Private car transport Perth - Melb/Syd

[jstanovic]

Just thinking logistics of buying an old car over east. Looking at driving over with a mates car trailer to pick it up. I've got friends and family to visit on the way so won't be a wasted trip. I could just send it on a truck but I wouldn't buy a car sight unseen, so flights/accommodation to inspect the car then transport will be $2.5K+. Flights are bloody expensive if you haven't booked them in advance!!!

If I drive the car trailer will be empty on the way over. Seems like a waste if there's nothing on it. Would you even consider getting (effectively) a stranger to transport your car over for cheap? Would help cover the fuel cost for me but obviously I'm not an insured tow truck driver so no dedicated insurance as such.

Just seeing if anyone has done it, was it worth taking the risk to save some $$$ for me and the car owner?

[Blue Dog]

Had an FG MkII ute shipped from Perth to Sydney using CEVA, at a cost of around $1200.
It was put on the Indian Pacific in Perth, then unloaded in Adelaide & transported to Sydney via road transport.

[Citroënbender]

Aside from the costs of towing, fatigue management would be my biggest worry.

If the car could be made suitable for an NSW UVP and driven back you would be ahead in time and dollars.

[sr71]

Long story.
I wouldn't trust anyone, but professional transporters.
18 months ago, i used Truckit.com to get the cheapest transport of 2 enclosed trailers from Byron to Port Maquarie.

I knocked back a professional transporter's offer, and went for 'the little guy', to save $100.
The clueless idiot (actually might have been developmentally delayed) first turned up with a car trailer, but my trailer didn't fit..and his Ford Transit broke down on his way home. 6 weeks later he turned up with a Rav4. But before hooking up spent 3 hours at Auto electrician getting a 12 pin plug hard wired ( rather than buy an adapter). Then he drove 450kms with trailer's brakes engaged.... destroying the Rav4 gearbox, and trailer's brakes.
100 text messages/50 promises/8 months later, he was on his way to pick up 2nd trailer, with the Transit.... and hit a kangaroo. I'd paid up front, and never got a refund. He blamed me, for forcing him to honour the deal. It didnt seem worth the ongoing stress to take legal action. Truckit got their 10%. But wouldnt help me either.
I ended up paying a Tilt tray guy from Lismore. Wasn't cheap..
Seller ripped me off too. Using photos of trailers when new. Not faded, rusty, missing deep cell batteries and still full of rubbish.
I've never been screwed over like that before. So expected fairness and honesty....

I've used Ceva twice in the last 3 years. Perth to Sydney depot. Covered transport $1100 & no frills for $900.

[cheap]

As mentioned only use the big names - even then expect a scratch, dent, stone chip. Industry has many low life scum thieves (with the emphasis on thieves). They will move your car into a private holding yard and it will not be seen again. Frequently change their trading name. Do plenty of research if you use a small operator.

[xxx000]

Pay for an inspection of the car and use a large company like Prixcar to transport the car.
Wouldn't do it myself, too much time, $ and risk involved

[GTLEGEND]

If its something special don't try and save a dollar and increase the risks. Driving a car back from the east to the west with a car on a trailer is risky if you are not used to towing, there is a skill set involved with doing so.

I had my car transported from Vic to Sydney using these guys, and all I can say is what professionals. I was going to use the normal CEVA/PrixCar option, but after watching them take off new cars at a local dealership, there was no way. Cowboys in comparison to some one like Allen's. I was surprised one did not rip the front bar of the car as he reversed of the truck at speed. I was also told that going by bigger carriers it cold also mean the car cold go via multiple depots (meaning car off and on multiple times) and not door to door like the more specialised guys.

If the car you are transporting is nothing special, then not so much of an issue, but if its your dream car, then pay the extra and have peace of mind.

https://www.uniquecarcarriers.com.au/

[Yellow_Festiva]

I'm looking into this right now.

Want to buy a very very small car from Melbourne. Was going to fly down, inspect, pay then fly back and have it delivered.

That would cost a bit I'm sure, then I'll be worried that the new paint job the car has will be damaged by some buffoon doing a crap job.

I'm considering borrowing my brother's excavator trailer, driving down, staying the night and returning with it in tow.

Still need to measure the trailer but I think the car will fit

Would cost me 2 tanks of diesel and a nights accommodation. At least I'll know who to blame if I scratch the paint.

Sent from my LG-M700 using Tapatalk

[xxx000]

No way would i tow a car back from interstate. Too much risk involved.
Major transport companies inspect and log existing damage.
Buy, deliver it to them yourself and log damage or lack ofthen fly home and wait for it to be delivered.
Personally i usually get a permit and enjoy driving them back

[jstanovic]

Done plenty of towing including the nullabor a few times so no dramas there. Cars I’m looking at are sub $10k so adding $2.5k is a big expense. I wouldn’t buy a car with out looking at it, if it gets here and the inspector missed something or I hated it I then would need to spend $$$ to get it registered here then try and sell it.

