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We are in the process of buying a new vehicle and have approached several dealers for pricing on the same vehicle model.

Our question is: what is included in "On road costs"? All the dealers have a different costing for their On road costs.

Thank you in advance. Deb

It’s a good question and something the majority of new car buyers probably take for granted.

There are not set rules, so the bottom line is you should always ask the Dealer concerned for a breakdown of their On-Road-Costs.

It will always include the new vehicle registration costs which is higher than the annual on-going re-licensing fees.

These costs can vary depending on fuel type and engine size. Currently they range from between $431.18 up to $592.09.

The other cost is fuel and once again it would depend on fuel type and tank size. Road User Charges (RUC) are another cost when purcahsing a diesel vehicle.

Some Dealers may charge for other costs while others may not.

If you are comparing similar makes and models (engine size and fuel type) then in theory the ORC’s should be very similar if not identical. Once again you should ask as the Dealer to provide a complete breakdown of the costs.

If they can’t, then you may be paying for unnecessary or uncalled for add-ons.

Always pays to keep them honest Deb and never forget; it’s impossible to offend a car salesperson so don’t be afraid to ask.