Advice

Waze vs. Google Maps Australia: What should you consider when deciding which navigation application is right for you?

Where to put L plates on a car in Australia? L plates must be displayed on the front and rear of a vehicle in a way that is easily visible for other drivers. Some states/territories insist that your L plates must be positioned on the outside of the vehicle, but some are okay if your L plates are inside the vehicle, as long as they are clearly visible to other drivers from the front or rear. Here’s a state by state/territory breakdown of where to put L plates on a car so you abide by the law and you avoid copping a fine. ACT Policing states: “‘L’ plates must be displayed on the front and rear of a vehicle in a way that is easily visible for other drivers. “Plates should be the correct size and colour and the letter on the plate should be fully visible. Where to display L plates? “It’s important to select the most visible display option for your vehicle,” ACT Policing said. Good spots are on an external panel at the front and rear of the vehicle or fastened to the registration plate, without obscuring that plate at all and ensuring that the ‘L’ on the learner plate is completely visible. So, can you put L plates in the window? “You can use plates specifically designed for display in the front or rear windscreen," ACT Policing said. “However, a slanted windscreen is not suitable for displaying plates as the plate will face up, towards the sky, and won’t be easily visible to other drivers from the front and rear." How to put L plates on a car? Where to put L sticker on car? “Other options, such as magnetic plates, plate display brackets and plate clips are also available to drivers,” ACT Policing said. The ACT Road Rules Handbook clarifies the “easily visible” description by stating: “‘L’ plates are not clearly visible if they are placed, for example, behind wiper arms, behind rear louvres or inside tinted windows.” In the ACT a “Fail to display ‘L’ plates on car as required” offence may attract a $208 fine, but no demerit points. Where to put L plates? Transport NSW states: “You must clearly display your L plates on the front and back of the outside of your vehicle – the letters must not be hidden.” The NSW government expands on that explanation, by stating: “When driving, learners must display L plates clearly on the front and back of the car. “The plates must be on the outside, or there must be an L sign on the roof. “The letter L on the plate must not be hidden. “So your plates do not fall off, secure them with a clip or holder.” In NSW a “Fail to display ‘L’ plates on car as required” attracts a $272 fine and two demerit points. How to display L plates? “L plates [150mm by 150mm and consisting of a black letter ‘L’ against a yellow background) must be clearly displayed on the front and back of the vehicle. Northern Territory Police Force said: “The L plates must be easily seen by other road users and must not block or obscure the driver’s view. “It is recommended that L plates are displayed vertically on the vehicle — not facing upwards on the bonnet or boot. Brackets for mounting L plates next to the number plate can be purchased at most automotive supply stores. “Roof-mounted L plates do not replace the L plates that must be displayed at the front and rear of the vehicle. “Where an L plate is displayed in the window of the vehicle, make sure that the angle of the window, any tinting or louvers on the window or anything on the outside of the vehicle (like spoilers or items in the tray of a ute) do not obscure other road users’ clear view of the L plate. “If towing a trailer, an L plate must also be displayed on the back of the trailer.” (Note: In the NT, you’re allowed to tow while on a class C learner licence. You may not be legally allowed to do so in other states or the ACT, so check before you tow.) In the NT, if you’re a “Learner driver or rider without L plates” then you may cop a $100 fine and two demerit points. Where to put L plates in Qld? The Queensland government doesn’t mince words about this issue. It states: “You must display L plates so the letter 'L' on each plate can be seen clearly at the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles) from 20m away. “The minimum size and colour of an L plate is 14.6cm x 14.6cm, with a black uppercase letter 'L' on a yellow background. You can't use any other colour.” It goes on to state: “You and your supervisor may both be fined if your L plates are not correctly displayed. “As the learner driver, you will get two demerit points recorded on your traffic history. If you get four or more demerit points in a 12-month period, you will be