I would love to drive it home but a mid 70s car of unknown mechanical history travelling 3500km in 3/4days, don’t like my chances of not getting stranded!

Regardless it’s gonna cost me minimum $3k to get it over here and licensed. Kinda sucks with such a low $$$ car but that’s the price you pay for living in gods country.

[Citroënbender]

It would be quicker to fly here and come back on a permit.

Safer on the road; every dollar you put in would count towards a more roadworthy car. NSW permits are pretty cruisy but commonsense still applies.

I’m confident there are people in Sydney who would give a hand; an afternoon of goodwill or mates’ rates labour to live vicariously through someone else’s road trip in exchange. Of course if it turned out you were just being stingy and taking the yellow liquid out of people’s good nature, it might not roll so smoothly...

[Rallye Sport]

Must be a WA thing taking into account transport costs. When I sold the T1 every eastern stater (except one, the eventual buyer) tried to knock me down by the cost of their transport then sooked when I explained that's not the way it works over here.

[xxx000]

So you're considering towing a trailer across the country to then look at a car you may not buy?

Surely you can see the craziness in that idea?

[jstanovic]

No, by the time I started driving across the car would have been inspected and paid for, either by me or someone trusted, so flights may need to be bought regardless. But the trip would be half holiday half pick up car, taking a car there would offset the fuel money, hence the thread.

Definitely would love to drive it back, if it lets me down across the nullabor it would cost a lot of time/money getting it towed then myself home. Not sure �� if my roadside assistance would cover it, something worth investgating. And It’s arguable which is safer, driving an unknown 40yr old car than a 4wd ranger towing 2T by an experienced tower haha!!!

I’m just throwing ideas around anyway, just that there’s lots of potential cars in Sydney/Melb. Checked out one here yesterday, original car that drove well and was fair condition, apart from the rust under the doors and 2 fist sized rust holes in the boot and drivers footwell...

[jstanovic]

Well I just got a quote from a specialised enclosed car carrier, pickup Sydney drop off Perth door to door, $5400. Didn't really know what to expect but over $5k threw me back a bit. Anyone recently used CEVA etc with good results/price?

So back to the original question, would you pay some (trustworthy) random some $$$ to take your car from WA to Sydney/Melb?

Flying then driving back is becoming much more realistic...

(Again, haven't bought a car yet, given myself 6 months to find something I like)

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Blue Dog

Had an FG MkII ute shipped from Perth to Sydney using CEVA, at a cost of around $1200.
It was put on the Indian Pacific in Perth, then unloaded in Adelaide & transported to Sydney via road transport.

I did the same thing to get my G6ET from Perth to Melbourne. Used CEVA. Pretty sure it only cost about $800 which I thought was excellent value. No issues at all.

[sr71]

Lack of insurance is an issue. But ideal for a project car, not running. Which would be an extra charge, with CEVA/Prixcar.
I paid $900 Perth depot to Sydney depot 8 months ago.
You'll get a Back Load job easily, if you're flexible with time.
Put an ad. in Just Cars and Gumtree.
$500-600 for drive on. Up to $1000 for extra work??

Ceva wouldnt let me fill the tub, or front seat. No loose items.
My FG2 came with a Glass Framed GT picture, and original exhaust. So i had to ship them with Pack n Send.
So a project with parts, or a backpacker's car and belongings, is a difficult transport.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Well I just got a quote from a specialised enclosed car carrier, pickup Sydney drop off Perth door to door, $5400. Didn't really know what to expect but over $5k threw me back a bit. Anyone recently used CEVA etc with good results/price?

Yikes, Did they think you were talking about a boat.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Well I just got a quote from a specialised enclosed car carrier, pickup Sydney drop off Perth door to door, $5400.

Its' dear Because it's heading West..The cheap Prices mentioned here are all heading EAST........

Perth(or W.A. for that matter) is one of those Places that receives far more Freight than It consigns. hence all the crazy "backload" Prices...

As case in Point i recently got a Full semitrailer load Perth to Dubbo for $1500inc.. Unbelievable Not even Fuel Money...

To the OP What about Flying over. Buying the car & then Putting It & yourself on the Indian Pacific Train. .be a Shyte load cheaper than $5400 I would think..

[Romulus]

I bought a sight unseen Territory Turbo Ghia back in 2013 with 54,000kms from Victoria. Flew over, inspected the car and drive it back to Perth with a mate. Took 3 days to drive back. Was a great experience and I would highly recommend it.

It passed a RWC and had $2,500 spent on it prior to me coming over so I figured it was low risk to head over without seeing it. Paid off.

[71cop]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Well I just got a quote from a specialised enclosed car carrier, pickup Sydney drop off Perth door to door, $5400. Didn't really know what to expect but over $5k threw me back a bit. Anyone recently used CEVA etc with good results/price?

