um... I have done this before.
there are two routes from Syd to Mel. HWY1 along the coastal line is better for the scenary but couple hours more driving to do than the inland highway. otherwise, going for sydney, bypass canberra, going directly to Mel, takes about 10 hours drive, not including stop/break time. :-)
to book the boat, as the posts above suggested, get onto Spirit of Tasmania website, from time to time, there's some kind of so-called special. but in deed, it's not that cheap. roughly $74 to bring a car onboard. as to the HUMAN cargo, price starts from at least $50 (overnight recliner). to sleep on a bunk bed, cost starts from $100 or so.
Once car reaches TAS, if you plan to stay in this state for over 3 months, you are supposed to change your rego after an inspection, which you can find the related info on Service Tasmania website,
www.service.tas.gov.au
once you changed over your licence plate, TAS will send the plate back to NSW RTA. you can then contact RTA to refund you partial rego fee you paid for your NSW plate.
as to your car insurance, your CTP will be included in the TAS rego. any other insurance, it's better for your to advise your insurance once you changed to your your plate number and residential address which is where your car parks. As TAS in general has a much low car insurance premium rate than any area in NSW, once you change your address, you will probably get a reduction in your insurance premium. therefore, if you have prepaid your insurance for the full year, your insurer will then refund you whatever the variance is.
hope this helps.
:-) |