suspended from driving for three months.” In Queensland if you commit the following offence – “Learner licence holder failing to display L plates clearly legible at front and rear of vehicle” – then you face a $258 fine and two demerit points. Helpfully, there is a L plate template (https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/l-plate-template) so you can print two full-colour L plates, laminate them, and attach those to your vehicle. Road rules in South Australia around learner driver permit conditions and laws are similar to those in other states/territories. It states: “You must display the prescribed L-plates so that they are clearly visible from the front and the rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles). “Driving with a learner's permit means you need L-plates on the vehicle so drivers know you are an inexperienced driver. L-plates must meet the following requirements: “The minimum size is shown here . L-plates must have the letter L printed in black on a yellow background. “L-plates must be clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorbikes).” In SA, if you’re the holder of a Learner’s permit and commit the following offence – “driving a car on road while plates are not correctly affixed to the car” – then you are liable for a $248 fine (if you have only L plate affixed to the vehicle), or $428 fine and two demerit points if you have no L plates affixed to the vehicle. Among the many sensible rules for those learning to drive, the Tasmanian government states that as a learner licence holder, “you must ensure your L plates can be seen from the front and back of your car”. Tasmanian Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021 states: “A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a public street under the authority of a learner licence unless a sign issued or authorised by the Registrar displaying the letter "L" in black lettering on a yellow background (an L-plate) is displayed so as to be clearly visible: – (a) in the case of a motor cycle, at the rear of the motor cycle; or – (b) in the case of any other motor vehicle, from the front and rear of the motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle is towing a trailer and the trailer would obscure the visibility of the letter displayed at the rear of the motor vehicle, from the front of the motor vehicle and from the rear of the trailer. “Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.” In Tasmania, if you’re the holder of a learner licence and, as a “novice driver” or as a “learner driver”, you commit the following offence – “fail to display clearly visible L-plates as required” – you may face a $101 fine and two demerit points. Where to put L plates on your car in Victoria? Transport Victoria is absolutely clear about this: “Attach your L or P plates to your front and back windscreens. “You should use L or P plates that attach to external parts of your car (other than your front and back windscreens) if: your windows are so tinted it’s hard to see the plate (or) you’re worried you might damage the demister lines on your back windscreen. “Your plates must be visible from at least 20 metres away, on the front and back of your vehicle. “If you don't do this, you could be fined.” That fine for (offence code 2112) “Fail to display 'L' plates when and as required” amounts to one demerit point and a $165 fine (correct at time of writing). WA’s Department of Transport (DOT) states that the holder of a learner’s permit must display the “appropriate” L plates on the front and back of the vehicle when they are driving and those plates must be clearly visible. So, what is an “appropriate” L plate? “Each L plate must measure not less than 150 mm by 150 mm and bear a black letter “L” clearly marked on a yellow background,” according to WA legislation. If towing (learner drivers in WA are allowed to tow a trailer as long as they abide by the conditions of their learner permit), the learner driver must ensure that the L plates are fully visible at the front and back of the vehicle, which may require one plate being positioned on, and correctly affixed to, the rear of whatever is being towed. Demerit points apply to learner drivers in WA and they may not have any more than three demerit points recorded against them or their learner’s permit will be suspended or disqualified. Failure to properly display L plates on a vehicle in WA may result in two demerit points for the learner driver. Note: All details (laws, conditions, penalties etc) are correct at time of writing. This feature is not intended as legal advice. Make sure you check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory for up-to-date details.

How many passengers can a learner have? Learner drivers are permitted to carry passengers but the answer pertaining to the number of passengers permitted and the conditions that apply depends on the state or territory in which you live. But what is certain is that learner driver rules state that the learner driver, supervisor (an individual who holds a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and has held that licence for at least one year) and any passengers in the vehicle must be properly restrained by seat belts or approved child restraints. Are there exceptions? No. Of course, common sense dictates that the fewer passengers in a car when a learner drive is at the wheel, the fewer distractions there are within the vehicle for that learner driver… Anyway, here’s our state-by-state/territory guide to 'How many people can a learner have in the car?' Can learner drivers have passengers? Yes, as long as they and the driver are all properly restrained with seat belts or, where appropriate, government-approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in the ACT? A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the legal passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat – and that person must have a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and must have held that licence for at least one year. Does the age of passengers matter (e.g. babies)? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in NSW? A learner driver in NSW is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the driver of the vehicle and all passengers must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in the Northern Territory? There are no passenger restrictions for learners or provisional drivers in the NT, other than the learner driver is only permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, and they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in Queensland? A learner driver in Queensland may carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the vehicle’s driver and all passengers must be wearing seat belts properly or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in South Australia? Learner's permit holders in South Australia are not subject to any passenger restrictions, other than the legal passenger-carrying capacity of the vehicle which they’re driving at the time. How many passengers can a learner driver have? A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in Tasmania? A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in Victoria? A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. Can a learner driver drive with a child in the car in Victoria? Yes, as long as that child is properly restrained with a government-approved age-appropriate child restraint. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints. How many passengers can a learner driver have in Western Australia? There is no restriction on the number of passengers a learner driver may have in a vehicle in WA, except, of course, the vehicle must only be carrying the number of passengers it is legally allowed to have onboard. Also, the learner driver, supervising driver and all passengers must be properly wearing properly wear seat belts or government-approved child restraints. Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved baby seats or child restraints.