So back to the original question, would you pay some (trustworthy) random some $$$ to take your car from WA to Sydney/Melb?

Flying then driving back is becoming much more realistic...

(Again, haven't bought a car yet, given myself 6 months to find something I like)

How do you know that some random as you put it is trustworthy ? In my opinion you are just asking for trouble.

[Citroënbender]

Despite the best efforts of social media static to foster concern, I suggest at their heart most people still want to “do the right thing” - because they feel better about it.

[jstanovic]

Originally Posted by 71cop

How do you know that some random as you put it is trustworthy ? In my opinion you are just asking for trouble.

Haha you don’t! But if you had bugger all money and you needed your cheap car taken to Adelaide as you were moving there, paying a random may be worth the risk to save $500+.

[prydey]

My understanding of the OP question is...

Rather than drive from perth to sydney with an empty trailer, would it be worth his while trying to find a 'load' (ie someone wanting a car shipped east) to offset his travelling costs on the way east.

thats the way i read it. apologies if thats wrong.


also, for legal reasons, you would need a tow vehicle with a tow capacity of at least 2.5t. car trailers (decent ones) aren't light and could weigh up to 700kg, so it really chews in to your payload if you don't have a decent tow rating on the tow vehicle. Legally speaking of course. Plenty of people aren't bothered by such technicalities like obeying the laws.

[b0son]

thinking of buying a car from interstate, will need to move it from Perth to Sydney. is insurance required? I'm unsure whether comprehensive would cover it, but the transport companies I've looked at so far dont offer insurance.

[GTLEGEND]

I am sure these guys offer insurance on their part of the process..

https://www.uniquecarcarriers.com.au/

[fordomatic]

I used Ceva from Perth the Sydney, depot to depot with 20kg of parts in the boot. Arrived in Sydney in the exact condition it left Perth and to my amazement a $2500 set of rims and other parts still in the boot. Cost me $950.

[Crazy Dazz]

Well this is a bit of a thread dive, but ok, I'm game.

Towing a car across the country on a trailer is just plain nuts.

1) Petrol prices are extortionate, and your consumption will go through the roof.

2) You're going to put an incredible strain on your gearbox and cooling system. And if you think the petrol prices are bad, wait til you try and organise repairs.

3) I have certainly broken the law with a car-trailer. In fact most car-trailers are fundamentally illegal. Most have over-rider Brakes, and in WA that limits you to 2T GTM. Load up anything heavier than a Getz and you're probably over the limit
But with big loads (eg towing one AU with my other) I've kept the speed to around 80, and that only on the freeway. Plus if a cop did pull me over, I'm only a $50 tow from home. I don't fancy being stuck in the middle of the Nullabor, and being told you have to unload your new car and leave it behind. And who's to say that what's acceptable in WA, doesn't get you a reaming in another state?

4) If you run over a bunch of stones with the tow car, have a guess where they're likely to end up.

5) Most insurance policies will cover you for towing a garden trailer. I'm not sure that either policy would cover you if you flip a trailer with your new car on it.

6) As to your other question, if it costs say $1k for CEVA depot to depot, then nobody in their right mind is going to pay some rando (ie you) even $500 to try and move their pride and joy on said rando's mate's trailer.

7) I bought my TTG from Adelaide, and saved at least $6k on the purchase price (at that time Perth was still plagued with CUBs). I did the maths, and CEVA was cheaper than fly & drive.

8) If you're not prepared to buy an interstate car without a personal inspection, then I can't really understand what your "plan" is?
You're going to hunt for the car you want, then ask them to hold on, whilst you phaff about trying to find a backload for your trip and then drive across the continent?
And then what? What if your personal inspection reveals the hidden flaw you're so worried about? You try to arrange another rando load for your trip home?

[jstanovic]

Short answer - ended up finding a car here so no need for interstate transport!!!

Long answer-

1- done the nullabor a few times, towing and not towing, fuel cost difference there and back for me is $500-550.

2- non issue. Driving to conditions is the key, never an issue in any of my outback trips. Sure things can break but that can happen regardless.

3- non issue. Ford Ranger 3.5T tow. Mates car trailer 2.8T gtm, tare 700kg, potential car weight 1.6T.

4- yes a possibility, would have put something there anyway to try and stop the issue.

5- not sure, but would have checked if it was to go ahead.

6- possibly, maybe someone needs a rolling shell delivered, some transporters only move driveable cars. Could have also transported other bulky goods eg aviary, spa etc. people pay randoms on air tasker everyday, you’re either for it or not.

7- yes probably not the most cost effective but would see family on the way.

8- I would inspect the car before driving so that part of the plan would make the cost go up.

It wasn’t a fool proof plan haha, I would have enjoyed the drive regardless!!

[raised by monkeys]

CarPrix perth to Adelaide depot $500.