Hi Pommy from NZ..
All the different states want Your registration money...
I believe You only have approx a week to get your car rego changed from another state to NSW if You move to NSW...
but many people don't do this...
and if they have relations living in QLD or SA the cars are registered in those cheaper states, plus no annual rego checks in QLD and SA..
[I'm not sure about their licence addresses??]
in NSW the car is checked every 12 months for road worthiness..
If You bought a car in NSW and were going to live in SA,
then the registration and [green slip] insurance can be cancelled and the remainder of the costs reimbursed to You...
and if you were going to buy a car that was due t be re registered and you were taking it to another state, then the cost of rego and compulsary insurance would be taken from the cost of the vehicle you are buying.
it will vary, but maybe a saving of approx $500 [+ or -] ..
If You buy a car that is unregistered, make sure you have a bill of sale, and an old registration form, and the engine and chassis numbers are correct...
otherwise You will have major problems...
Naturally, its best to buy a car in good mechanical condition... and in the state you are licenced in...
I also believe its better to have an unregistered car get its blue slip in the country, where regular Mechanics look at your car.
Not the RTA people....
Some Mechanics don't check many things...
unless the car looks unroadworthy... problems then...
also, an unregistered car is worth a LOT LESS than a registered one...
Best of Luck
Lee -- 68AutoBug...
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---