Is there an MG 7-seater Australia-bound? It’s one of the big questions doing the rounds right now, especially after recent speculation of everything from a full-sized Indian-market off-roader to an ICE-engined crossover model landing here.

Affordable electric cars are an emerging market in Australia - and the timing couldn’t be better.

There are plenty of reasons for buying brand-new cars. Fiscal acumen is not always one of them, as a second-hand car which has already done the bulk of its depreciating will often be a wiser financial option, but many people aspire to a new car anyway. That’s because there’s that peace of mind that comes with a car that has a factory warranty for several years, not to mention that a second-hand ca

The popularity of 4X4s/4x4s/4WDs/4wds/off-roaders/whatever you want to call them has grown tremendously in the past 10 to 15 years and these vehicles regularly top national sales charts and they’re everywhere on our roads and bush tracks.

How do you draw a car? Well, if you’re one of those annoying people with inherited and effortless artistic talent, you simply snap your fingers, grab a pencil and hey presto, a Lamborghini Countach.

Public charging and electric vehicles go together like the chicken and the egg - you can’t have one without the other.

It’s one of the reasons your car insurance premium keeps going up, and it’s also a post-Covid reality that the cost of repainting a car has never been higher. But how high are we talking? Well, it’s complicated and one of those how-long-is-a-piece-of-string deals. That’s because there are so many variables that the otherwise simple question of 'how much to repaint a car' these days takes on a very complex answer. Actually, it’s a series of answers. Not to mention a broad range of price estimates. Like how broad? Well, if you seek out a small, independent car painter that works from their backyard shed and operates with very few overheads, you could be repainted and away for as little as $1500. However, this is the very skinny end of things. Ramp it up to a show-car quality paint job and you can be looking at $40,000 or even $50,000 just for the paint, and that doesn’t include any panel beating repairs. Of course, that’s a preposterous number for most of us, but even so, a 'normal' repaint on a normal car at a normal workshop is going to rush you somewhere between $5000 and $10,000. So what are the big variables that determine how much to spray paint a car? The first would be the cost of the labour. Preparing a car for paint and then applying that paint requires skill. Good spray painters who know how to repaint a car properly, will have spent many years learning how to do so. As well as the actual work you’re having done, you’re also paying something for that experience and knowledge. That’s how trades work, and it’s the same with plumbers, bricklayers and carpenters. Some cities just seem more expensive, too, and the rule of thumb is that Melbourne is a pricey place to have a car painted. So is Sydney, but that’s just car painting costs following the Sydney trend. But because of sheer volumes, you might find the average car respray cost Brisbane way, as well as Perth and Adelaide can be lower if you shop around. That’s because these cities have the harshest climate for car paint, so a higher percentage of the car population needs repainting every year. The next variable is the existing condition of your car. If it’s not rusty and has no dents that need fixing, you’re looking good. But if there’s old paint that has to be removed back to bare metal or lots of repairs before the preparation can even begin, then that panel beating is going to be added to the price of the repaint. Want to go for an all-out show-stopper, then factor in many more thousands to get the panels gapped properly and the final paint finish cut and buffed. Then there’s the level of finish you want and the type of paint. A solid colour is the cheapest, but even a metallic paint can cost more than $200 a litre (and you’ll need several litres). Looking for a high-end pearlescent paint job? Then the paint itself could cost up to a couple of grand per litre. And it’s not just the final car paint price, there’s also the primers, undercoats and other consumables to consider. Oh, and if you want a black car, be prepared to be charged for extra bodywork and preparation as black is a very unforgiving colour to apply and needs a laser-straight car to pull it off. Even the size of the car in question has a bearing on price. The repaint car cost on a small hatchback can be up to half the cost of a large SUV. That reflects the extra materials and the sheer surface area involved. And don’t forget logistics. A shop to which you can drive your car and walk home means Googling car repaint near me is sometimes a good option if you’re not looking for a particular business’ signature work. Convenience often costs, but sometimes it’s the cheaper option. Of course, if you want a one-off finish or stripes or other details added, these all add up pretty quick. Professional car painters will be able to handle these requests, but the hours will certainly add up. Keeping it simple will definitely help keep costs under control. Speaking of workshops, there are different types of paint shops around that offer different levels of finishes. A high-volume shop that looks after mainly crash damage will be able to help you, but may not offer the detailed finish work that a specialist or high-end paint shop does. And if all you’re concerned about is how much does it cost to paint a car, versus what quality you’ll get, then the high-volume independents that often advertise online might be for you. When it comes to the question of how much does it cost to repaint a car Australia is very much a first world place with first world prices. Our labour rates are high globally and material costs post-Covid have ratcheted up too. Unlike, say, house painting where there’s a reasonably standard range of industry prices, car painting is different. Do an internet search along the lines of 'painting cost calculator Australia' and you’ll get a range of sites to help you work out a reasonably accurate cost for repainting your loungeroom. But the car painting industry? No such generalisations apply. But the variables don’t stop there. That’s because a paintjob is not a paintjob. See, you might imagine that a repaint would cover the whole car. Well, it often does, but it may not if you’re repainting a car to its original colour. That’s when you’ll probably be offered the option of what’s called a closed-door paintjob and refers to the fact that the inner door jambs and under the bonnet and bootlid won’t be touched. The closed door respray cost will be a lot less than the cost of painting those areas as well, but if you’re doing a colour change on the car, then the full respray is the only real option. At which point the question of how much does it cost to change the colour of your car is the one you need to be asking, because a closed door, colour change paintjob just doesn’t work visually. In fact, if the colour change is your only agenda here, you might be better off selling the car you have and buying one in the colour you want, if that’s a practical proposition. And what if you just want individual areas repainted? A damaged bonnet or front bumper, for instance, might be the only area that needs repainting. At that point, the bonnet respray cost, bumper respray cost or a car roof respray cost will be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to maybe a couple of thousand (again, speaking very, very broadly). Finally, how do car buyers value nice new paint? Provided the paint is still in good nick, a car with its original, virgin paintjob is likely to be worth more than a car with new paint. That’s because buyers know that new paint can hide all sorts of flaws under that shiny new skin. This only ramps up more the older a car gets, but it remains the fixed up, respray car cost or value can often be down on the original finish example of the same make and model. It’s something to think about before taking the plunge and committing to thousands of dollars’ worth of work.