to leave Oz before 90 days were up during each visit.
The normal visa allows multiple visits each year with a maximum stay of 90 days at any one time.
In our case we flew to New Zealand for a long weekend about mid term of each of our visits.
May I suggest you look into this as it may add extra flight costs to your visit, or you may be able to obtain a special visa for a 6 month visit.
My wife and I now have a Winnebago and during various trips in the last year have travelled over 20,000k seeing some of this vast and wonderful land.
We reside in Sydney and if I can be of any help in your planning please feel free to contact me.
Kind regards
Colin
(JCT)
-- Edited by JCT on Saturday 16th of March 2013 07:36:28 PM
Both vehicles, caravan and car have to be inspected at registration time, and then you have to pay for a gas guy to check the gas fittings on the caravan. Might be handy having everything checked once a year but the $100 or so cost doesn't help.
We might have the safest vehicles in NSW but we pay for it.
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Saturday 16th of March 2013 03:15:31 PM
Welcome to the forum Roger!
My only bit of advise is DO NOT REGISTER YOUR VEHICLES IN N.S.W. It is the most expensive state in Australia for that stuff.
Cheers
Jon
....................and you have to have your vehicle inspected annually to renew the rego.......
In SA you don't have to have your vehicles inspected at all. You register your vehicle (car, bike, caravan, etc) each 3 month or yearly period on line. But you DO need a place of residence, or a legal address where you can be contacted. As we will have no place of residence when we sell our home, we are using our daughters PO BOX and her house, as that's where we will stay when coming back this way.
As for the visa, I too only thought you could get 3 monthly visas, but I could be wrong. My uncle from the UK, also called Roger (aka Roger the Dodger ha ha) used to come over every year for 3 months, he would loved to have stayed longer but couldn't.
Good luck.
I just need to sort an address for car and trailer ergo then I am sorted.
See you by a river!!!!
Hi Roger,
You say you will be leaving your rig here when going back home for the UK 'summer'.
Have you enquired about where you will leave it as it may be possible to use that address as your Australian address.
Just a thought
Kind regards
Colin
I haven't just yet but I will enquire. There is a large secure storage park just North of Sydney that looks good. I will try there. One problem I have just this minute found is that the government are making big changes to the visa rules from 23rd of this month and it doesn't look like you can do multiple entry 90 days anymore. So a weekend trip to NZ may no longer be acceptable. My big fear is that it may mean I can only do 90 days each year which will be a tradegy.
Hi Roger,
I have just been on the Gov Visa site and hope that you are wrong in your reading.
It does state that you can study for up to 90 days but if my interpration of the new visa items below is correct you can still stay for 90 days on any one trip.
I sincerely hope for your sake that I am correct.
Good luck,
Colin
eVisitor (subclass 651)
What the eVisitor lets you do
An eVisitor allows you to enter Australia for tourism or business purposes. You may stay for up to three months during each visit during the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted
Hello mate, yes you are right you can stay for 90 days but I am not sure that you can still hop over to NZ for a couple of days then come back to Oz for another 90 days. I will try an speak to someone at immigration to find out this week.
The operative part of the para states states 'up to three months during each visit during the 12 months'.
eVisitor (subclass 651)
What the eVisitor lets you do
An eVisitor allows you to enter Australia for tourism or business purposes. You may stay for up to three months during each visit during the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted