Australian child car seat rules set a minimum age for each stage, not the right age. The law allows a forward-facing seat from six months, while the Child Restraint Evaluation Program recommends waiting until around 30 months. Here’s what each age requires, and where the law stops. What car seat does the law require at […]
You’ve received a traffic fine and need to know whether you can keep driving. Demerit points explained simply, Transport for NSW sets the unrestricted licence threshold at 13 demerit points. What matters now is when the points count and what choices you have. The rules below are for NSW. Demerit limits, double demerit arrangements and […]
Buy a used car from a licensed dealer and you already hold rights nobody charged you for. NSW Fair Trading puts free dealer cover at three months on a car under 10 years old that has done less than 160,000km. Used car consumer guarantees sit above even that. What rights do you get when you […]
The buyer who won’t inspect the car is the one to worry about. Shopping scams drew more than 6,300 reports of financial loss in the first half of 2025, more than any other scam type in Scamwatch data. Car selling scams run on three patterns. What do car selling scams against sellers look like? They […]
You’ve reached a flooded road, the water looks shallow, and the detour is long. Driving through floodwater is the leading cause of flood deaths in Queensland, and float testing used by the Victoria State Emergency Service puts a small car’s limit at 15cm. What you can see from the driver’s seat tells you almost nothing. […]
Selling a car with finance owing is workable, but the debt must be cleared as part of the handover. A buyer can check the car for $2 through a PPSR search, according to the Queensland Government. The safe route starts with a current payout figure. Why won’t a buyer pay while finance is still owing? […]
Passing a road train is less about nerve than arithmetic. The longest combinations on Western Australian highways now stretch to 53.5 metres, roughly double a 27.5 metre truck, per the Government of Western Australia. They are predictable once you know what the driver needs from you. How long is a road train? A road train […]
Car loan pre-approval is worth having, just not for the reason dealers imply. Westpac’s version is conditional, typically holds for about a month, and can still be declined. What it really buys you is a number to negotiate against. What does car loan pre-approval actually commit you to? Photo: RDNE Stock project (Pexels License) Nothing, […]
Imported HiAce servicing isn’t harder than servicing a local van. It’s just that nobody hands you the numbers. Australian-delivered HiAces came with three engines, Japanese ones came with more, and the fluid specs don’t carry across. Start with the engine code. Which engine is actually in your imported HiAce? Most imported H200 HiAces run one […]
Most of the HiAce import resale value question is decided the day you buy. Imported HiAces resell here for $28,000 to $45,000, against $25,000 to $35,000 for used Australian commercial vans, according to Commercial Motor Group. Where you land in that band is mostly your own doing. How are imported HiAces valued against Australian-delivered vans? […]
Most imported HiAce vans are sound, and the expensive ones look identical in photos. That is what a HiAce pre purchase inspection is for. Grading data published by AAA Japan shows a van graded 4 is unaccidented with up to 150,000km on it, while one graded R came out of a serious crash. Five checks […]
HiAce model codes are easier to read than they look and less reliable than sellers imply. A 2022 comparison by Japanese exporter EVERYCAR.jp shows KDH201 and KDH206 as the same 3,000cc van with different drivetrains. The prefix is solid. The digits are where buyers get caught. What does a HiAce model code actually tell you? […]
Loaded vehicle tyre pressure isn’t a number to guess. A tyre just off the highway can read 6 to 8 PSI above its cold pressure, according to iCheck TPMS Australia. Start with the placard, measure cold, then adjust for the surface. Where does the correct pressure come from? Photo: Alexander Schimmeck (Unsplash License) The correct […]
Outback driving isn’t risky because of the distance. RACQ reports that 65 per cent of the 1,252 lives lost on Australian roads in 2023 were lost outside the cities. Fatigue, road trains and animals do most of it, and each one has a rule you can follow. How often should you stop when you’re driving […]
You’re about to hand over several thousand dollars for a car you’ve seen twice. A PPSR check costs $2, according to the Australian Financial Security Authority, and it tells you whether the seller still owes money on it. The result is only half the job. The timing is the other half. What does a PPSR […]
The HiAce towing capacity printed in a spec sheet assumes an empty van. A finished camper fitout adds 400 to 700kg, and Commercial Motor Group puts a typical HiAce’s total payload at about 1,000 to 1,200kg. What’s left decides your trailer. How much towing capacity does a HiAce camper actually leave? Less than the towing […]
Your campervan water tank can’t be planned separately from the toilet and waste system. A portable cassette alone can hold 21 litres of waste and 15 litres of flush water, according to Thetford Australia. Start with the trip, then check the weight. How much water should a HiAce camper carry? Photo: Mitchell Orr (Unsplash License) […]
Most of what stops you sleeping in a van in Australia isn’t a national law. It’s the council you happen to be parked in. Byron Shire bans camping across every street, park and reserve it controls, and charges $110 on the spot for it. Why isn’t there one national rule for sleeping in a van? […]
A HiAce 4WD suspension lift is not illegal, but the height that triggers an engineer’s certificate is different in every state. Queensland raised its certifiable springs-only limit from 50mm to 75mm, according to a September 2018 Queensland Government statement. Three things decide whether yours passes. How much can you lift a HiAce 4WD before it […]
HiAce DPF problems are manageable if you give the diesel regular uninterrupted running. Toyota’s DPF driver guidance says driving regeneration needs 20 to 30 minutes at around 60km/h. If your week is mostly short suburban trips, the filter may never finish the job. Why does town driving cause HiAce DPF problems? Photo: Toyota Australia Town […]