My Vehicle Blog

Honest, practical guides for Australia drivers who care about their cars.

Towing in Australia: Capacity vs Payload vs GCM — Why Your Ute's Brochure Number Lies

Your HiLux says "3,500 kg towing capacity" on the brochure. In real life, towing 3,500 kg is illegal for most owners. Here is the honest truth about Aussie towing — capacity, payload, GCM, and why so many caravan rigs are unknowingly overweight.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Aussie Summer Car Prep: AC, Cooling, Tyres and Battery for 40°C Days

Australian summer is brutal on cars. The owner who prepares in October pays a few hundred dollars and drives normally all summer. The owner who skips it pays $1,500-$3,000 in February when the AC dies in Marble Bar or the radiator boils on the Hume.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Service History at Sale in Australia: What Full Service History Is Worth (and How to Build One)

Two identical 2019 Toyota RAV4s on Carsales in Sydney. Same colour, same kilometres. One sells for $32,000 in 4 days. The other sits at $34,500 for 8 weeks before reducing to $30,000 to clear. The difference is rarely the description — it is the service history.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Carsales vs Drive vs Gumtree vs Facebook Marketplace: Which Sells Your Aussie Car for Most

You have a 2018 Mazda CX-5 to sell. Carsales charges $99 to list, takes 4-8 weeks to sell, gets you within $500 of the asking price. Facebook Marketplace is free, sells in days, but every second message is a tyre-kicker offering $5,000 less. Here is the honest platform-by-platform breakdown.

Apr 13, 2026

$Trade-In vs Private Sale in Australia: The Real Money Math for Aussie Sellers$

Car Owner Tips

Trade-In vs Private Sale in Australia: The Real Money Math for Aussie Sellers

Trade-in: easy, fast, and you almost always lose $3,000-$8,000 versus selling privately. Sometimes that loss is worth it. Sometimes it is a $5,000 mistake. Here is the honest math for Aussie sellers — including the stamp duty offset most owners forget.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

PPSR Check Explained: The 30 Seconds That Saves Aussie Buyers $5,000

A PPSR check is the single highest-ROI thing you can do before buying a used car in Australia. $2 spent before signing the contract can save you $5,000 in stolen, written-off, or finance-encumbered nightmares. Here is what each finding actually means — and how to read the report.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Pink Slip, Blue Slip, Roadworthy Certificate: State-by-State Used Car Inspection Guide

Australia has eight states and territories — and seven different inspection regimes. Pink slip in NSW, roadworthy in VIC, safety certificate in QLD, none at all in WA private sales. Here is the honest state-by-state breakdown for buyers, sellers and movers.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Buying a Used Ute in Australia: 12 Things to Check on a HiLux, Ranger or Triton Before Handing Over the Cash

The HiLux, Ranger and Triton are Australia's top-selling vehicles for a reason — they hold value, do everything, and outlast almost anything. But the second-hand market is full of utes that have been worked into the ground. Here are the 12 things to check before you buy.

Apr 13, 2026

Car Owner Tips

Ex-Fleet, Ex-Rental, Ex-Lease: What Those Badges Actually Mean for Aussie Used Car Buyers

You see it on every Carsales listing: "ex-fleet", "ex-lease", "ex-rental", "one careful owner". Each one means something different for what you are actually buying. Here is the honest breakdown for Aussie buyers.

Apr 13, 2026

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